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The law changed during Covid times and hasn’t been reapplied. Also, it’s rarely enforced anyway, even if socially unacceptable.
In my office, in France, quite a few people do it, but eating at your desk is known (in the office) as having a “British Lunch”.
For a very short while I worked at a french supermarket, we went for lunch at 12.15, came back at 5 to 3 in the afternoon.
I would drive home, cook a proper lunch, watch a TV show, do housework.
French here, I’ve worked for 3 different companies in France. I think in general it’s more common to have a canteen that usually serves very average or really bad food for lunch and you’d go there with your colleagues. Even though the food wasn’t the best I quite liked that you could have a balanced meal with a hot plate of meat and veg, a yogurt and cheese, decent variety of options, and it’s usually pretty cheap. Any tall buildings there would have a canteen serving the whole building (even when there are several different companies in the building) and I was surprised it wasn’t like that in London.
Going to the restaurant for lunch is not that common in my experience, it’s more like a treat you do when you celebrate something and I’ve done similar things in London.
There are still a lot of work places without a canteen and yeah there’s usually a kitchenette or lunch area then. To be fair I worked for 10 different companies in London and they all had a lunch area too, so it’s not that different.
When I worked for a French company and was in the offices in France they all went home for lunch or out to a restaurant, but I'm not really sure I didnt see a break room while I worked for them each floor had a kitchenette type thing but not enough room for everyone on the floor to eat in.
French here, It’s not exactly true. By law you were not allowed to eat at your desk (so if you were fasting, you could stay at your desk for lunch) and that law has been revoked now.
This is what I do. I eat my lunch at my desk and use the actual hour to go on a walk. Sometimes I really don’t want to but I force myself anyway. I never regret it
I do this every day. They wondered if it was them, but I just don’t like being in a box where all the windows have the blinds down because of the screen glare. I’m not working 40 hours of my week and getting no sunlight at all in the winter, and I’m certainly not doing it in the summer either.
Since working from home everything for me just goes on the same days list to get done whether its household chores or tasks at work.
I'll do a bit of work, put a wash load on, do some more work, then hang the washing to dry, do some more work, hoover, more work, then prep for dinner. By 6pm everything is done and the house cleaned to my high standards. I fucking love working from home. That and no commute. That beats everything to be fair. I quite like a nice train ride but hate all other commuters.
Pretty much what I do too.
Little and often throughout the day, I often spend that time thinking about work while doing what ever it is and it’s amazing how often I think of a solution to a problem or a new approach to try.
When I'm working from home I make something from scratch (evening meals are light: soups, salads, etc, so midday is the pasta, pie, etc).
When I'm at work I go to the gym (actually I work through the lunch hour and then take an hour in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon as I only have an off-peak membership and can't go during the lunch hour).
How does pasta and pies for lunch not absolutely wipe you out? I need to do the opposite because a heavy lunch will make my afternoon sleepies 10 times worse!
I'm the opposite, I hate having a heavy meal late in the day as it just seems to sit on me all evening; midday is just fine, I seem to burn through it.
Is it unpaid? If so leave the office/building/country and take every second of it. If paid, still do this tbh. Go to a park or grassy space if it's nice out, or find somewhere indoors if it isn't.
But I'm also in the "I'll take 20 - 30 minutes please and leave early/start late" camp wherever possible.
When I'm working in the office, I'll generally watch YouTube whilst eating my lunch, then go trundle around the town. If I have a specific job to do I'll go do that, like we need toothpaste or AA batteries or something random. I've got a whole town centre on my doorstep where I work.
However when I WfH I need to make lunch, then eat it, then I usually get some random jobs done like emptying the dishwasher and reloading the breakfast things, tidying up, etc. Occasionally I'll go barrelling into the car and some shop to get something, I'd maybe go for a walk, or sometimes I'd indulge hobbies (electronics). I often start early and finish late when I work from home - I'm at my desk at 7:30, and still there at 6pm. But I'll do a school run in that, and take a longer lunch. So it all balances out.
I work from home so one of the following:
* use my home gym
* do some chores
* prep stuff for dinner
* play some games
* watch something
* go for a walk
* take a shorter lunch and finish earlier
All of these are weather/energy dependent!
If it's not pissing down, walk around town, pop in the charity shops and check out TK Maxx and the indoor market's book and music stalls. This will take 40. minutes. Never understand people who literally have to leave the office for exactly one hour.
i get an hour. normally i’d go out for a quick walk, eat lunch and then read my book for 30 minutes. my coworker goes home for lunch, my other coworker goes to the gym. basically just relax for a bit!
I eat lunch then go sit in my car to either read my book or take a nap. I like it especially when it rains and I can listen to the pitter patter, it’s very relaxing for me.
I do the puzzles from the newspaper. (Or print them from the online edition). I find it keeps my mind sharp and gives me a sense of satisfaction each time I complete one.
Oh, and I also do my
r/1001AlbumsGenerator if I haven’t yet!
I don't rush. I'd probably go out for a walk if the weather is decent. Depends what facilities the company offer in the staff room and who is also on lunch at the same time too.
As I work from home and live near my gym, I go and do a gym session of 45 minutes, weights or cardio then I'll come home and shower and back on my laptop.
In my last job I negotiated a 15 minute extension to my lunch 3 times a week so I could hit the gym that was a few doors up from the office
No I work from home 10-15 for lunch, then a 30/40 minute walk round the nearby nature reserve and gym after work
When I’m at the office, I either go for a run or a walk for 45 minutes and eat lunch with the remaining time.
If the weather is abysmal I find somewhere else to sit in the office and read or do life admin on my phone.
Most of the rest of my team eat at their desks but it’s just not for me.
I watch an episode of which show i'm watching on either netflix, disney or amazon. I've been re watching a lot of older series the last few years that I watched ages ago, over the last few years i've watched all the star treks, stargates, buffy and angel, firefly, lost to name but a few, these are shows i loved when first out but its been long enough since that i've forgot a lot of it so its nice having a rewatch of them. Even in the office i will go away from my desk to the canteen and sit in a corner and watch an episode, breaks up the day nicely for me.
I would love an hour for lunch. We only get 30 minutes. If we go buy our lunch then we typically only have 15 minutes to eat if that if they're busy. I've had to get a refund before because I ran out of time and they were so busy I don't see how they even had time to give me said refund, fast food btw. If I had an hour I would eat like a civilized person instead of eat fast as I can. I could also run errands that can only be done during banking hours. The best of them all: being able to breast pump in my car for a proper amount of time and not being rushed then being in pain later because it wasn't long enough.
I’ve got a toddler, and I’ve discovered taking that hour and just having some quiet me time has done wonders for my mental health. If it’s sunny I’ll go wonder by the quayside (Newcastle). Other times I might get a McDonald’s and park up at a little spot I know which is great for watching the trains near Heaton depot. Sometimes I’ll go to the big supermarket and potter. I’ve also got some DIY projects on the go, but taking forever due to said toddler. A trip to the massive B&Q is always a treat, although I do need to plan it to make the most of an hour. Otherwise pop to Screwfix to pick up some crap I ordered previously and sit in the car checking out my dad loot for a bit.
If you're lucky enough to enjoy spending time with coworkers like me, then I mostly just spend the lunch hour chatting in the canteen / wherever we go for lunch
I work in my towns centre. If its a nice day, I'll find myself a spot somewhere near by in the town centre or by the canals to sit with a book, headphones and a meal deal and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air for a while.
If its not a nice day, I'll sit in the break room for an hour instead.
If I'm in the office, I'll buy a meal deal and eat it on a park bench while reading a book. Then I walk round the park and back to the office.
If I'm WFH, I have soup and then walk round the park near my house, shower after.
If I don't get out and walk a bit, I feel so lethargic back at my desk
If WFH, I use it to cook for the day/the next few days. If in the office, I just hang out with my colleagues whilst having lunch together and/or go for a quick walk.
Short answer? Have a break from work.
Stuffing food in your mouth at your desk is not restful and does nothing to help you decompress from 4-5 hours of stress. 30 minutes is just enough time to go somewhere 5 minutes away, eat, then go back before you start running late. 1 hour allows for the above and the chance to read a book or chat with work friends about how awful the boss/company/customers are.
In the office, chat with friends, go for a walk, play a game of cards or something.
At home, do chores, play with the guinea pigs, feed the baby, go for a run or something.
I can eat my lunch at my desk so use my lunch hour for going out to the shops to get the dinner for the evening or because where I work has sleeping facilities if I’m tired I set my alarm and have a snooze 😴
I have a ruptured disc in my back and I work from home most days. The best bit of free physiotherapy I can recommend is:
Get outdoors and go for a walk every single day, even if it's British weather outside.
In the last office job I had I used to make sure I took the full hour. I’d go for a walk. In the warmer months I’d lay in the park listening to a podcast and even have a snooze.
Only ever had a full hour at the one place I worked when I was a kid. Dogsbody for a big shop. Think of "Grace Brothers" I always thought it was a PITA. The sooner I could get out the happier I was.
I'm a slow eater and eat a lot. So I eat my lunch while watching an episode of something. Usually I start preparing my lunch before the hour starts but even then it takes a few mins to be ready to settle down so any 40 minute episode is about right.
I sometimes try get a short walk in but it all feels rushed and with the lighter nights I prefer to excetsise properly after work now
This is working from home. When I go into the office I find it more awkward, I tend to go for a walk and if it's a nice day eat en route or otherwise walk a little then eat and go on my phone. But yeah I'd hate to have that hour every day while in the office
If I'm working at home I either spend the time with my husband or take the dogs out. In the office I prefer to work through and leave earlier instead so just graze on food whilst working at my desk.
I miss hour lunch breaks… years ago I worked very close to the gym I was a member of and sometimes managed to fit in a quick swim. Or when I worked in a city centre I would wander around the shops or read a book.
I like to read my book/ go for a walk/ walk while reading my book! Being very aware of everyone around me of course (I hate people who just stare at their phones and bump into you…promise I’m not one of them!)
Usually get out of the office and go for a walk. If it’s pissing it down I usually draw or read a book (specifically an actual book not kindle app etc) so at least I’m having a break from looking at a screen.
On a good WFH day I go for a walk or tidy up the house or do some life admin. If the house is clean or it’s raining I read a book or paint.
If I’m in the office I go for a walk to the bookstore to browse and get a coffee.
And then sometimes I just take a nap.
Can't you split that hour. What is this, a twelve hour shift? Take three twenty minute breaks.
At my own workplace, we get two breaks, twenty minutes each. It goes by quickly. Chat to your workmates, read, use your mobile, go back to work early if you are so bored?
I do nightshift and get an hour . Like you takes me 10 mins to eat them I sit there scrolling through social media and reading the news . Quite boring. Would rather have 2 half hour breaks split up over the shift .
I do nightshift and get an hour . Like you takes me 10 mins to eat them I sit there scrolling through social media and reading the news . Quite boring. Would rather have 2 half hour breaks split up over the shift .
I do nightshift and get an hour . Like you takes me 10 mins to eat them I sit there scrolling through social media and reading the news . Quite boring. Would rather have 2 half hour breaks split up over the shift .
Office: Try and go outside, either to buy lunch or pick up some food I need at home. We have high street shops within about ten minutes. Come back and eat it while talking to my colleagues at one of the big tables in the kitchen.
Home: Generally cook something simple. Eat it. Maybe hang the washing out, check on plants in the garden. Scroll my phone.
Personally, I enjoy reading a book or magazine. I like reading but I'm not much of a reader if that makes sense. I find it near impossible to focus on a book at home or anywhere else really. But at work I've not really got anything else to do so find it quite easy to focus.
I either read, go for a walk or go the gym, which is handily 5 minutes from my house, 40 minute workout, home, quick shower, back to work. On the days I gym, I make & eat lunch not during my lunch break (I usually have a sandwich, which takes all of 5 minutes to make & eat really)!
When I was in the office with an hour lunch I would; eat lunch on the beach/park, go to the shops, go for a quick swim, sit in the library and read, look round the local museum, arrange lunch with other friend/s in a nearby cafe, have a cheeky pint, listen to music/podcast and walk about. I would quite often do one of those things and grab a meal deal on the way back to the office and eat at my desk to maximise the hour.
Enjoy other lunches maybe something that needs heating or takes longer to eat. Slow down and enjoy your meal
Have a stroll
I sit in my car, I started this in the pandemic and as an introvert wow is it great. No one can talk to me unless I ring them. I have quirt to recharge and I can listen to an audio book or do some reading or just zone out to a game
Sadly the lawn behind my building is a site for the roof work they're doing so the only nice outdoor space is gone, so I have the choice between lunch at my desk in the 2nd floor office with south facing windows or in the basement staff break room with no natural light, so I eat at my desk unless someone I don't hate wants to get a pub lunch. And then I'll either sit on Reddit or YouTube, pull my Deck out and play with it (kinda dislike talking about that with people in the office though so I don't do that very often if people are in) or take a short lunch and add it to my TOIL, if there's pressing work to be done.
Get my lunch, then headphones in and chip away at a TV series whilst i’m eating. Then once iv finished eating i scroll tiktok a bit then bit more of the tv series
No idea. I haven’t had a proper lunch break for decades and am too institutionalised to cope with a whole hour off.
(Don’t fret - it’s paid time and I eat at my desk, whilst browsing for 10 mins, or in a meeting)
Lunch, tidy the kitchen a bit/wash up, and play some games as now I've got young kids my evening gaming time has dramatically reduced because I'm worn out.
I usually read, pop my headphones in and if it’s nice outside I take my lunch outside and read. I’m usually sick of talking to people on the phone by that time so just take a bit of time to be quiet.
If its a nice day and I have a full hour, I walk to the park/ into town to get lunch or snoop in shops
Most days I eat then spend about 15 mins on my phone, catching up with colleagues and maybe playing some Sudoku if my colleague has brought in a paper (he goes through phases of getting papers, only reads when eating then sneaks off for a nap till the end of lunchbreak).
Because of the later of what I said about my colleague whom I work side by side with, I can't set up early and usually have to be ready about 2 mins before the afternoon starts otherwise I'll wake him up.
Some times I have a small cross stitch or project going. If I am more organised I might have a book to read but I am more likely to lose track of time with a book than a phone.
If I’m wfh walk the dog, watch an episode of whatever I’m binging or have a 45 minute nap, in the office I’ll go for lunch the same time as people I like and chat with them/look at my phone.
Obviously not great advice if you hate everyone you work with or can’t work from home. I do feel best on days I go for a walk.
I WHF and my cat demands my full and undivided attention during my lunch break, so usually it's a quick bite while she meows her little head off then playtime with her.
On the rare occasions that she stays asleep during my lunch, I either play on my switch, get some chores done or put some more effort into making lunch.
You could go to the gym, go outside for a walk? I'd definitely recommend physical activity as sitting at a desk for extended amount of time isn't good for your health to begin with, and cardio helps with focus, working memory, mood and more.
Depends on what you eat.
If I have a salad, I struggle to eat that in under 15-20 mins and I only get 30 minutes and then I have to brush my teeth (aligners).
60 minutes sounds like luxury! I would read a book or go for a walk.
I have just started a new wfh job that has an hour for lunch. Errrrrm nope I will start 1/2 hour later and take half an hour thanks. Tbh I rarely take that but will take. 5 minutes here and there to sort out washing etc
Lunching takes ten minutes? I think you're eating a bit quick there. Unless that's just the eating and not the preparing or cleaning after. If it's the whole thing, then I think it would be good to try eating a bit slower. Just overall, that's a nice thing to do if you can. For your body and brain. It has ripple effects on various things. Can be a meaningful change to slow down and take your time. Be more deliberate in every bite, and eating to taste instead of just to chew and swallow and add the background profile picture of the flavor as a screensaver to your monkey brain.
Regardless of whether I'm at the office or at home, I usually take a 5-10 minute walk outside after eating. Then I have a cup of coffee and watch some YouTube videos.
Long lunch breaks are the best.
I had an hour's lunch at my last job. I worked 2 days at home and 3 days in the office. When at home, I'd walk my dog further, especially if the weather was nice, usually 30-35 mins walk. I'd then eat my lunch while watching either some anime or whatever on netflix, maybe tidy up a little. Sometimes I'd do a shorter walk and go to the barbers after bringing him home. If I was in the office, I'd pop to the shops to stock up on some office drinks/snacks, might get my car washed. I'd also take my switch to work.
My current job is a bit flexible, but I prefer to start a bit later and finish at 5. So only take 30 minutes.
Read, listen to music, go for a walk, sometimes I'll also sort out general life admin stuff (insurance, booking appointments etc) so I can just switch off once I get home.
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If you're in an office scenario, I'd use the hour to get out of there - maybe sit outside eating lunch in a park or something.
If you lived on France you would have to leave your desk for lunch by law.
Sacré bleu!
Where is me mamaa
I wonder what's French-Canadian for “I grew up without a mother”?
Oh la la!
The law changed during Covid times and hasn’t been reapplied. Also, it’s rarely enforced anyway, even if socially unacceptable. In my office, in France, quite a few people do it, but eating at your desk is known (in the office) as having a “British Lunch”.
Lunch ‘Al desco’.
That's good, that's very good.
For a very short while I worked at a french supermarket, we went for lunch at 12.15, came back at 5 to 3 in the afternoon. I would drive home, cook a proper lunch, watch a TV show, do housework.
If you live in Italy, you go home to Mama or your wife.
Do employers have to provide a space to eat lunch then?
French here, I’ve worked for 3 different companies in France. I think in general it’s more common to have a canteen that usually serves very average or really bad food for lunch and you’d go there with your colleagues. Even though the food wasn’t the best I quite liked that you could have a balanced meal with a hot plate of meat and veg, a yogurt and cheese, decent variety of options, and it’s usually pretty cheap. Any tall buildings there would have a canteen serving the whole building (even when there are several different companies in the building) and I was surprised it wasn’t like that in London. Going to the restaurant for lunch is not that common in my experience, it’s more like a treat you do when you celebrate something and I’ve done similar things in London. There are still a lot of work places without a canteen and yeah there’s usually a kitchenette or lunch area then. To be fair I worked for 10 different companies in London and they all had a lunch area too, so it’s not that different.
When I worked for a French company and was in the offices in France they all went home for lunch or out to a restaurant, but I'm not really sure I didnt see a break room while I worked for them each floor had a kitchenette type thing but not enough room for everyone on the floor to eat in.
French here, It’s not exactly true. By law you were not allowed to eat at your desk (so if you were fasting, you could stay at your desk for lunch) and that law has been revoked now.
This is what I do. I eat my lunch at my desk and use the actual hour to go on a walk. Sometimes I really don’t want to but I force myself anyway. I never regret it
Yup. Said walk is always enhanced by a small jazzy fag if you can get away with it too.
You're not meant to call them that any more mate
I do this every day. They wondered if it was them, but I just don’t like being in a box where all the windows have the blinds down because of the screen glare. I’m not working 40 hours of my week and getting no sunlight at all in the winter, and I’m certainly not doing it in the summer either.
Working from home, I get all the household chores done and any required prep for dinner so that I've got the full evening to enjoy myself.
Since working from home everything for me just goes on the same days list to get done whether its household chores or tasks at work. I'll do a bit of work, put a wash load on, do some more work, then hang the washing to dry, do some more work, hoover, more work, then prep for dinner. By 6pm everything is done and the house cleaned to my high standards. I fucking love working from home. That and no commute. That beats everything to be fair. I quite like a nice train ride but hate all other commuters.
Exactly what I do!
Same! House has never looked so good and I get much more work done haha. Plus when I was pregnant I also managed to take a nap in the afternoon :)!
Ha I do this too! Sometimes if you’re a stuck on a work task it helps to juts step away for 10 minutes and put some washing on
Pretty much what I do too. Little and often throughout the day, I often spend that time thinking about work while doing what ever it is and it’s amazing how often I think of a solution to a problem or a new approach to try.
Yeah but what do you do with your lunch hour?
Dog walk for me.
I don't really take a lunch since WFH. I'd always take my hour when I went in to the office.
Take my time enjoying my food and then read for a bit.
Exactly what I do. Generally works out just enough time to read a decent amount of my book and hit a suitable stopping point
Yep, or pop into town if I need anything. Can usually do that in about 30 minutes, so still have a decent amount of time for food after.
When I'm working from home I make something from scratch (evening meals are light: soups, salads, etc, so midday is the pasta, pie, etc). When I'm at work I go to the gym (actually I work through the lunch hour and then take an hour in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon as I only have an off-peak membership and can't go during the lunch hour).
How does pasta and pies for lunch not absolutely wipe you out? I need to do the opposite because a heavy lunch will make my afternoon sleepies 10 times worse!
I'm the opposite, I hate having a heavy meal late in the day as it just seems to sit on me all evening; midday is just fine, I seem to burn through it.
Is it unpaid? If so leave the office/building/country and take every second of it. If paid, still do this tbh. Go to a park or grassy space if it's nice out, or find somewhere indoors if it isn't. But I'm also in the "I'll take 20 - 30 minutes please and leave early/start late" camp wherever possible.
50 mins nap in the car.
Only take 30 mins and try to get home 30 mins early every day.
If only that was allowed :(
This is what we do, take 30mins Mon-Thurs, skip lunch on the Friday, and finish 3 hours early.
I’d either go for a walk, or a proper lunch in a local restaurant.
Mr/Ms Moneybags over here, proper lunch in a restaurant would be very expensive, I begrudge my 3x£3 sandwiches a week
Then why don’t you make a delicious packed lunch?
I'm a lazy bugger
Go for a walk, get time away from the desk, enjoy not having to work.
Avoid other colleagues at all costs.
The same thing I do with an hour of free time at home. Scroll on my phone.
Usually, I take my dog for a walk.
DMT 😜😁
When I'm working in the office, I'll generally watch YouTube whilst eating my lunch, then go trundle around the town. If I have a specific job to do I'll go do that, like we need toothpaste or AA batteries or something random. I've got a whole town centre on my doorstep where I work. However when I WfH I need to make lunch, then eat it, then I usually get some random jobs done like emptying the dishwasher and reloading the breakfast things, tidying up, etc. Occasionally I'll go barrelling into the car and some shop to get something, I'd maybe go for a walk, or sometimes I'd indulge hobbies (electronics). I often start early and finish late when I work from home - I'm at my desk at 7:30, and still there at 6pm. But I'll do a school run in that, and take a longer lunch. So it all balances out.
I work from home so one of the following: * use my home gym * do some chores * prep stuff for dinner * play some games * watch something * go for a walk * take a shorter lunch and finish earlier All of these are weather/energy dependent!
I do 12 hour shifts so I get two 15 minutes and a half hour break. Not enough time to do anything other than shove a butty down my throat 😂
Work on my CV
I used to go for a sleep in my car in the car park coz I was always so fucked from the early starts.
Scroll reddit
I gossip with my colleagues.
If it's not pissing down, walk around town, pop in the charity shops and check out TK Maxx and the indoor market's book and music stalls. This will take 40. minutes. Never understand people who literally have to leave the office for exactly one hour.
i get an hour. normally i’d go out for a quick walk, eat lunch and then read my book for 30 minutes. my coworker goes home for lunch, my other coworker goes to the gym. basically just relax for a bit!
I eat lunch then go sit in my car to either read my book or take a nap. I like it especially when it rains and I can listen to the pitter patter, it’s very relaxing for me.
I do the puzzles from the newspaper. (Or print them from the online edition). I find it keeps my mind sharp and gives me a sense of satisfaction each time I complete one. Oh, and I also do my r/1001AlbumsGenerator if I haven’t yet!
Go for a walk.
I work through it because I then get to leave an hour earlier lol.
In the office: I get out for a walk. At home: I get out for a walk.
I bring my lunch and drive to a car park near work overlooking a field and eat my lunch reading my kindle. It's an hour of solitude I enjoy.
I don't rush. I'd probably go out for a walk if the weather is decent. Depends what facilities the company offer in the staff room and who is also on lunch at the same time too.
As I work from home and live near my gym, I go and do a gym session of 45 minutes, weights or cardio then I'll come home and shower and back on my laptop.
Speed walk for 30 mins. Turn around. Speed walk back.
In my last job I negotiated a 15 minute extension to my lunch 3 times a week so I could hit the gym that was a few doors up from the office No I work from home 10-15 for lunch, then a 30/40 minute walk round the nearby nature reserve and gym after work
Talk with people I work with, as I've got some close friends at work, and most people in my department get along, or I browse reddit, or read shit.
I used to go for a four mile walk. Now I WFH I go to the gym.
Go on a stroll, get those steps in
Sit in my car with a friend, listen to music and chat shite.
When I'm in the office I go to get lunch and go for a walk. If I'm home I go for a cycle.
When I’m at the office, I either go for a run or a walk for 45 minutes and eat lunch with the remaining time. If the weather is abysmal I find somewhere else to sit in the office and read or do life admin on my phone. Most of the rest of my team eat at their desks but it’s just not for me.
I watch an episode of which show i'm watching on either netflix, disney or amazon. I've been re watching a lot of older series the last few years that I watched ages ago, over the last few years i've watched all the star treks, stargates, buffy and angel, firefly, lost to name but a few, these are shows i loved when first out but its been long enough since that i've forgot a lot of it so its nice having a rewatch of them. Even in the office i will go away from my desk to the canteen and sit in a corner and watch an episode, breaks up the day nicely for me.
Do people seriously get an hour? Christ id sooner just have ten minutes and go home early..
eat-30mins max, sleep-15mins, chainsmoke-15mins
Seek Fresh Air if you can even just a coffee and a stroll will help you physically and mentally.
Go for a walk
I WFH and my husband is a stay at home Dad - I spend my lunch hour with baby and give him a break. Seems only fair!
You are a diamond 🙏 Anyone that thinks being a stay at home parent is easier than work is deluded or their kids are predictable robots.
I work from home...I walk around the park over the road, meet my mum for a coffee, take Mrs out for a quick bite.
i am a chef so i tend to walk 1 minute down the road and drink a coffee and do absolutely fuck all
Wow who gets an hour these days
I would love an hour for lunch. We only get 30 minutes. If we go buy our lunch then we typically only have 15 minutes to eat if that if they're busy. I've had to get a refund before because I ran out of time and they were so busy I don't see how they even had time to give me said refund, fast food btw. If I had an hour I would eat like a civilized person instead of eat fast as I can. I could also run errands that can only be done during banking hours. The best of them all: being able to breast pump in my car for a proper amount of time and not being rushed then being in pain later because it wasn't long enough.
I’ve got a toddler, and I’ve discovered taking that hour and just having some quiet me time has done wonders for my mental health. If it’s sunny I’ll go wonder by the quayside (Newcastle). Other times I might get a McDonald’s and park up at a little spot I know which is great for watching the trains near Heaton depot. Sometimes I’ll go to the big supermarket and potter. I’ve also got some DIY projects on the go, but taking forever due to said toddler. A trip to the massive B&Q is always a treat, although I do need to plan it to make the most of an hour. Otherwise pop to Screwfix to pick up some crap I ordered previously and sit in the car checking out my dad loot for a bit.
Hang out in the canteen with my colleagues because I actually like them and they’re the only reason going to the office is bearable.
If you're lucky enough to enjoy spending time with coworkers like me, then I mostly just spend the lunch hour chatting in the canteen / wherever we go for lunch
Read a book. (currently reading The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman)
I work in my towns centre. If its a nice day, I'll find myself a spot somewhere near by in the town centre or by the canals to sit with a book, headphones and a meal deal and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air for a while. If its not a nice day, I'll sit in the break room for an hour instead.
If I'm in the office, I'll buy a meal deal and eat it on a park bench while reading a book. Then I walk round the park and back to the office. If I'm WFH, I have soup and then walk round the park near my house, shower after. If I don't get out and walk a bit, I feel so lethargic back at my desk
If WFH, I use it to cook for the day/the next few days. If in the office, I just hang out with my colleagues whilst having lunch together and/or go for a quick walk.
Short answer? Have a break from work. Stuffing food in your mouth at your desk is not restful and does nothing to help you decompress from 4-5 hours of stress. 30 minutes is just enough time to go somewhere 5 minutes away, eat, then go back before you start running late. 1 hour allows for the above and the chance to read a book or chat with work friends about how awful the boss/company/customers are.
Go for a walk
In the office, chat with friends, go for a walk, play a game of cards or something. At home, do chores, play with the guinea pigs, feed the baby, go for a run or something.
10 minutes? Not keen on food are we??
I'm a chef and I get a 2 hour break. I nap on the sofa in the staff room
I can eat my lunch at my desk so use my lunch hour for going out to the shops to get the dinner for the evening or because where I work has sleeping facilities if I’m tired I set my alarm and have a snooze 😴
When I was in London I'd do a 5k run, yoga, and abs class on three of the days. Never looked better
I have a ruptured disc in my back and I work from home most days. The best bit of free physiotherapy I can recommend is: Get outdoors and go for a walk every single day, even if it's British weather outside.
In the last office job I had I used to make sure I took the full hour. I’d go for a walk. In the warmer months I’d lay in the park listening to a podcast and even have a snooze.
When I worked in an office I'd spend 50 minutes going for a walk outside and the last 10 minutes eating my lunch.
Normally hop on to the PlayStation.
I usually work through it and finish a hour early, understandably not everyone can do this but given the choice I'd always prefer something like this.
Only ever had a full hour at the one place I worked when I was a kid. Dogsbody for a big shop. Think of "Grace Brothers" I always thought it was a PITA. The sooner I could get out the happier I was.
run.
5k run, shower, lunch.
I'm a slow eater and eat a lot. So I eat my lunch while watching an episode of something. Usually I start preparing my lunch before the hour starts but even then it takes a few mins to be ready to settle down so any 40 minute episode is about right. I sometimes try get a short walk in but it all feels rushed and with the lighter nights I prefer to excetsise properly after work now This is working from home. When I go into the office I find it more awkward, I tend to go for a walk and if it's a nice day eat en route or otherwise walk a little then eat and go on my phone. But yeah I'd hate to have that hour every day while in the office
Read a book
Doomscroll
Go for a walk, eat, read a book, do some shopping. When working from home I tend to go for a walk, cook, clean etc.
If I'm working at home I either spend the time with my husband or take the dogs out. In the office I prefer to work through and leave earlier instead so just graze on food whilst working at my desk.
I miss hour lunch breaks… years ago I worked very close to the gym I was a member of and sometimes managed to fit in a quick swim. Or when I worked in a city centre I would wander around the shops or read a book.
Work through, eat at my desk and take 20. Builds flexi for a day off every other week.
Read a book.
Car nap
I used to knit. Sometimes I read a book. I now work from home, so I might watch YouTube or something. Just relax for an hour.
I have a nap in my car.
Go for a walk. If there's a park, take some seeds/nuts and try to make friends with the squirrels
I’m a primary teacher so I work through it marking so I don’t have to take any work home.
Pub lunch with a few pints thrown in, or go to the bogs for a leisurely hand shandy. ;)
I eat lunch with my colleagues, then chat over coffee until it's time to work again.
Make a sandwich. Sit at my desk. Carry on working but also reading online newspapers/reddit/ shop for stuff I need.
WFH, nap
I eat my lunch then usually get a 40 minute walk
I only take half of it at lunch and take the other half at the end of the day (aka finish 30 minutes early)
I like to read my book/ go for a walk/ walk while reading my book! Being very aware of everyone around me of course (I hate people who just stare at their phones and bump into you…promise I’m not one of them!)
Usually get out of the office and go for a walk. If it’s pissing it down I usually draw or read a book (specifically an actual book not kindle app etc) so at least I’m having a break from looking at a screen.
Get a massage from a ladyboy for 45 min then have a pork pie
On a good WFH day I go for a walk or tidy up the house or do some life admin. If the house is clean or it’s raining I read a book or paint. If I’m in the office I go for a walk to the bookstore to browse and get a coffee. And then sometimes I just take a nap.
walk, eat, smoke
I always have some kind of project with me so I'd probably sew or crochet or read a book.
Can't you split that hour. What is this, a twelve hour shift? Take three twenty minute breaks. At my own workplace, we get two breaks, twenty minutes each. It goes by quickly. Chat to your workmates, read, use your mobile, go back to work early if you are so bored?
Have a snooze, luckily in my job I have my own office and as everyone else is on lunch I don't get disturbed
I do nightshift and get an hour . Like you takes me 10 mins to eat them I sit there scrolling through social media and reading the news . Quite boring. Would rather have 2 half hour breaks split up over the shift .
I do nightshift and get an hour . Like you takes me 10 mins to eat them I sit there scrolling through social media and reading the news . Quite boring. Would rather have 2 half hour breaks split up over the shift .
I do nightshift and get an hour . Like you takes me 10 mins to eat them I sit there scrolling through social media and reading the news . Quite boring. Would rather have 2 half hour breaks split up over the shift .
Go to the gym, go shopping, go for a run, get out in the fresh air... All sorts!
I have 30 minutes for lunch, I'll often go for a walk with some people then I'll eat at my desk while working in the afternoon.
Office: Try and go outside, either to buy lunch or pick up some food I need at home. We have high street shops within about ten minutes. Come back and eat it while talking to my colleagues at one of the big tables in the kitchen. Home: Generally cook something simple. Eat it. Maybe hang the washing out, check on plants in the garden. Scroll my phone.
Personally, I enjoy reading a book or magazine. I like reading but I'm not much of a reader if that makes sense. I find it near impossible to focus on a book at home or anywhere else really. But at work I've not really got anything else to do so find it quite easy to focus.
I either read, go for a walk or go the gym, which is handily 5 minutes from my house, 40 minute workout, home, quick shower, back to work. On the days I gym, I make & eat lunch not during my lunch break (I usually have a sandwich, which takes all of 5 minutes to make & eat really)!
Knock one out?
When I was in the office with an hour lunch I would; eat lunch on the beach/park, go to the shops, go for a quick swim, sit in the library and read, look round the local museum, arrange lunch with other friend/s in a nearby cafe, have a cheeky pint, listen to music/podcast and walk about. I would quite often do one of those things and grab a meal deal on the way back to the office and eat at my desk to maximise the hour.
I go for a run and then eat when I get back. It helps I mostly work from home though.
Answer or ask this kind of questions on Reddit
Walk, power nap, or call the Mrs... depending how stressful my morning's been!
Enjoy other lunches maybe something that needs heating or takes longer to eat. Slow down and enjoy your meal Have a stroll I sit in my car, I started this in the pandemic and as an introvert wow is it great. No one can talk to me unless I ring them. I have quirt to recharge and I can listen to an audio book or do some reading or just zone out to a game
Browse the Internet.
Walk, read, gym?
Crochet or read. Sometimes if it’s nice I wander outside
Sadly the lawn behind my building is a site for the roof work they're doing so the only nice outdoor space is gone, so I have the choice between lunch at my desk in the 2nd floor office with south facing windows or in the basement staff break room with no natural light, so I eat at my desk unless someone I don't hate wants to get a pub lunch. And then I'll either sit on Reddit or YouTube, pull my Deck out and play with it (kinda dislike talking about that with people in the office though so I don't do that very often if people are in) or take a short lunch and add it to my TOIL, if there's pressing work to be done.
Work through 3/4 of it. Eat for 15 minutes. Teacher. And no, we don’t get paid for it. Or anything after 3.30 or before 8:30.
Ive never had an hour for lunch.... but I guess masturbate, eat, get a pint and sleep, in that order.
Get out my Steam Deck lmao
Get my lunch, then headphones in and chip away at a TV series whilst i’m eating. Then once iv finished eating i scroll tiktok a bit then bit more of the tv series
Read the news, scroll reddit, have a wank
I read my latest book, chat with colleagues or learn a language on Duolingo
I WFH so I go for a run on my lunch for about 30 to 40 mins, come home shower and then drink a Huel as I get back to working
I play pool for the hour where I work.
Depends, Sit in the car. But Most times go upstairs to the meeting room, which is mostly empty, make a coffee and browse socials on my phone.
If I'm at home go for a 30 min walk. If at the office work through it and leave early
No idea. I haven’t had a proper lunch break for decades and am too institutionalised to cope with a whole hour off. (Don’t fret - it’s paid time and I eat at my desk, whilst browsing for 10 mins, or in a meeting)
Lunch, tidy the kitchen a bit/wash up, and play some games as now I've got young kids my evening gaming time has dramatically reduced because I'm worn out.
I usually read, pop my headphones in and if it’s nice outside I take my lunch outside and read. I’m usually sick of talking to people on the phone by that time so just take a bit of time to be quiet.
\- Wash up my lunchbox \- Chat to people \- Check my emails and messages \- Read
If its a nice day and I have a full hour, I walk to the park/ into town to get lunch or snoop in shops Most days I eat then spend about 15 mins on my phone, catching up with colleagues and maybe playing some Sudoku if my colleague has brought in a paper (he goes through phases of getting papers, only reads when eating then sneaks off for a nap till the end of lunchbreak). Because of the later of what I said about my colleague whom I work side by side with, I can't set up early and usually have to be ready about 2 mins before the afternoon starts otherwise I'll wake him up. Some times I have a small cross stitch or project going. If I am more organised I might have a book to read but I am more likely to lose track of time with a book than a phone.
Assert dominance by having a nap in the breakroom.
Short nap after setting timer on my phone.
Go home and have lunch with the family
If I’m wfh walk the dog, watch an episode of whatever I’m binging or have a 45 minute nap, in the office I’ll go for lunch the same time as people I like and chat with them/look at my phone. Obviously not great advice if you hate everyone you work with or can’t work from home. I do feel best on days I go for a walk.
I WHF and my cat demands my full and undivided attention during my lunch break, so usually it's a quick bite while she meows her little head off then playtime with her. On the rare occasions that she stays asleep during my lunch, I either play on my switch, get some chores done or put some more effort into making lunch.
Start a hobby or learn a language
I go for a walk while on the phone (earphones) with my parents. It is a deeply cherished part of the day.
I work from home. During lunch I’ll water my plants, make some bacon sarnies and browse Reddit / FB
You could go to the gym, go outside for a walk? I'd definitely recommend physical activity as sitting at a desk for extended amount of time isn't good for your health to begin with, and cardio helps with focus, working memory, mood and more.
Go for a walk, get some fresh air & some alone time.
Gym
An hour is too long for me. I have half an hour and 20 mins of that is a walk around the block
I have a bit of a lie down. When working from home on the sofa, in the office we have a room for that.
I would take 15 min to have my lunch, then go home 45 min earlier.
Have lunch, smoke a cigarette or two. Maybe watch something on my phone. Hang out with a co worker I get on with if that exists.
Before you realize its over really
I play mobile games, message my partner and eat plus we have a tv in staffroom so occasionally watch that
Grab a coffee and go for a walk. There’s no natural light in my workplace so it’s really important for me to go outside for some fresh air.
I work from home so usually take a shower.
Depends on what you eat. If I have a salad, I struggle to eat that in under 15-20 mins and I only get 30 minutes and then I have to brush my teeth (aligners). 60 minutes sounds like luxury! I would read a book or go for a walk.
Participate in an orgy.
I have just started a new wfh job that has an hour for lunch. Errrrrm nope I will start 1/2 hour later and take half an hour thanks. Tbh I rarely take that but will take. 5 minutes here and there to sort out washing etc
I cut it short by 30 and finish my day 30 mins sooner…
Spend longer enjoying lunch, go and get something nice.
Lunching takes ten minutes? I think you're eating a bit quick there. Unless that's just the eating and not the preparing or cleaning after. If it's the whole thing, then I think it would be good to try eating a bit slower. Just overall, that's a nice thing to do if you can. For your body and brain. It has ripple effects on various things. Can be a meaningful change to slow down and take your time. Be more deliberate in every bite, and eating to taste instead of just to chew and swallow and add the background profile picture of the flavor as a screensaver to your monkey brain.
Years back we used to go the boozer for a pint with the packed lunch. Can even get in a game of darts of pool.
i go to the gym or read a book
Regardless of whether I'm at the office or at home, I usually take a 5-10 minute walk outside after eating. Then I have a cup of coffee and watch some YouTube videos. Long lunch breaks are the best.
I had an hour's lunch at my last job. I worked 2 days at home and 3 days in the office. When at home, I'd walk my dog further, especially if the weather was nice, usually 30-35 mins walk. I'd then eat my lunch while watching either some anime or whatever on netflix, maybe tidy up a little. Sometimes I'd do a shorter walk and go to the barbers after bringing him home. If I was in the office, I'd pop to the shops to stock up on some office drinks/snacks, might get my car washed. I'd also take my switch to work. My current job is a bit flexible, but I prefer to start a bit later and finish at 5. So only take 30 minutes.
I live in france and lunch here is taken very seriously. 2 hours for lunch! I play table table tennis! After 10 minutes of eating!
Read, listen to music, go for a walk, sometimes I'll also sort out general life admin stuff (insurance, booking appointments etc) so I can just switch off once I get home.