Win The Workday With These 8 Dynamite Things To Do On Your Lunch Break
We already know that sitting all day isn’t exactly good for us. That stretching the legs leads to better concentration and creativity. That social time makes you happier at work (and no, we aren’t talking about social media). Need some inspiration? Take a look at these eight awesome things to do on your lunch break.
1. MIDDAY CONCERTS: Getting out of the office and jamming to your latest playlist is good. But getting out of the office to catch live musicians? Even better. Hence the rise in popularity of the lunchtime concert series, which makes seeing a show possible, even for the time-pressed. One to try? The Bach at One concert series, held every Monday at St. Paul's Chapel in Lower Manhattan.
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2. ART MUSEUM TALKS: No, going to art museums isn't just for rainy weekends – or when your parents are in town. Truth is, nothing counteracts excessive screen time like some real-life canvases. If you want to master your masterpieces, a number of institutions also offer lunch hour talks. Start with the Art Institute of Chicago, whose half-hour express talks teach you about everything from Delftware to the surrealism of Marc Chagall.
Image courtesy of Chris Lake
3. WORDS ON A PAGE, IRL: We don't know about you, but sometimes the best antidote to screen-based eyestrain is words on a real, paper, non-backlit page. Swap the digital for the analogue and go for a bookstore crawl of your city, because few things are as comforting as settling into a cozy reading nook with a page-turner – and maybe a bookstore cat.
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4. PAMPERING: You look tense. Your shoulders are really bunched-up there, huh? What's that, you say? Carpal tunnel? Next lunch break, don't slump down further into your chair, cup of noodles in hand – treat yourself to a massage for the time-conscious. You can even hit up awesome services like Soothe, which bring the massage to you. Goodbye, knots.
Image courtesy of Duncan Smith/Photodisc/Thinkstock
5. MINDFULNESS: Those meditation apps you've been hearing all about? Yep, lunchtime is pretty much the perfect time to give your Om a try. Studies show midday meditation does all sorts of good for your brain, making it a key part of daily self-care. For added personal zen, lunchtime yoga classes will give your mind and your muscles that much-needed stretch.
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6. HIKES: Interacting with nature is proven to replenish all that energy spent dealing with your overflowing inbox, or having an Office Space-style bust-up with your printer. On a particularly stressful day, then, make a pact to enjoy your lunch picnic-style in your nearest urban park. Thinking of something a little higher-octane? Test out the AllTrails app, which has a database of over 50,000 rural and urban trails.
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7. NETWORKING: It may sound simple, but one of the best things to do on your lunch break is to treat yourself to a real, sit-down lunch. If that sounds like an impossible indulgence these days, don't sweat it – just tell your boss you're networking. A new group of apps and services like LetsLunch.com give you the chance to interact with all kinds of cool people – and, yes, have a real meal while you're at it.
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8. MICROVOLUNTEERING: Even with only an hour at your disposal, you can make some big differences within your own community. It's the idea that underlies the growing microvolunteering movement, which sees people giving small chunks of time – or even pitching in with online efforts – that fit around their working schedules. Visit residents in an assisted care facility, read to a child, or log on to help out. There's a lot you can accomplish in 60 minutes.
Image courtesy of monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Thinkstock
1. MIDDAY CONCERTS: Getting out of the office and jamming to your latest playlist is good. But getting out of the office to catch live musicians? Even better. Hence the rise in popularity of the lunchtime concert series, which makes seeing a show possible, even for the time-pressed. One to try? The Bach at One concert series, held every Monday at St. Paul's Chapel in Lower Manhattan.
Image courtesy of Sarah8000/iStock
2. ART MUSEUM TALKS: No, going to art museums isn't just for rainy weekends – or when your parents are in town. Truth is, nothing counteracts excessive screen time like some real-life canvases. If you want to master your masterpieces, a number of institutions also offer lunch hour talks. Start with the Art Institute of Chicago, whose half-hour express talks teach you about everything from Delftware to the surrealism of Marc Chagall.
Image courtesy of Chris Lake
3. WORDS ON A PAGE, IRL: We don't know about you, but sometimes the best antidote to screen-based eyestrain is words on a real, paper, non-backlit page. Swap the digital for the analogue and go for a bookstore crawl of your city, because few things are as comforting as settling into a cozy reading nook with a page-turner – and maybe a bookstore cat.
Image courtesy of Raylipscombe/iStock/Thinkstock
4. PAMPERING: You look tense. Your shoulders are really bunched-up there, huh? What's that, you say? Carpal tunnel? Next lunch break, don't slump down further into your chair, cup of noodles in hand – treat yourself to a massage for the time-conscious. You can even hit up awesome services like Soothe, which bring the massage to you. Goodbye, knots.
Image courtesy of Duncan Smith/Photodisc/Thinkstock
5. MINDFULNESS: Those meditation apps you've been hearing all about? Yep, lunchtime is pretty much the perfect time to give your Om a try. Studies show midday meditation does all sorts of good for your brain, making it a key part of daily self-care. For added personal zen, lunchtime yoga classes will give your mind and your muscles that much-needed stretch.
Image courtesy of Steve Debenport/iStock
6. HIKES: Interacting with nature is proven to replenish all that energy spent dealing with your overflowing inbox, or having an Office Space-style bust-up with your printer. On a particularly stressful day, then, make a pact to enjoy your lunch picnic-style in your nearest urban park. Thinking of something a little higher-octane? Test out the AllTrails app, which has a database of over 50,000 rural and urban trails.
Image courtesy of Remains/iStock/Thinkstock
7. NETWORKING: It may sound simple, but one of the best things to do on your lunch break is to treat yourself to a real, sit-down lunch. If that sounds like an impossible indulgence these days, don't sweat it – just tell your boss you're networking. A new group of apps and services like LetsLunch.com give you the chance to interact with all kinds of cool people – and, yes, have a real meal while you're at it.
Image courtesy of monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Thinkstock
8. MICROVOLUNTEERING: Even with only an hour at your disposal, you can make some big differences within your own community. It's the idea that underlies the growing microvolunteering movement, which sees people giving small chunks of time – or even pitching in with online efforts – that fit around their working schedules. Visit residents in an assisted care facility, read to a child, or log on to help out. There's a lot you can accomplish in 60 minutes.
Image courtesy of monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Thinkstock
