Lunch Breaks: 10 Reasons Why You Should Take Them

If you’re one of the millions of workers who believes that you need to work through lunch to impress your boss and get ahead, think again. The fact is that you could be lowering your own productivity and diminishing your job engagement by skipping lunch time. And what about legal requirements? Odds are that you could be creating potential legal difficulties for your employer if you continually work through your break.

In this post, we’ll examine the important role that the lunch break plays in the modern workplace. We’ll also explore some of the finer details of company lunch breaks and look at ten important reasons why you should take a lunch break at work.

Why lunch breaks matter

For decades, researchers have examined the role that breaks can have on employee engagement, job satisfaction, and productivity. Those studies have consistently found that regular, scheduled breaks in the workplace are a positive thing for not just workers, but the companies that employ them. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has pointed to studies that demonstrate how breaks throughout the workday can help to reduce worker injuries, as well as worksite errors.

The fact is that human beings are not machines. They require regular breaks away from their duties to recenter their thoughts, relieve stress, and replenish lost energy. Those who choose to work through lunch or other break periods will struggle to enjoy those benefits and may be more likely to experience a wide range of negative consequences like frustration, disillusionment, and burnout.

Why would anyone want to work through lunch breaks?

A Tork study conducted during the recent pandemic revealed that 39% of respondents reported that they regularly skipped their breaks. Of those, twice as many men as women decided to work through lunch, even when working remotely. For some workers, skipping lunch is seen as a way to capture a manager’s attention and set themselves apart from their peers. For others, it’s simply an opportunity to get more done.

There can even be pressure from coworkers or managers in some work environments. After all, if everyone around you decides to work through lunch, you’ll probably feel pushed to do so as well. In like manner, you may be one of these people who views the lunch break as an opportunity to catch up on your emails or work on a side project. Or you might be someone who eats a quick lunch without ever leaving your desk. For the record, that’s a meal; it’s not a break.

Oh, and if you’re one of the many people who skip lunch breaks to check your bank accounts, make personal calls, engage in online shopping, or pay bills, that’s no substitute for a lunch break either. When we say that you need to take your lunch break, we’re not talking about doing other types of chores instead of eating.

Ten important reasons why you need to take your lunch breaks

Of course, it is one thing to say that lunch breaks are important; it is quite another to provide actual reasons for you to take those lunch breaks that you’re due. Here are ten of the best reasons you shouldn’t work through lunch.

1. Lunch breaks can improve your mental health

Today’s employees often struggle to maintain a positive outlook and overall resilience, which can lead to decreased job engagement and increased dissatisfaction. Any negative impact on your mental health can be detrimental to your job performance and productivity, which can create additional stress and even burnout. That twenty or thirty minutes away from your desk could make all the difference in the world to your mental health and wellbeing.

2. You need to eat

Human beings require food to function at their best. And no matter how nutritious your breakfast might have been, the energy it provided to start your day won’t be enough to keep you energized until the workday ends. To avoid that mid-afternoon decline in energy, you need to take time to eat lunch and replenish those energy stores.

3. Taking a lunch break can contribute to a cleaner workspace

If you’re one of those people who likes to work through lunch by snacking at your desk, there’s another good reason to step away for lunch: cleanliness. No matter how careful you might be, there’s a good chance that your snacking habits can leave behind crumbs, sticky residue, and other bacteria-attracting substances. Taking your lunch break can be a great way to avoid that mess.

4. Lunch breaks can be an opportunity to get fresh air

Many companies allow - or even encourage - employees to take their lunch breaks off-site. If your company has such a policy, leaving your desk for lunch can provide an opportunity to get outside and grab some fresh air - and even some sunshine. You might be surprised to discover just how refreshing that brief exposure to the great outdoors can be.

5. Breaks improve productivity

Many people who work through lunch are doing so out of a misguided belief that it will increase their productivity. The reality, though, is that nonstop work can actually make you less productive over time. Research has shown that all types of breaks help to boost productivity by giving workers the time they need to reorient their minds, shake off stress, relax, and recharge. Continuous stress will eventually deplete your energy, cause you to lose focus, and lead to a loss of productivity.

6. Lunch breaks can reduce stress that leads to burnout

Employee burnout has been on the rise for many years, as workers have reported increased stress due to a variety of factors - the pandemic, increased management expectations, rising inflation, and more. As you might expect, experts have repeatedly pointed to a lack of rest and recovery time as a key contributor to employee burnout. The formula is pretty simple: spend too much time working without taking the breaks you need to balance stress, and you eventually end up crashing.

When burnout occurs, it can be catastrophic for employees and the companies that hire them. You may find yourself losing motivation until you eventually wake up dreading each trip to the office. Your energy levels will feel drained and you will struggle to perform even your most basic duties. You may lose interest in maintaining relationships with colleagues. At some point, you may even start to hate your job and wish you were anywhere else. Taking your breaks - including your lunch break - can be an important part of reducing burnout stress and staying engaged with your job.

7. Taking a break can improve physical health

Naturally, all that stress can have a serious impact on your physical health as well. But that’s just one way in which a lack of breaks can impact your body. If you spend any amount of time staring at a computer screen throughout the day, you’re putting a serious strain on your eyes. In addition, sitting in one place can be hard on the back, reduce circulation to the legs, and cause strain on your neck and shoulders. Human beings are designed to be mobile, and thus need to get up and move around throughout the day.

8. Lunch breaks can strengthen team cohesion

Company teamwork requires team cohesion, and that can be difficult to maintain when everyone is locked in their cubicles or offices all day. Eating lunch with a colleague - or three - can be a great way to maintain those relationships and ensure better communication and teamwork. Making time to engage in non-work conversation can also be a great way to disengage from your work duties for a brief period, further reducing stress and refocusing your mind.

9. Regular breaks keep you focused

Make no mistake; focus is vitally important for employee success. Without the right level of focus and attention to detail, it’s impossible to effectively manage your time and stay on task. Surprisingly, though, one of the easiest ways to lose focus is to keep your attention on one thing for too long. Taking your lunch break - and other allowed breaks when they are available - can go a long way toward helping you to maintain your focus over time.

10. Your breaks may be required by law

While the federal government has little to say about lunch breaks, many state legislatures have passed laws governing how companies deal with breaks. For example, California requires employers to provide 30 minutes for a meal period for employees who work more than five hours per day. Nebraska expects employers to provide a 30 minute, off-site lunch break per eight-hour shift for many industries. New York goes even further for its factory workers, requiring a one-hour lunch break. Other workers are entitled to at least 30 minutes.

Summary

As tempting as it might be to work through lunch, most experts agree that missing out on your breaks can have negative consequences for your health and job performance. Fortunately, you can avoid those potential harms by taking the time to enjoy your lunch breaks and all the benefits they provide.

Whether you’re under pressure to work through lunch, have too much on your plate, or are feeling burnt out already, ZipJob is here to help you find the right balance. Why not submit your resume for a free resume review by our experts? You’ll be in a new job that values your time before you know it.