Lunch Break, Web Worker Style
March 12th, 2007 (10:18am) Anne Zelenka 15 CommentsTweet This
Do you take long, leisurely lunches? Most people don’t:
A new study shows that our lunch “hours” are more like 25 minutes, and often just 8 minute breaks. As such, we’re eating more “grab-and-go foods” from grocery stores at our desks…and restaurants are feeling the pain. More than a third of the $182 billion industry comes from lunch sales. But since 2000, the total growth for restaurant lunches has been under $1 billion. Sandwich joints are apparently in danger of going under, while desk jockeys load up on self-serve deli products (up 7.2%), fresh produce (up 12.9%), and bottled water (up 17.8%).
If you work from home, it might seem like a waste of time to lunch away from your computer — especially if it involves the overhead of driving to a restaurant. Think of the benefits, though. You might clear your head, get some new ideas, refresh your motivation. You could even meet up physically with another human being!
That said, my lunch habit is to cook a Lean Cuisine frozen entree in the microwave — my favorites these days are Swedish Meatballs or a Chicken Club Panini — and take a ten-minute break to eat while I read the morning newspaper. For me, that’s enough time away from my work online and I don’t even have to change out of my slippers.
What are your lunch habits? Eat at your desk, take a walk outside, meet someone at a restaurant?
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I try to never eat at my desk, with the exception of snacks that clutter the keys with crumbs. Its nice to take a break for 10-15 mins, sit at a proper table and ponder about the afternoon. I cook extra food the evening before so i can have a quick healthy no thought meal. Since the weather is starting to get nicer out, I’m trying to get into the daily routine again of taking a quick 10-15 min. stroll around the block to clear my head and get some fresh air.
With 4 kid and homeschooling, lunch here is more a matter of setting up an assembly line than having a relaxing meal. My wife and I tend to split the logistics so that one of us can pick up a few comparatively uninterrupted moments of work while the other gets the small fry fed. Then we might pick up some adult conversation over our own lunches, if our respective schedules mesh such that neither of us is feeling like we must eat at our desk that day.
I have one hour lunch break, so I take the whole time out eating at some nice place. Sometimes just grab couple of sandwiches to go but am trying to do that rarely.
Not much of a fan on eating-at-the-desk, doesnt look too clean and probably some of my coleques will have something against that :)
Your employer gave you one hour(usually) lunch break – use it wisely to clear your mind! Reload your batteries and come fresh again at the office!
One of my favourite things about Web working is eating out: I can catch up with one of my desk-jockey friends during their lunch hour (Gosh, I never though I was *dragging* them away from their desk :) ), and I get to eat interesting food every day. I can frequently charge (usually 1/2 the hour) to the client, since I inevitably end up talking about/getting advice on whatever I’m working on, and it gets me to move (since Cafe vibe during lunchtime is a bit too suit-heavy for me anyway)
LG
I’ve never been a “let’s do lunch” type of fellow, even when I was one of 130,000 employees of a huge corporation or a member of the federal civil service. Now that I’m working from home 2-4 days/ week and hit an office of a small company on the others, I really have no motivation to leave and burn that time. I’ll take the sandwich and pretzels and eat at the desk. Better to complete my tasks and use the time saved for other things (eg when at home, petting the dog or identifying which neighbor appears to have the day off !).
I really dislike eating at my desk, but i also pack food from last nights dinner almost 90% of the time, and balk at spending $10-12 bucks for lunch.
I always treat myself to one lunch out per week and usually make some attempt to eat with others.
many restaurants could improve their lunch service by offering faster / lighter meal options instead of dinner sized portions and prices.
I work at home as well. For lunch I take a 10 min walk to get the blood pumping again after sitting so long. I usually heat up a Lean Cuisine also and have either fruit or a salad with it. I put the entree on a real plate so I feel like I am eating real food. I usually read something non work related while I eat. Then I fold laundry or some quick 5-10 min housekeeping task before I sit back down at my computer.
On Thursdays I go out to eat with a friend.
Back when I used to work for “the man” I’d try to get out of the office each day for lunch. The fresh air, clearing my head, and venting frustrations with my co-workers really helped me get through some days. Now that I work from home for myself, I generally eat at the desk and use the time to catch up on the RSS reader. When I need to clear my head, I’ll head to the gym and get some exercise or go run an errand in town.
Usually try and get out for a walk – don’t eat much for lunch, but 15 mins in the fresh air and sunshine is worth it many times over …
I am not an official web worker (yet). Currently work in the corporate office and we have a great canteen, only 20 paces away! Have now learned that salad is the ONLY way to avoid putting on the pounds! Occasionally go for a walk when the weather is good (not often in the NE of England!).
When in London on business, I love Pret a Manger – great coffee and sarnies.
Every day I see people in my office not leaving their desk all day and I’m not sure they even eat! Personally, I’ve always been a big fan of the full hour lunch break, although sometimes it gets cut to 45 minutes. Lately it’s been some pre-packaged meals in the lunch room and a book for that hour, sometimes it’s a trip to Subway or Panda Express depending on the mood. Take your breaks! I always come back refreshed and ready to work :)
Most of the people I work with never leave for lunch, heck even get grumpy if I do, but I learned a long time ago, being a web worker; you have to take that time for yourself. Now everyday I leave for lunch, even if I just grab a quick sandwhich or something of that sort, I leave the office and drive some place else. I feel much better when I get back and am far less cranky that the others I work with.
I have been working at this place for two years and my boss discourages lunch breaks, now i feel guilty whenever I have 2 mins to myself. I have not had a lunchbreak in 18 months, I am unhappy, hungry and want to leave.