Getting started

Ever felt like you are wearing an invisible collar and lead? Do you feel tied to your desk? Daren't leave the workplace in case you miss something? Often busy but not productive? Sick of picking crumbs out of your keyboard?

Working through lunch pretty soon morphs into the law of diminishing returns. You don't think you can spare the time to get an hour to yourself yet find yourself becoming increasingly less effective as your attention span wanes, your energy dips and your concentration weakens as the afternoon drags on. 

Perhaps you start making mistakes, find yourself irritated with colleagues and clients; even the mid-afternoon slump can no longer be lifted by a massive chocolate injection. So you go home dog tired, fall onto the sofa and feel your week and life is just passing you by. Why are you doing this?

You know, it doesn't have to be this way?

Taking time out of your working day can mean increased energy levels, you will restore a healthy perspective on your workload, increase your social status and it could even make you more effective and successful. Life really could regain its flavour.

Getting Started - Take the Next Step

We are all creatures of habit so it could be time to consciously choose to do something different with your lunch hour rather than sitting at your desk racking up the stress and piling on the cellulite.

First you have to drop the "shoulds" and "oughts" and start putting yourself first.  Do something different more than four times in a row and you have created a new and supportive habit.

Start with baby steps and pretty soon they become giant leaps. One client I worked with wanted to change her job which was working in a windowless room in a major corporation. Working with her coach she stopped taking the bus to work and cycled in instead. She then would cycle along the river at lunchtime and loved the freedom and autonomy this gave her. 

Another client working in Canary Wharf created a running club for beginners and lunchtimes became a social whirl of scenic discovery and increased health. Soon the camaraderie increased and some good professional networking was forged.

Why not enlist a colleague or friend outside the office to join you? You can support and coach each other to make a real difference to your working day.

Here are some ideas I have tried and tested with clients:

• Start a lunchtime walking or jogging club - 45 minutes of brisk exercise will hone that body, increase your energy and raise your self esteem
• Take your healthy lunch to the local park. Reconnecting with nature has a deep down resonance with your psyche. Remove your iPod and feel the force!
• How about a little retail therapy to lift the spirits?
• Join a local gym for a quick circuit workout or a half hour swim? Three times a week - just imagine the hot bod you could have after that!
• Visit the library. Improve your mind and expand your repertoire of hobbies in these hallowed halls of knowledge
• Have a massage. There are lots of walk-in Thai and Chinese medicine practices which offer walk-in head and neck massages
• Find out if there is a beginners tai chi class in the local park you could join
• Get a beauty treatment
• Book a free cosmetics make-over at the local department store
• Have a blow dry
• Go for a bike ride
• Read a book or create a book club
• Organise a picnic with friends/colleagues
• Explore the local café culture
• Write your novel on your laptop in Starbucks

When you honour yourself not only do you benefit but so does your employer, your colleagues and later in the day your loved ones too. Life altogether feels more balanced and meaningful. One lunch hour = a huge life investment.

Your Step By Step Guide For Creating Your Own "Power" Lunch

• Write down in advance what you would like to achieve with your lunch hour. Perhaps it's to unwind and relax; perhaps get fit or clear your head. Do you want to treat yourself to a well-earned treat or enjoy a nutritious lunch? Could it be a social time catching up with friends or a useful occasion to catch up with household chores i.e. bills/post office trips/shopping? Write down your goals.
• Set yourself a reasonable time scale. For example, build in time for showers and changing if going to gym or swim, factor in queues at shops or post office, the time it takes to get to your destination. Try not to cram too much in. You need to eat and take time out too.
• Start to record your "wins" and notice the positive changes. Keep note of how your training is going and your fitness levels are growing. Notice too how taking a break and eating a nutritious lunch means you have more energy in the afternoon. Perhaps you are relying less on sugar/caffeine highs to get you through the day. Is taking a packed-lunch saving you money? What treat can you now save for?

What to avoid

• Get over feeling you are indispensible. You are entitled to a break
• Try to steer clear of fast food restaurants
• Too much retail therapy = comfort shopping = debt = low self esteem
• Gossiping through your lunch break = a toxic habit
• Negative people who will drain your energy
• Eating walking down the street - it's not relaxing or good for your digestion
• Putting lunch hours low down on your list of priorities
• Texting all the time or wearing your iPod - try to completely switch off

Give these tips a try and you'll start to see an improvement in your work/life balance!

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