Kiwis Urged to Reclaim Lost Lunch Hours

Kiwis Urged to Reclaim Lost Lunch Hours

With daylight savings kicking in on Sunday 26th September, New Zealands number one jobs site SEEK is championing a change in working habits by urging Kiwis to clock out of the workplace for a proper lunch break every day.

Annemarie Duff, General Manager of SEEK New Zealand believes that during the winter months it is easy to slip in to the habit of eating at the desk;

This change in season is a great opportunity to step out into the sun, get some exercise, and grab some good food. Youll increase your productivity as a result; as maintaining a healthy routine will help to relieve stress, improve motivation and sharpen your focus.

Healthy Food Guide Editor Niki Bezzant agrees that a good break is an essential daily need and says that when combined with the right food, overall levels of wellbeing will be increased;

A nutritionally balanced lunch sets you up to feel great and to be more productive for the whole afternoon. It can help take away that 3pm sugar or caffeine craving that leaves you feeling flat.

Nikis top lunch tips:

• Preparing lunch from leftovers can be a cost effective way of eating a healthy lunch. Excess veges can be put in a pasta salad and mince can be added to a baked potato

• Keep a few handy ingredients in the desk drawer and fridge so you always have some options to toss together for a healthy lunch. Ingredients such as canned tuna, ready to cook rice packets and salad ingredients will help you avoid the takeaway lunch trap

• To avoid the call of the vending machine and its sugary snacks, keep a stock of fruit, nuts, low kilojoules muesli bars and yoghurts at work, and restock frequently so you always have a health snack on hand.

While staying inside and on the job during lunch can easily be blamed on a deadline or the weather, it can also be an issue of office culture, one that stems from the top.

Fidelity Life CEO Milton Jennings is a firm believer in the benefits of taking a lunch break and using it as a chance to get some exercise. The CEO takes regular lunch time runs and encourages the whole office to do the same;

Healthy body, healthy mind is our attitude to our staff, we have strong a focus on staying active in our offices and I encourage exercise and a balance to life C its not all about work.

Jennings has put in several programs to help his staff be as active as possible on their lunch break, including subsidising running challenges and encouraging lunch time training and incentives for teams that take part, as well as installing showers in the workplace for people that want to exercise.

We have definitely seen a link between those who get out and use their lunch break and levels of productivity and focus. It is also a great way for people to get to know their colleagues outside of the office environment.

Reclaim your lunch hour by:

• Leaving the office and getting some fresh air - even if just for a walk around the block. Sunlight boosts your levels of Vitamin D, essential for releasing natural endorphins and serotonin in the body. During winter, people can arrive and also leave work in the dark, so its important to see some sun in daylight hours
• Getting some exercise - if your workplace has membership at a gym your lunch break can be a great opportunity to take advantage of this. Raising your heart rate on a regular basis can help improve brain function, reduce stress and makes for a healthier workforce
• Eat your lunch in a communal area C moving away from your desk gives you the chance to catch up informally with colleagues and build relationships
• Opt for healthy foods at lunch that sustain your energy levels and increase your productivity.

ENDS

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