Stop Working Through Lunch!
Working through lunch has been an issue we have faced for decades. The pressure to be productive and to "maximize your time" every second of the day has led many of us to see things like "lunch breaks" as optional, and instead, we find ourselves working through lunch or trying to multitask to get things done.
Now, I understand, it is not possible for us to always have time completely uninterrupted and devoted purely to fueling your body, but that is not the ask here. I want you to consider how often you are multitasking while eating throughout the day. Or, in many cases, how often are you skipping lunch or ignoring your body's hunger cues so you can keep working and "power through"?
This is not only true of people who are employed outside of the home but for homemakers and stay-at-home caregivers as well. And the pandemic has added even more pressure to our plates — even for adolescents and emerging adults.
The separation of time and roles has been stripped, so even though lunch may be scheduled into the school day or you are making lunch for the family, it is expected we start to allow other activities and work to creep into that coveted time. I see this happen when I am eating breakfast with Everly at the table. As much as I say I don't want any technology at the table or multitasking during meals, I have definitely been guilty of it. It is like I am existing in "productivity autopilot," responding to emails or cleaning up the kitchen while feeding Ev and snagging a few bites for myself here and there.
Or, on the days she goes to my mother-in-law's house, I will see a significant shift in how I think about fueling my body. Sure, I eat throughout that time, but it is usually power bars or quick access items, so I can "stay on the grind" and maximize the time I have to get things done.
Where does this lead me? Exhausted, stressed out, hungry, and way less energized and creative.
We need to stop. Seriously!
Not only are we furthering your shame narrative that says if we are not working all of the time, then we are failing or are not enough, but we are quite literally doing the opposite of what our brain and body need us to do for us to actually maximize our potential.
The more we demand from our body (which includes cognitive and emotional loads), the more fuel we use, and to keep up with the output you would like, you need to keep putting gas in the car. Without the opportunity for rest and recharge, we are setting ourselves up for burnout and exhaustion. Have you ever noticed how much better you can feel about a project or tasks at hand when we get a break from them? Or how you get excited to cook again after a vacation? It's like hitting a reset button. And while we can't take extended trips every other day to recharge, this is the opportunity that awaits us if we see mealtimes as self-care. Reframe meals as opportunities to revitalize not only by fueling our body but by giving our brains space to slow down.
Time for ACTION:
The challenge for all of us becomes: Can you rethink how you are scheduling your day? How can you make more space to be intentional about fueling your body and truly taking time to recharge?
Think about what may look different in the long run if we can make this shift. Sure, in the short term, you may feel some anxiety about all of the things you "still have to get done," but ask yourself, is that pressure something I want to keep existing under? Where is it coming from? Furthermore, what could happen to my life if I let go of this pressure?
This week, perhaps it is not that you can make every day a day you take an hour lunch break or eat without any distraction. But maybe you can turn off everything around you and focus on your meal for 5 minutes each day or take one day where you eat your meals outside of your workspace?