When you’re in the zone – or just trying to catch up on your ever-growing to-do list – it can be easy to forget about the turkey sandwich waiting for you in the office fridge. In fact, an OfficeTeam survey found that 29 percent of workers skip their lunch break entirely on a daily basis.
Here’s why that’s a problem:
- You’re more likely to feel sluggish. In fact, eating regular meals and nutritious afternoon snacks is key to improving cognitive performance.
- Taking a break from your desk with a walk can boost your creativity, according to Stanford University researchers. Bonus points if you take your walk outdoors.
- Skipping meals can have unpleasant physical side effects, such as increased belly fat, based on research from Ohio University.
- It could result in serious diseases. The National Institute on Aging found that study subjects who ate just two meals a day had elevated fasting glucose levels and a delayed insulin response – conditions that could potentially lead to diabetes.
So the next time you’re tempted to work through lunch, do yourself a favor and step away from your desk, even if it’s just for 20 minutes. Use this time to grab a bite to eat, drink some water and take a few laps around your office building – your mind and body will thank you for it.
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