One small step in our wellbeing: Taking a lunch break, recharging the brain.

Recognising I’m a human with needs and not a machine in DO-DO-DO mode unlocked my ‘permission’ to give myself a break… mentally, physically and emotionally.

Wellbeing.

What does it mean anyway?

And more importantly, what does it mean for you and how can it create more space for you?

Recently I’ve been reflecting.

I’ve been thinking more about what the driver was for me in the past to start looking at my personal wellbeing. ?I’ve been particularly reflective since I was recently invited to talk about the topic of wellbeing and offer guidance on how, as individuals, we can support our wellbeing (link to full video below).

What stuck with me after the release of the video was how one particular aspect resonated with people. The part where I shared that we can take time out to have lunch without distractions and let our brains recharge.

A simple thing. And it does work - it does let our brain rest and top-up some energy for us to have more focus for the rest of the day.

Lunch breaks are for the lazy?

Let’s reframe that.

Lunch breaks are for the intelligent ones… Lunch breaks and a brain recharge are not for the lazy. They’re for the clever ones! ?You give yourself space and an opportunity to top-up your ability and motivation to perform, i.e. do your job more effectively and possibly even throw in there some focus and enjoyment!

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Here’s what I see as your Top 5 Reasons to start taking a lunch break and engaging in proactive brain recharge:

1.????? You need a cognitive break: Resting your brain during a lunch break helps reduce mental fatigue. Continuous machine-mode, DO-DO-DO of tasks without breaks can lead to decreased performance and increased errors i.e. you’re increasing the risk you’re not doing your job as well as you could be doing.

= improved performance

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2.????? You gain improved focus: Any short break, including lunch, resets your attention space which means you can improve focus and your ability to get stuff done when you return to your work desk.

= improved focus

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3.????? You relax: Yes, relax. Even during the busy work schedule, there is an opportunity to slow things down, take a lighter approach within the day and engage in a mindfulness and relaxing act – eating your lunch.

= improved relaxation

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4.????? You can connect with people: On certain days, maybe you just need silence. And on other days, there’s the opportunity to have light-hearted conversation with colleagues or a friend. Notice how this increases your joyful levels also!

= improved joyful feelings (and even a sense of belonging)

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5.????? You need an emotional rebalance: Not only does the mindfulness practice of eating a nutritional meal rebalance your sugar levels… taking lunch can support you to reduce your irritability and improve your mood.?????????????

= improved motivation

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“Mehibe, there’s so much work to do.”

I hear you… I’ve been there. I’m still there!

My response? There’s always something to do.

And there’s always an opportunity to make space for yourself – but you need to give yourself permission to be important.

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How much are you prioritising yourself in your own life?

How often do you sit down and say – “I’m an important person in my life and I need…”

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Ahh.

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“I need…”

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The two words we find so hard to say and follow through on. It can mean we need to hold up the mirror: if you’re a people pleaser, prioritising yourself is possibly a very hard task emotionally and physically. If your time is shaped around others, there’s no space for you.

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And if you’re someone who is really hard on yourself, like me – well, maybe you just don’t deserve the space then? Or, perhaps taking space for yourself, even a lunch break, leaves you exposed to judgement… what will they think of me taking a break from work? Or the self-talk creeps in: You need to do more. You’re not doing enough.

The simplest act of taking a break or taking time out to have your lunch is one of the kindest acts we can do for ourselves during the workday.

There are other important considerations when thinking about our overall wellbeing, but I wonder how often you take time to reflect on your overall wellbeing. The simplest and easiest act of taking lunch (which you’re not paid for, so not taking lunch means you work for free…) is ignored. By the masses.

Let’s go back to the definition of wellbeing. I see it like this: it’s the overall state of your mental, physical and emotional health; supporting your joyful, happiness and satisfaction levels that you experience throughout the day across all spheres of your life. It embodies a sense of autonomy and self-efficacy that I have a choice to regulate and maintain my personal balance.

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So, thinking about that, what do you need?

Do you need to work an extra hour (for free)? Or do you need to start prioritising yourself?

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Ask yourself? “What do I need?”

Then say it out loud or write it down: “I need…”

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All of this then leads to the most difficult thing. The thing we all struggle with the most: Communicating our boundaries and then managing our boundaries.

A big topic for another article… but just reflect on this. When you’re on your deathbed, are you going to remember and feel proud of yourself for giving away your time and energy to work, or are you going to remember fondly all the energy and memories you created by taking back time for yourself and living life that feels more like you wanted to do?

Don’t give away your energy to others so freely. It’s precious.

Making space for your energy will not only allow you to take some out for lunch (maybe even guilt-free), but you’ll notice a pattern of you starting to say no to the stuff that doesn’t align with your needs and what you want, meaning you now have more time to go be with your family or friends, or attend that gym class you’ve been promising to go (and still paying the monthly gym fee!) or learn the new language, go swimming, or sit on the sofa and watch some tv in your pyjamas.

Who am I to tell you what you need? I’m definitely not the right person… only you can do that.

But I am happy to be the person who reminds you of just how important you are in your own life. You matter. You deserve your needs. So I invite you to take a look at how they are shaping your life.

Be courageous! Start prioritising yourself!

?? Watch the full video here ? https://lnkd.in/e5RtME6B

I talk with Dino Jangra from Crowe about wellbeing and managing the pressures on global mobility professionals, a theme which emerged from our recent survey.

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Let’s have a chat about you: https://tr.ee/2vMyse4AB6

If you need to start prioritising yourself, then please hit the button at the top of my profile or follow the link above to book in a free coaching discovery call. Wellbeing is not just about taking breaks – it’s about finding your confidence to empower yourself and strengthen your decision-making in your everyday life. You matter. Let’s unlock The Power of Courage in you to start changing your life where it truly will make a difference.