4 Reasons Why You Should Exercise On Your Lunch Break! | KBK
How many times have you skipped your lunch break to sit and eat your meal prep at your desk because you’re ‘too busy’? If this sounds like you then it’s time to take a step away from your desk and consider more productive ways of utilising your lunch break.
We all know that exercise is good for us? But why should you start training on your lunch break? And what benefits can it have on your health and day to day living?
You have to take your allocated break
Studies in the last few years have revealed that 56% of workers in the UK don’t take their full lunch break. Even more shockingly, a ⅓ of workers don’t even leave their workplace from the moment they start till the moment they finish. That’s a lot of time spent sitting at a desk.
Although you might have a lot of work to do, skipping your lunch hour and eating at your desk might actually be more detrimental to your work performance than you might think. There are several reasons why you should take your lunch break:
Studies have shown that people feel more relaxed after a break
Over the course of a career, the average UK adult loses approximately £33,000 in time not taken in lunch breaks. Now what do you think about that?
Free up your evening
Let’s face it, not many of us like going to the gym in the evening. Not only do you tend to feel lethargic after a full day’s work and perform suboptimally, but the gym is always full post 5pm. This means that it’s harder to find the equipment you want which leads to you going off plan.
By training in your lunch break, not only do you avoid the evening rush, but you free up your own evenings. From now on, you have more time after work to do things you want to do such as socialising and taking up new hobbies you thought you never had time for. You might even have time to improve your lifestyle by preparing or ordering healthy prepared meals to fuel your lunch time workouts.
Ever had that post-lunch slump at work? We all know the feeling of sleepiness that comes after 1pm and it makes the last few hours of the working day close to impossible. But what if we told you that could be a thing of the past.
Training in your lunch break may actually improve performance for the rest of the day. Not only does exercise boost your energy, but it also releases endorphins, a hormone that makes you feel good. But it’s not just about the exercise, getting out of the office is just as important. Moving away from your desk helps battle mental fatigue and facilitates mental recovery so that you feel well rested and ready to get back to work.
Keep desk danger at bay
Over recent years we’ve all seen the headlines highlighting how bad for us excessive sitting is. Studies have linked sitting down for long periods and inactivity to obesity, diabetes and some forms of cancer. It’s no surprise that people’s activity levels are decreasing when they drive to work, sit at a desk all day and then spend the evening on the sofa.
Likewise, a lack of activity could also slow the metabolism down which can affect the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels and break down fat, which can then lead to weight gain. Getting up and tackling a midday workout could reduce your risk of several diseases.
This evening, make sure to pack your gym clothing next to your gym meal prep in your bag for the next day. It’s time to get training on your lunch break and feel the benefits of a midday workout.
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