A recent Perspectus Global study, commissioned by Branston Pickle and sold in by the team at GingerComms, would certainly support this, indicating that on average, working Brits are only getting 29 minutes break during the day, nowhere near the full sixty minutes recommended.
But surely with more of us working from home, we’re taking bigger lunch breaks? Think again, as the research found that a quarter of us have had shorter lunch times since the pandemic began. And demanding bosses and pressure to always “be on call” – especially when they can’t physically see you working – is to blame.
The research secured coverage in The Times, The Times online, The Telegraph, The Telegraph online, the New Statesman and the Daily Star, so it’s clearly got people talking. But how can those of us working in PR – deemed to be one of the most stressful industries to work in – reclaim our lunch break?
Here at GingerComms, we’re encouraged to take a full lunch break to stretch our legs, get some fresh air and come back to our desks refreshed and ready to go. And Lifecoach Hattie MacAndrew, who worked with Branston on the campaign, has some useful tips for how to have a proper break – and we think it’s definitely well deserved:
It can feel like an impossible task at first, and an alien concept to not be glued to our screens and replying instantly – and if this is the case, start small. Block the time out in your work calendar if it helps. Take a small break to begin with and see how you feel.
If your days are busy and you feel like you have too much to do each day to stop – you are the most in need of a break. This time can be used to get some fresh air and soak up some vitamin D, or make yourself a delicious lunch while listening to a podcast. Whatever you choose to do, I guarantee you will return to your to-do list with a fresh perspective and some new ideas for the afternoon ahead.
Finding a routine that works for you is key. It’s important to find a sustainable way to manage working from home, in a way that allows you perform at your best, while still prioritising yourself and your own needs. There’s nothing wrong with putting yourself first and taking that time for yourself to reset and switch off.