I think I speak for a ton of folks when I say, lunchtime is totally a highlight of the workday. It’s such a treat! Don’t you agree? I get even more excited when I have something good to eat waiting for me and I know where I’m going to spend my time. But there were those days when I didn’t really do much with my lunch hour. Those days were when I was up to my ears in work. So what did I do? I’d go and get my lunch and bring it right back to my desk and keep on working. So essentially, I wouldn’t take a break from work for 8 plus hours in one day. I know, what kind of nonsense is that?! Even at my last job at the restaurant (as I recently moved on to greener pastures by the way), if I didn’t stand firm about taking a break from an 11 hour day (yes, that was really a thing–2 times a week), the window of opportunity could easily slip past me–but I totally put my foot down on that. It shouldn’t be this way though. Our lunchtime or break to eat and breathe should be honored by not only leadership but the team members, most importantly. So when you have the urge to skip over lunch, eat at your desk, or turn your lunchtime into a lunch meeting, I urge you to do something different—honor your lunchtime and take a break. Make it the best lunch break so you’re nice and refreshed when you get back to work–and to be at your best.
Here are some ideas on what to do during your lunch break to level it up.
EAT A DELICIOUS LUNCH
This one goes without saying, but maybe I have to say it for some of us who aren’t actually eating–or eating but not exactly thrilled about what it is they’re eating. Hey, I get it. It happens—it happens that it doesn’t happen. But this is a time to eat something, and something delicious while nourishing the body—so take full advantage of it. If you made lunch, awesome! Go and warm it up, plate it beautifully, and proudly eat the healthy delicious dish you took time to make at home. If you didn’t bring something prepared, on your way to work, think of a place where you want to eat for a delicious lunch so you’re prepared when the time approaches. You don’t want that hour to creep up on you and you have no idea where to go and what to eat. That’s usually when desperate decisions are made like the convenient and average pizza spot near the office that everyone goes to. Give my Roasted Balsamic Soy Cabbage & Carrots a try for lunch!
REST THE MIND
Choose a mind-resting activity you can do during this hour. Yes, this is a time to get your mind off of work and give your brain a break. Some ideas are reading a spiritual inspiring book, listening to relaxing or even upbeat motivating music, pray to God, surfing the web for ideas on your next vacation, taking a stroll outside, writing down a list of things you’re grateful for as well as a list of things you’re hopeful for. Whatever you find to be a mind-resting activity, do that for a portion of your lunch time and see the difference it makes in how you return to work again.
DO SOME OUTREACH
Do you have people in your life that you haven’t spoken to in a long time and the only way you’re staying caught up with their lives is through Facebook? With the busyness of the workweek and trying to catch up on things during the weekend, it could feel like you’ll never get a chance to connect with those people. Well your lunch hour is an opportune time to unplug from the people at work and plug into the people you haven’t connected with in a long while. Even if they’re not available to take your call because they’re handling their own busy workday, you’ll be putting a smile on someone’s face when they get that moment to hear your voicemail or read your text. Encouraging others is a great way to use some of our lunchtime!
PLAN FOR WHAT’S AHEAD
If you have a full-time job, you may feel like you don’t have the time you really need to work towards your awesome dreams and noble goals outside of work. If that’s the case, I highly recommend using your lunch hour to put some plans down on paper. I’m not saying actually do your side hustling right there and then, because honestly, your lunchtime is likely not enough time to do some good damage to your list of action items. What I am saying is, put some strategies down on paper like deadlines, new project ideas, promotional content, names of people you want to collaborate with, etc. It’s not only an efficient use of time, but it’ll help advance you to your next steps toward your aspirations. You may even come back to work motivated and ready to finish out the second half of the day with a peppier pep in your step!
What’s one of the things that you do during your lunchtime that makes it the best lunch break ever?
ROASTED BALSAMIC SOY CABBAGE & CARROTS
Normally the protein of a meal is considered the highlight, but with this dish, the veggies are the stars. Try this at home!
INGREDIENTS
1 small whole Green Cabbage
2 large Carrots
2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tbsp. Soy Sauce
1 Tsp. Celery seeds
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees
Remove the outer more flimsy layers of cabbage
Place the cabbage on your cutting board with the stem sticking up towards the ceiling
Cut the cabbage creating four sides, essentially making a square shape
Feel free to cut flat the side that is resting on the cutting board (the top of the cabbage)
The hard stem can be removed and discarded
Place the pieces of cabbage on a foil-lined baking sheet
Cut your carrots in quarters, keeping its length but dividing its width into fours as stated
Place cabbage and carrots in a medium to large size bowl, and pour 2 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle salt, pepper, and celery seeds to the veggies and lightly and evenly distribute thoroughly
Lubricate your foil paper with olive oil
Place veggies on foiled baking sheet pan
Let bake for about 15 minutes or until they begin to take on a roasted color
In a small bowl, stir balsamic vinegar and soy sauce together
Pull veggies out of the oven and drizzle on the balsamic and soy mixture
Put the veggies back into the oven for about 8 to 10 more minutes, then remove
Plate the veggies with your protein of choice and enjoy!
Here’s to powerful workweeks and good eats!
Love, Yardley
