Most people work eight hours or more a day, and staying motivated in the afternoon can be challenging. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do during the lunch break that will revive you so you’re ready for the second half of the day. These lunchtime rituals will keep you sane and prevent you from hating your job.
Go Outside
If you work inside all day, going outside and getting some fresh air will help prepare you for the second half of the day. Vitamin D is essential for your mental health and can provide the energy boost necessary to finish the day, and it will put you in a good mood.
If it’s nice outside and there’s an area to eat outdoors, you should. Spending 30 minutes or an hour outdoors, depending on how long the lunch break is, will energize you and improve your mood so you can sail through the rest of the day.
If eating outside isn’t possible, take a walk outdoors when you finish eating. A ten-minute walk is better than nothing, and you’ll see your productivity increase by adding a daily walk to the lunchtime routine.
Listen To Music
Listening to music can elevate your mood because it boosts the brain’s dopamine production, which can eliminate anxiety and depression. Music is processed in the part of the brain called the amygdala, which is a mass of gray matter in the brain that allows us to experience emotions.
You can create a playlist of your favorite upbeat songs, put your earbuds in, and listen to the music.
Creating an upbeat playlist and listening to it during lunch will boost your mood and energy. When it’s time to go back to work, your mood will be lifted, and you’ll feel better about finishing the rest of the day.
Have a Cup of Coffee After Your Lunch
Do you often feel sluggish after lunch? If so, you’re not alone. It’s not uncommon for energy levels to decrease in the middle of the day, and eating a meal can make it worse. Most people have four to five hours left to work when they return from lunch, and making it to the end of the day can be a struggle. Fortunately, a cup of coffee can do wonders for your energy level after lunch.
If there’s an office coffee machine where you work, you can make a cup of coffee without leaving. However, if the office doesn’t have a coffee machine, you’ll need to go somewhere to get coffee and ensure there’s enough time during the lunch break to get a coffee and get back to work in time. This may seem like a lot of work, but you’ll thank yourself when you get the energy boost necessary to get through the day.
Review Your Daily Goals
After you’ve eaten lunch while listening to music and taken a walk, take the last five minutes to review your to-do list or goals that must be completed by the end of the day. Taking a few minutes to check what needs to be done can be very beneficial. You can review what needs to be done, prioritize the tasks that must be completed by the end of the day, and then start with high-priority tasks. Looking at the list and seeing things completed before lunch will provide motivation to finish the list before the end of the day.
Working a long day is never easy, but if you follow the tips listed above, your mood will be elevated, and you will have the energy necessary to finish the day while being as productive as possible.
