The desk lunch has become a workplace norm, with more than 75% non-remote workers in companies regularly eating lunch at their desk, per Opinium Research.
While it might seem like a productivity hack to power through emails between bites of salad, this habit could be undermining your wellbeing and work performance in surprising ways.
Taking an actual break for lunch isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity for maintaining both your short-term productivity and long-term health. Here’s why you should reconsider that desk lunch habit.
Just as preventive health screenings help catch issues before they become serious problems, taking proper lunch breaks prevents workplace burnout before it starts.
Pro Tip: Life Line Screening reveals hidden risks so you can act early. Book a screening today and have peace of mind.
1. Your productivity actually suffers
Contrary to what you might think, working through lunch doesn’t make you more productive. Research shows that performance declines significantly without regular breaks. When you continuously work without pausing, decision fatigue sets in, and your ability to focus diminishes.
A proper lunch break resets your mental energy. Stepping away from your workspace for even 30 minutes gives your brain the downtime it needs to process information and recharge, leading to better afternoon performance and fewer errors.
This same principle