We all know the power of walking has on cardio health, stress management and creativity. But while many of might start the day with a stroll around the park or a dash to the station, lots of people still struggle to overcome the presenteeism of working through their lunch hour.

But if you’re one of those people who eat at their desks in the name of productivity, we’ve got bad news for you. By working through your lunch hour, you could be missing out on a vital opportunity to be more productive and feel happier throughout the day. 

Better concentration and productivity

Various  papers have shown that using your lunch breaks to get out and about can have a positive impact on everything from your concentration and creativity to your overall enjoyment of the work you’re doing. 

There’s a reason why people like Martin Lewis (he of Money Saving Expert fame) does walking meetings. He takes all his phone calls and non-video calls outside, on a walk (and if it’s raining, he does them on a treadmill). That habit led him to rack up an average of over 25,000 steps a day. Steve Jobs swore by them and Mark Zuckerburg is also a fan.

Greater happiness at work

But walking meetings aren’t for everyone – especially if you just want to switch off for an hour. Going out for a walk is known to increase blood flow the brain, which then improves cognitive performance. A 2018 study of 51 people found that those who walked during their break significantly increased how much they enjoyed their work in the afternoon and that, in turn, led to better concentration and energy levels.

Reduced anxiety and stress

Research has also found that walking can reduce anxiety while increasing creativity. We’ve spoken before about the power of exercising for creativity in the past – and it’s nothing new to say that sometimes, you get your greatest sparks of inspiration while on the move. 

Extended lifespan

And, of course, walking is a great way to boost your overall wellbeing. We know that just 11 minutes of brisk walking a day can extend your lifespan. That means you’d still have 49 minutes of your lunchbreak! 

Then there’s the fact that getting out for a walk at lunchtime can also help you get some much-needed distance from your work, office and/or colleagues – giving you the headspace you need to think about other things in your life.

During a hectic day, taking an hour to do something for yourself – be that uninterrupted time to listen to a podcast, look at nature or do a spot of shopping – has to be good for mental wellbeing. 

If you walk around the area surrounding your office you might even stumble across places you may otherwise not have found, like a cool cafe or a new favourite lunch spot.

Can’t get outside for whatever reason? If you’ve got the space, it might be time to start thinking of investing in an under-desk treadmill so you can cock up the steps without going anywhere. Or you could try a 10-minute walking workout on YouTube which’ll get the blood pumping in no time. 

But realistically, if you’re contracted to work a certain number of ours excluding your lunchbreak, then you should really take it. And taking it on the move is going to do you far more good than staying glued to Treads or trying ‘catch up’ on emails.

Images: Unsplash