Looking after yourself at work, from lunch breaks to desk yoga

Take a break

Is it us, or is the work day moving at a faster pace than ever before? We're taking more calls, attending more meetings, and somehow having to fit all the tasks we need to do around them. Often, we're skipping vital breaks during the day in order to cross off everything on our 'to do' lists.

The lunch break is often the first victim of having too much on your plate at work.

A recent survey found that almost a third of Americans aren't taking their lunch breaks, as they struggle to fit eating around a packed schedule.(1) Meanwhile, in the UK, the average lunch break lasts about 40 minutes, but workers only take an average of 24 minutes of their allotted break time.(2)

While it can seem like sacrificing your breaks will allow you to get more done, the opposite is actually true. Several studies have found that taking a break boosts productivity. People who take a break from work come back more focused, more engaged, and less likely to make mistakes.(3)

Taking a break also boosts creativity. The time away allows your brain to think about the task you're trying to complete and come up with new ideas.(3)

By now, we've hopefully convinced you to take full advantage of the lunch break you're legally entitled to. But there are benefits for your employer as well. Not only will you likely perform better at your job, but employees who are able to take lunch breaks are happier and more loyal.

They feel more valued by the employer, report higher job satisfaction, and are more likely to stay at the company and recommend it to friends,(4)

What about microbreaks?

A microbreak is a very short break taken during tasks. It can be as simple as a quick stretch, or nipping away from your desk to make a cup of tea.

Microbreaks are also good for your productivity and have been shown to keep workers engaged.(5) They also make work more enjoyable.(6)

Like taking a lunchbreak, microbreaks are also beneficial for your mental health and helpful in reducing stress. Workers who don't take breaks are at risk of burnout, or a feeling of exhaustion caused by overworking.

The benefits of microbreaks are especially noticeable if you spend those few moments of rest doing some stretches. Many of us spend hours at a time seated in the same position at our desks, while other jobs are physically demanding and can strain our muscles. Taking a moment to move in a different way can instantly relieve some of that strain.

A fascinating study examined the effects of microbreaks on the performance of surgeons. Needless to say, it's very important for surgeons to be precise and accurate in their work, so stress and burnout is a real worry for many doctors and their patients.

After having completed their usual surgeries, the surgeons were asked to trace the outline of a star with their surgical scissors. This allowed researchers to see how accurate the surgeons were.

The surgeons who had been allowed to take microbreaks during their surgeries were an astounding seven times more accurate than those who had worked straight through. They also reported less muscle strain and fewer aches.(7)

Stretch out your microbreak

A great way to actively use your microbreak is to indulge in a spot of desk yoga.

For those not familiar with the term, desk yoga takes the idea of normal yoga - which uses stretches and breath techniques to help you relax - and adapts it to a workplace setting.

You can recreate many of your favourite yoga poses at your desk, and it's great for your posture and stress levels.

If you're concerned about looking a little odd as you perform a humble warrior pose from your swivel chair, fear not. Plenty of poses can also be performed very discreetly, and won't attract any raised eyebrows.

Below you'll find our top tips for squeezing some desk yoga stretches into your work day.

Our top desk yoga tips

1. Connect with the present moment.

Yes, desk yoga is partly about moving around and being physical after long hours holding the same position. But yoga, in all its forms, is also about promoting good mental health.

That means there's little point taking the time to stretch your muscles if your mind is still buried in a spreadsheet. Take the moment for yourself and give it your full attention. Allow your mind to wander away from your task for a few moments and try to stay in the present moment.

An easy way to do this is to try and think consciously about what you can detect through all of your five senses. Really tune in to the smells around you, and how the material of your desk feels beneath your fingertips. What can you hear?

Engaging with our senses helps take us out of our minds and into the real world, and it's very effective at breaking the cycle of stress.

So, when you take a microbreak, commit to it - you'll feel the benefits.

2. Engage your core.

Some desk yoga poses are seated, and some are standing. Whichever pose you're performing, you'll gain greater stability and strength with an engaged core.

In yoga, activating our core muscles helps us to remain stable when holding challenging balance poses. But it can also help you at your desk. Sitting in the same position all day encourages us to slump into an unsupported position, giving us bad posture.

However, actively switching on our core muscles naturally causes us to sit up straighter. That's good news for your spine, which is often put under pressure from poor seated posture.

To engage your core, think about scooping your lower belly back towards your spine and elongating the crown of your head towards the ceiling. When your muscles are engaged, you'll feel a tightening and strengthening around your tummy.

3. Breathe consciously.

One of the key principles of yoga is the flow of breath which grounds and relaxes us, helping us connect to the world around us.

Taking a few deep, conscious breaths is one of the easiest yoga-inspired practices you can do at work.

It might be enough to simply take a few deep breaths, focusing on the sensations of inhaling and exhaling. Or, you might like to try some breathing techniques used in yoga.

Taking a big, deep breath and then exhaling it out completely in a loud sigh is a great, stress-releasing technique (although you may want to warn your colleagues first!).

Alternatively, try three-part breathing. This involves thinking of each breath in three stages: when the air reaches your upper chest, the bottom of your lungs, and your belly.

Breathing consciously, try to fill up each of these areas as much as possible, ending by expanding your belly out to take in as much air as possible. When it's time to exhale, release the air from your belly first, followed by your lower chest, and then finally your upper chest. Repeat for a minute or two to feel the relaxing effect.

4. Set up your space

Have you ever heard the expression 'tidy desk, tidy mind'?

While the more creative and spontaneous among us might disagree with that sentiment, there is something to be said for creating an environment of harmony around your practice.

Clear away any papers or debris you no longer need, and make sure there's plenty of empty space on your desk. Organise any bits and pieces, like pens and sticky notes, and give your surface a quick wipe down to remove any dust or dirt.

If you'd like to take a couple of seconds to get into the right mindset before you begin your practice, try pouring a couple of tablespoons of Erbology Organic Rose Water into your desk water bottle. Not only will the gentle fragrance soothe your mind in preparation for your stretches, but it's full of antioxidants to keep you feeling rested all afternoon.