Eat Your Lunch Outside!

 

Leave your desk – and the office drama – behind. You’ll return ready to face the rest of the day.

When your workload is overwhelming, heading outdoors to get away from it all might seem counterproductive. But taking a time-out – be it at a park or an outdoor café – can actually get you back on track. A study at Oberlin College found that people felt more alert and focused after spending just 15 minutes surrounded by greenery.

“Being in an open, natural area makes you feel connected to something bigger than yourself, and that gives you perspective on your problems,” says Cynthia Franz, Ph.D., the study’s co-author. Just be sure to leave high-tech remainders of your indoor life behind: “It won’t work as well if you’re preoccupied with answering your cell phone or checking your BlackBerry,” Frantz says.

So allow yourself a midday break; you’ll return energized and relaxed – and you may even be more productive.

TRAINER TIP: Enjoy your lunch away from the office and you’ll be less likely to overeat.