As I pondered the theme for my first Creative Bite, the name sparked a thought.
How come most workers don’t make the most of their lunch breaks?
Why do so many people just grab a quick bite, return to their desks, then carry on working through?
After a few clicks on Google, it seems only one in five people have lunch away from their desks.
I’m not sure how accurate this is, but having worked in quite a few offices it seems about right to me.
Which, when you think about it, is more work sandwiched between work and even more work.
Not exactly a healthy balanced diet.
Now I understand why this happens, of course.
The ever growing to-do list.
The need to get things done as quickly as possible.
Perhaps people feel they should always look busy.
Peer pressure might come into it.
Maybe an overpowering manager.
Or it could simply be because the weather’s a bit rubbish.
Whatever the reasons, I would argue it’s more productive to get away from your desk for a while.
Especially if your job involves innovation and creativity.
So, how about a rethink?
To me, lunch hours are the ideal time to fuel the right side of the brain.
To open our minds to fresh and different things.
And widen our perspectives.
On top of that, it gives us a chance to digest the morning’s work.
To reflect, relax and recharge.
And be in a better frame of mind for the afternoon.
Think about it for a minute.
If we spend our days locked in the same old routine, it’s likely we’ll keep on producing the same old thinking.
After all, how can we expect to come up with something unusual if we keep on doing the usual things?
So let’s leave our comfortable habitats.
Let’s do something new and unexpected.
Let’s get inspired.
For just an hour a day, let’s see what the world has to offer.
Here are a few thoughts to consider.
Why not take a trip to a toyshop, and journey back to your childhood.
Have a rummage around a vintage store.
Browse the shelves of a second hand bookstore.
Just go for a walk and let your mind wander.
Catch a bus to somewhere you’ve never been before.
(You might be surprised where it will take you.)
Why not look around a church or cathedral?
Wander around the graveyard.
Imagine a different era.
Try some different food.
Meet a friend you haven’t seen for ages.
If you can, arrange a long lunch break. Then see a movie you wouldn’t normally watch.
Sketch an unusual building or landmark.
Visit a gallery or museum.
Form a choir. Or go busking.
Write a short story.
Send postcards to your friends.
Use your camera to capture the weirdest thing you see.
I could go on. But you get the idea.
So next lunch hour, don’t go stale.
Enjoy your own Creative Bite.
And use the time to feed your creative spirit.
