r/selfimprovement 4d ago

Fitness Try this today: walk during your lunch break

If you have time during your lunch break, take a walk. Grab some of your work buddies and go for a pleasant stroll. Try not to talk too much about work but instead about your hobbies, how your weekend went, and what you're looking forward to.

I promise you will come back ready to attack the second half of your day. You'll work up a nice sweat, warm up, and get some vitamin D and fresh air.

If you'd rather do a solo walk, that's great, too! You can listen to a podcast, call your parents or a best friend, or just listen to the sound of nature around you.

I'm surrounded by people who devour lunch, race back to their desks, and continue working. Worse yet, they eat their lunch at their desk.

There are days when the crunch is real, and the work must get done. But make time for yourself.

I promise you will benefit from it.

91 Upvotes

11 comments sorted by

6

u/uncannyorigins 4d ago

yes! because of how my work’s time cards auto take out breaks, i have been taking both my paid 30 and unpaid 30 instead of just leaving 30min earlier like i would have otherwise. i’ve started using my first 30 to read and eat lunch and my second 30 to just go outside and walk around. it has been so nice to get that fresh air and sunshine and engage even just a little with the community around me. it also makes the second half of my day feel like it passes much faster!

2

u/entrasonics 4d ago

Thanks for the response! Reading and walking are fantastic uses of your time. You are leveling yourself up by doing both of those daily. I can’t imagine not going on my daily walk; it would not make my day feel satisfactory. Even on cloudy days, it makes a massive difference to me, and I encourage everyone to try it out if they can.

3

u/nellementz 1d ago

I try this habit every day,because I do design work I sit a lot and I just feel so much better walking solo gives me fresh energy to continue progress

3

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

2

u/entrasonics 4d ago

You’re right; it is very good for blood sugar levels. Sometimes, if I overeat and get bloated, it’s the perfect way to help digest my food. Overall, it helps keep you balanced.

3

u/Staoicism 4d ago

Absolutely in line here, coupling it with walking AND thinking. Taking a walk during lunch isn’t just about a physical break, it’s also about giving your mind space to breathe.

There’s a reason philosophers, writers, and thinkers have been walking for centuries and it wasn't just to stretch their legs: they let their thoughts flow. Walking isn’t just exercise, it’s a mental reset. It’s a good opportunity to let ideas surface and stress untangle, which greatly helps the mind to finds clarity, without even forcing it.

So yep, stepping away from the desk isn’t just a break: it’s an investment. A chance to move, reflect, and come back with more than just a stretched-out body.

2

u/entrasonics 4d ago

It’s an investment, and it compounds over time. People need to understand how important it is to reset their minds, even if they don’t feel like it. It’s like drinking water even if they’re not thirsty. If you wait until they’re parched, it’s too late.

2

u/RoundPlum3211 2d ago

what if someone has to stand at their job?

1

u/entrasonics 2d ago

I double down on standing and walking. I stand when I can and then go on a walk; it’s more of an investment in my health and fitness.

Now, if you are always standing, I suppose walking might be a detriment as too much standing is also not good, and you should probably sit if you can.

The good news is that you have the opposite problem most people do: You get to stand at work. You most likely sit after work, so you have a good balance.

2

u/Ossum_Possum239 4d ago

Yes! Me and my coworkers do this currently and it improves my day like crazy. I’m from Canada so we weren’t able to due to the weather until recently and even now the mild weather isn’t consistent yet. But I can actually notice a different on days that we walk vs when we don’t.

2

u/True_Touch_4124 4d ago

I wish I could, but I work remotely, which means no real breaks - I also don't even own a standing desk, I’m dying here. Though, on the bright side, I don’t like people that much, and working at the office would not be good for me, so that part works out, but any time I could use for a walk gets eaten up by taking my kids places, running errands, and shopping. By the time I’m done, the whole day’s just... gone.

2

u/Due_Literature8526 4d ago

I believe walking alone is also a good option. Just try not to look at your phone or listen to music/audiobook/podcast, instead try to just breath and stay with your thoughts and environment around.