A midday stroll, or “lunch walk” provides physical benefits, boosts both productivity and creativity and promotes emotional well-being.
Several studies have proven how beneficial lunch walks are. For instance, the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science published research that links a short midday walk to immediately improved work productivity. People who walked 3 times a week over a 10-week period felt more relaxed, were less nervous and had increased enthusiasms about their work.
Meanwhile, researchers at Stanford University in the US found that a person’s creative output increases by 60% during a walk. Innovator Steve Jobs was known for his walking meetings. In Lebanon, the Blessing Foundation implements the annual Global Mentoring Walk during which women business mentors and mentees discuss wins and challenges.
Then there are the physical benefits of walking such as it being a great cardio exercise that boosts your circulation and increases the oxygen supply to your body while burning some extra calories. Even just a short walk benefits the digestion process and helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Your employer should be happy to see you take a daily walk: physically active employees take 27% less sick days than non-active employees and are healthier the whole year round.
So why not schedule and commit to a daily walk during lunchtime? In good weather, take your walk outside – walking in nature is even better for emotional health.
Consider inviting co-workers to join you; though we’re big fans of mindful walks, walking with others has benefits of its own:
A walk with a colleague is a great opportunity to creatively solve specific challenges you’re facing.
Teaming up with a coworker with similar health goals will help you stick to your commitment.
Walking with a colleague can help cultivate a stronger work relationship between you.
Taking a walk with someone, rather than alone, may relieve potential boredom.
Of course, your lunch break is meant for having lunch as well! Before your walk, have a glass of water or a piece of fruit (if you’re really hungry). After your walk, a light lunch, one that includes carbohydrates and protein, is the perfect way to nourish your muscles and re-energize you.
Now that you know how a simple walk can positively affect your life both short- and long-term, will you adopt a lunch walk routine? We hope you will! Please share your experiences in the comments below.
