I recently came across an article in the The Daily Mail that highlights the growing trend known as “Run-ch”. The author wrote about the rise of the lunch hour work out and how many in the UK, where the article was focused, now exchange their social hour for an hour outdoors running.
Today, 1 in 13 British workers will take their break on the go – eating a light meal first and then working out. Men were more likely to run or cycle while women were more likely to do yoga, aerobics, or pilates. While the limited time of an hour seems limited, workers felt they returned more energized and focused, with a positive mood gained from leaving their office building and spending time outdoors. As an added bonus, workers felt their employers were impressed by their drive and were enthusiastic about having healthier workers in the office.
Think about going back to work with an afternoon rush instead of an afternoon crash.
What do you do on your lunch break? In American work settings it seems that lunch is not always an hour long and workers are often encouraged to work through lunch. This pattern may feel like it helps productivity but without the chance to re-stoke your energy supply and invigorate your blood with movement, we continue to become more and more stagnant. When we sit for long periods our body systems slow and become inefficient, especially our digestion.
Follow up a healthy meal with a brisk walk or jog instead. If you are adverse to running, don’t worry; the difference in calories is not significant from a slow jog to a brisk walk, the point is simply to get on the move!
