5 mindful ways to spend your lunch hour
What's the story
Taking a break from work to connect with nature can be refreshing and good for your mental well-being.
Spending even a little time outdoors in the day can help reduce stress and improve focus.
In this article, we explore five practical ways to engage with nature during your lunch break, offering simple activities that you can easily squeeze into a busy schedule.
Park walk
Take a walk in the park
A walk in the park is the easiest way to immerse yourself in nature.
Parks generally have walking trails or paths that offer a peaceful environment, away from the hustle of daily life.
Just a 15-minute walk can boost endorphin levels, making you feel more relaxed and energized when you return to work.
The trees, flowers and wildlife you see on the way add an element of mindfulness to this activity.
Mindful breathing
Practice mindful breathing outdoors
While mindful breathing exercises can be done anywhere, doing them outdoors makes it even more beneficial.
Look for a quiet spot outside where you can sit comfortably and concentrate on your breath for five minutes.
The fresh air with deep breaths clears your mind and lowers anxiety levels by as much as 30%.
Not only does this calm your mind, but also enhances your concentration when you get back to your tasks.
Picnic lunch
Enjoy an outdoor picnic lunch
Eating lunch outside is a great way to enjoy some fresh air while you devour your meal.
Pick a spot with some greenery or near water, if you can, since places like these are scientifically proven to enhance your mood by 20%.
Carrying healthy snacks like fruits or nuts also makes a great addition to this experience without much prep time.
Light gardening
Engage in light gardening activities
If you have access to a garden, or a green space nearby, light gardening like watering plants or weeding can be quite rewarding.
These tasks require very little effort but offer huge mental health benefits by reducing stress hormones by up to 15%.
Further, interacting with plants has proven to boost feelings of happiness and satisfaction.
Wildlife observation
Observe wildlife around you
Spending time observing local wildlife is another way of connecting with nature during breaks from work duties indoors all day long!
From watching birds fly overhead, squirrels scurrying about at ground level, or insects buzzing around flowers, every single moment spent observing creatures great and small brings a sense of peace and tranquility.
This translates into improved overall wellbeing once back at the desk, ready to tackle the afternoon workload head-on!