If you WFH.. how do you spend your lunch break?

[ErinAndTonic]

I kind of miss office lunch breaks.. out for food with a colleague, nose in the shops, walk along the river..

At home sometimes I drag myself to the gym if I'm lucky enough to get a break that isn't sandwiched either side by meetings. Walking around our local area is dull and been done to death during covid, and when it's cold it's not appealing at all.

I find myself bored doing errands rather than having some downtime to recharge. Doesn't help that my partner is always here so I can't be selfish and do something I'd like.. he just has pure shite on the tv like bargain hunt while he sits there on his phone.. and I can't relax! I'd love to sit and read a book but he's too noisy 😅

Keen to know how others spend their break! (And before anyone says yet, yes I know sometimes we're lucky to get one at all - that's an entirely different issue 😅)

I go for a walk after eating lunch. In the middle of winter, it can be my only chance to get outside in the daylight, so I make a point of going outside, even if only briefly.

If the husbands WFH too, lunch breaks are usually some ‘sexy time’ whilst the kids are at school! Either that or have a relaxing bath.

WFH is the best 😂

Then use your iPad / similar in another room on catch-up. I do it all the time :)

Usually sat at my desk. And even if I take a break and do some Mumsnetting I usually still answer calls. I’ve tried to take longer breaks recently and use the time to do some decluttering and tidying. I’m lucky that I work flexible hours but I have to record a minimum 30 minutes for lunch even if I am working

I WFH 4 days and office 1 a week. I use my lunches for housework / errands / prepping dinner as it allows me to relax more when work is over :)

DH and I make and eat lunch then watch Bargain hunt. We fast forward through the introductions/'funny' stories/repetition of who chose what. I only occasionally get to see the actual auction as I only get 30 minutes.

In our defence we do buy and sell things at auction. Our action house must be at the cheaper end as we often underestimate what things will go for ('10 quid but only if it has a 20 pound note stapled to it').

I have lunch with my husband. He is retired and misses me when I'm working. Surprisingly enough we like each other and like spending time with each other..

I go to the gym 3x a week. If I get lunch breaks the other 2 days (lots of Back to back meetings) I have lunch with my partner and toddler and/or do house chores which makes my evenings nicer. If they are out I might read a book. Never enjoyed office lunchbreaks as it was a chore going out (often in the rain) to find something nice, queuing, finding somewhere to eat it back in the office etc. v rarely did we have nice pub/restaurant lunches although they were great!

I do a 30 minute exercise routine then I eat lunch.

Walking the dogs.

OP, why don't you watch TV shows on your phone if your husband is hogging the TV?

I usually stick a wash in and eat a while Mumsnetting. If DH is also WFH we both find it hard to chat over lunch as we are in our own respective work mindsets. We are very happily married, honestly!

I get into bed for a quick lie down!

I was WFH before it was trendy so well versed in it. I do try to take a break every so often otherwise I find myself sat in front of my laptop from 9-8pm, so my list of break "things to do" is below:

Go for a decent, brisk walk. I've a dog so he does tell me when I need to take a break. I know you said your local area is dull but get some headphones in and treat it like an exercise session. Treadmill work is dull but most of us still do it regardless.

Make lunch in the morning before you start so you're not cutting into your break time.

If you've a good hour and a gym close by, have a gym session. If neither, do a quick home work out.

Fold or put away the washing or catch up those chores without guilt. My boss is pretty awesome in that I can be on a conference call and be doing my washing AND be open about the fact.

Watch a series of your favourite box set while eating your lunch.

Go upstairs in a dark room and rock, while repeating "I love my job".

Arrange to meet a friend for a cuppa or lunch.

Meditate.

My personal favourite is going for a very brisk walk as I do go to the gym late in the evening but I always find I come back to my desk refreshed and ready to start again. A brisk walk for me helps to clear my head, if I'm on a particularly tough project, it'll help me de-stress and I usually have fresh ideas. Anything that gets you out the house will be beneficial.

Secondly, t'other half. I don't care and don't know why he's in the house watching crap TV but that's gotta stop while you're on your breaks. I have a rule in my house that when I'm working and husband is home (which is for 6 weeks through the summer as he's a lecturer), my break is my break to do as I please with and if I want to watch TV, I damn well watch TV. He's often been metaphorically kicked out the house at midday to do something else rather gain laze around in his dressing gown.

Why can't you do something together on your breaks?

I get up early to exercise.

Lunchtime: eat, snooze for 30 or shag DP if he is WFH too.

My lunch breaks are worse since being at home.
Used to make a packed lunch night before, and go for a walk into town centre and mooch round shops, always got out for fresh air and had a proper break.
Now at lunch time I make lunch and for the rest of the time I'm hoovering, mopping emptying bins, reloading the dishwasher , doing washing, admin tasks phone calls etc We are a family of 6 and 3 of us WFH and 1 is in part time college, so more people at home for longer = more mess and more housework.
I feel WFH should improve quality of life but tbh I'm not sure it has!

I take a 30 minute lunch break and walk the dog. Then I heat up my lunch if it's supposed to be warm and eat it while working, or have a sandwich. I don't eat in front of the screen at work as I'm in Europe and its frowned upon, so I just do it at home. I'd rather have the extra time in the evenings to cook dinner for myself and my son to sit and chat.

If I have a meeting where I don't need to participate or a prerecorded training video, I watch it while folding laundry out of the tumble dryer.

When I go down to boil the kettle I vacuum the stairs on the way down and around while the water boils, or load the washing machine/dishwasher.

My lunch break is spent eating lunch and doing one or more of the following
Clean the kitchen
Hanging out washing
Prepping dinner
Ordering online food shop
Hoovering the kitchen or downstairs
Putting on a wash
Putting clothes away.

I usually only take 30 mins so I finish work earlier. I Know I should be spending my lunch relaxing but tbh these are all jobs I would be doing when the kids would be home from school.

I don’t get one - the myth that working from home is a skive is sadly misplaced.

I eat at my desk

I eat at my desk, let dog out for a pee in the garden, go to toilet.

I actually get more done when WFH because I don't take enough breaks but I really should.

I find I work a lot better in the afternoon if I take a break and do something outdoors. So, I try to take 45 mins for a walk around the block/walk into town to run some errands or go for a short bike ride. Add that to 1/2 hour for lunch and I'm going over an hour, but am freelance so that's ok. However, realistically I do this about 3 days out of 5. Always feel better for it when I do!

I'm lucky because my time is my own. Usually I'm eating a sarnie. If it's nasty weather I watch Netflix. If it's nice I sit outside and usually listen to an audiobook. I have to add that I get fresh air every day sorting out horses. If I didn't I'd probably try to go for a walk, even in rough weather.

Op, you are VV unreasonable. I ❤ Bargain Hunt. Why is your husband still with you?

Sometimes a quick visit to gym - with making lunch takes me a little over an hour, but I'll make up the time that day.

Sometimes it's just making lunch and looking at the internet

Other times popping to local shops for something.

I love Bargain Hunt too and went through a phase of watching it at lunchtime too. This week I took an early and longer lunch break to visit a friend so need to work through lunch to make up the hours this week

The cock n roll is the way to go on your lunch break! 🥹