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Original poster

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

174 replies

ErinAndTonic · 28/02/2023 12:41

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 😅)

OP posts:
melmos · 28/02/2023 18:43

I try to eat together at the table but this rarely happens. Then nap or walk both with the dogs. Clean if I am hosting or and in the week before Christmas I did all my present shopping. Today I napped 😌

AnnieKenney · 28/02/2023 18:45

I WFH most of the time as does DH. We stop for lunch at 1pm every day, eat at the same table, chat over lunch and play a board game after. It's part of on-going bonding and is sacrosanct if we are in the same location.

IntentionalError · 28/02/2023 18:46

I go for a walk every day, unless it’s pissing it down. I live on the outskirts of a village, so the countryside is just outside my door and I enjoy watching the seasons change as I walk.

Beachbreak2411 · 28/02/2023 18:46

i work full time in hospitality.. what is this lunch break thing you speak of? 10 hour brutal shifts with no break.

GUARDIAN1 · 28/02/2023 18:48

Make a sandwich and carry on working

Minniem2020 · 28/02/2023 18:49

I get 30 minutes for lunch and usually spend it eating something quick then housework for the remainder of the time.
I miss being at work and just spending the 30 minutes doing nothing at all but feel I should do something if I'm in the house.
On the plus side it means I don't have to do these things after work so it has it's bonuses.
I have to keep telling myself this every time I think about how much I hate wfh.

Apricot10 · 28/02/2023 18:49

I do the school run. I have my lunch break 3-4 and pick up my son. Then I work until 5.30pm. I walk so It takes the hour there and back and the dog gets a walk too.

SnowAndFrostOutside · 28/02/2023 18:51

I make cook lunches. Garden. Go to the supermarket or garden centre. Walk. Cycle.

It is about making time for yourself.

My commute is 2 hours so I can afford to take a bit of time for me.

Tulipomania · 28/02/2023 18:51

Make lunch, eat lunch, put dishes in dishwasher. If the weather is good I will drink my coffee in the garden. Hang up laundry.
Then go back to work.

Decafflatteplease · 28/02/2023 18:53

I'm not WFH exactly (I'm a full time carer) so lots of meetings, emails, admin etc it's basically a full time WFH job.

I try to get outside for fresh air and sunlight, just the garden usually, top up the bird feeders, maybe hang a load of washing etc. Then scroll on my phone while eating lunch or listen to something soothing like YouTube asmr depending how stressed I am!

VillanellePinkDress · 28/02/2023 18:54

Download iplayer, Netflix etc to your phone. I usually sit at the kitchen island eating lunch and watching my crap on my phone!

SpecialK2023 · 28/02/2023 18:54

Walk the dog/run/walk/counselling session/errands like collecting a prescription.

NeedNwJeans · 28/02/2023 18:56

If I have a busy day, I put in advance lunch break in my calendar. Some days I go for a walk (especially if weather is nice), sometimes I run an errand. Or just make and eat lunch and go back to work, and finish earlier to exercise/ walk.

Spudlet · 28/02/2023 18:58

My lunch breaks can be either very long or very short depending on what time I have clients coming in! If I get a good long one, DH and I will often take the dog for a walk together and chat, or I’ll take the dog while he goes for a bike ride. If it’s a short one, I’ll just have time to eat and sit down for a moment before the next person arrives. I try and get a bit of downtime in though, every day.

User473831 · 28/02/2023 18:59

Walk the dogs and ride my horse.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 28/02/2023 18:59

I only WFH 1/2 days a week but I walk the dog. I used to have a job where I WFH more often and I miss walking him at lunch time (I still do in the mornings and DH takes him at lunch time, then I take him after work so he’s not missing out!) but I don’t miss the loneliness of WFH!

Johnisafckface · 28/02/2023 19:03

I get an hour so I will use it to

  • Run errands/grocery shop
  • go to appointments
  • make dinner/prep for dinner
  • actually eat lunch and watch a tv show
  • take a nap
  • sometimes ride my stationary bike
TickledCrimson · 28/02/2023 19:04

I get 1.5 hours so generally I have some lunch then go for a sleep.

SoonBeTeaTime · 28/02/2023 19:05

I only get 30min (it isn't policed and I could take longer if I like but I suppose I dont take the piss) I usually just go downstairs, make some food and a cup of tea, eat it and then go back up. I often think in summer I should get out for a walk or something but never do, I do sit in the garden to eat if it's a sunny day in summer though. It's quite sad and isolating, I used to like going out for lunch when I worked in an office or even just having lunch in the large kitchen area with other people. The benefits far outweigh me missing some company at lunch time though, my commute has always been 1-1.5 hours wherever I have worked, gaining 3 hours of my life back everyday, is worth my boring lonely lunch break.

maddiemookins16mum · 28/02/2023 19:05

I only get 30 mins, normally I make a cuppa and watch Doctors.

MintJulia · 28/02/2023 19:05

I make lunch and carry on working through.

At least I can make better food than a sad sandwich from the garage. One of the advantages of working from home. 🙂

FatOaf · 28/02/2023 19:06

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

Eating a sandwich at my desk while I do the crossword, same as I do at work.

BigBoysDontCry · 28/02/2023 19:09

I get 30 minutes like others. I fill the dishwasher, hang laundry, get something to eat, sit at my desk and watch youtube, catch up on personal emails, in the nicer weather i'll prepare a pack lunch before I start in the morning and then go for a brisk walk at lunchtime and come back and eat while working. One day a week I go in the office and on another I do a teams call with a friend from work just like we'd do in the office. We can't always go in on the same day.

AliasGrape · 28/02/2023 19:12

I’m part time and my hours are really flexible, basically I’m contracted a certain number of hours across the week but doesn’t matter when I do them. In reality that usually means 2 full days and one afternoon as that’s what works for childcare - but as long as the work gets done nobody really checks/ cares.

So if I’m really busy I’ll just grab something quick to eat then keep working.

Other times I might work through but finish a bit earlier and have a bit of a break before having to pick DD up.

I’ve been known to go get my nails done or meet a friend for lunch and a wander round the shops - not often but the off time.

Usually I’ll read or mumsnet or play word games on my phone.

DH works from home also but rarely takes a proper lunch break. If he does then we may eat together, or go for a walk.

Aryi · 28/02/2023 19:16

Exercise class normally, I have a just listening call at 12, so I tend to stick on a stretching warm up video on mute and do that while I listen so I can fit in cooking something quickly and 30mins exercise during my hour.