If you don’t take a lunch break, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, according to a recent Monster poll, 38% of the 4,982 respondents reported eating either while they worked or not taking a break at all. Only 17% reported taking a full hour lunch break, while 27% said they take a 30-45 minute break and 17% said they take a 15-minute break.

So why is this important?

Because, as one of the leading staffing agencies in Woodland, we know that not taking a lunch break is a dangerous habit to get into. Obviously, there will be days or periods of time during an important project when you’re extremely busy at work and have to skip lunch or eat a hurried meal standing over the sink of the employee kitchen. However, don’t make it a habit.

Not only is this not good for your health – but it may not be good for your career either.

According to experts, when you don’t give your brain a break throughout the day, you will experience diminished returns over time. In fact, if skipping lunch is the norm for you, burnout could be just around the corner. In addition, trying to squeeze the most work out of every second of the workday can actually reduce your output over the long run, rather than increase it.

Besides impacting your health and productivity, not eating away from your desk can have other negative side effects, as well.

For instance, even if you do eat lunch each day, but you’re at your desk when you do so, colleagues won’t have any trouble interrupting you. So you really don’t get much of a break at all.

The reality is that everybody needs a bit of downtime each day to recoup energy and regain focus; some more than others, especially if they’re in a high-demand, high-stress position.

And if part of your inability to get away from your desk for lunch is due to a staffing shortage, let us know. As one of the leading staffing agencies in Woodland, we can work with you to understand your organization’s unique staffing needs – and ensure you have access to the qualified professionals you need, when you need them. Learn more now.