Lunch Break Reset: Simple Techniques to Energise Your Team in Under 15 Minutes
Whether you are working from home or in an office, making sure you make time for a break over lunch is really important.
Your lunch hour represents an opportunity to recharge and yet, how many times have you found yourself scrolling through your phone or skipping lunch altogether? Don’t fall into energy draining habits – instead embrace the idea of a “lunch break reset.”
Breathwork is a quick and easy reset tool, that will leave you and your team feeling energised and ready for a productive afternoon!
The Science Behind It
Breathwork has the effect of firing up your parasympathic nervous system which in turn promotes a state of “rest and digest.”
This is important as it is when the body is in rest and digest mode that oxygen flow is improved, stress hormones are reduced and focus is boosted.
So that’s the science – but what about practical outcomes?
A Gallup survey found that employees who take regular breaks tend to report higher levels of job satisfaction and overall well-being. Breaks give employees the opportunity to recharge, reducing stress and making them feel more valued.
Quick Breathwork Techniques
If you want to introduce some simple breathwork exercises into the working day here is a step-by-step guide to some easy exercises employees can do during their lunch break:
Box Breathing: 4-second inhale, 4-second hold, 4-second exhale, 4-second hold. Repeat.
Energizing Breath: Quick inhales through the nose, longer exhales through the mouth (3 rounds of 10 breaths).
Grounding Breath: Slow diaphragmatic breathing with one hand on the belly, focusing on a long exhale.
How Employers Can Encourage This Practice
Encouraging your team to take regular breaks to practise breathwork techniques will probably require more than just sending an email or making a gentle suggestion!
If you want to really “walk the walk” when it comes to lunchtime reset, healthy habits and breathwork why not create dedicated “rest zones” or spaces for employees to practise?
Or you could host a short breathwork session as part of a team meeting or wellness initiative, introducing your team to the concept and some simple exercises for them to take away.
Aetna, a health insurance company, introduced mindfulness and breathing exercises as part of its broader wellness program for employees, including breathwork sessions.
The company reported that employees who participated in mindfulness and stress management programs (including breathwork), were more satisfied with their work environment, experienced fewer physical symptoms of stress, such as headaches or sleep issues and showed improved mental well-being.[i]
Aetna also measured the financial impact of the program and found that the company saw a significant ROI. They reported that for every dollar spent on the wellness program, they saved approximately $2.71 due to reduced stress-related healthcare costs, lower absenteeism, and improved employee performance.
Call to Action
If you’re ready to take the next step to improve employee wellbeing, get in touch, and let’s explore how we can introduce breathwork to your team.
If you’d like to start your own journey to balance and calm, join my 6-part self-guided 'Breath to Balance' mini-course.
[i] https://www.ttec.com/articles/aetnas-mindfulness-initiative-leads-unique-employee-engagement