Using Lunch To De-stress, Refresh & Work Better

Our daily schedules sometimes feel like a daily grind and rhythm that are bodies are set to.  There is the wake up, rush to work/school, breakfast, work, lunch, work, the late afternoon slump, social/family time and dinner.  In Ayurveda it is taught that our bodies do have a circadian rhythm and recommends a daily routine to maximize this principle for better health and well being.

Life is also made up of moments.  The individual moment builds the hour, the day, the week, the month and your life.  While the afternoon slump may be just something you come to accept, it doesn't have to be that way.  Making one small change can change how that slow, tired and sometimes unproductive time can be made better.  Chances are making that one small change will make the rest of your day better to.  The moment building the next the moment is elevated, so the continuing moments have to be better as they come from a stronger foundation.

The first step to making lunch better is to take time to eat lunch in a relaxed way, even if it is a short period of time.  Next, take a walk.  Yes, a walk for thirty minutes will boost your mood.  A recent study found, "...walkers said they felt considerably more enthusiastic, less tense, and generally more relaxed and able to cope than on afternoons when they hadn’t walked."  I hear that many people don't have time to take a thirty minute walk.  Instead of dismissing the advice, try to use it as best as possible.  Maybe take a twenty minute walk and consider how your increased energy levels will make you more efficient, making the investment of time pay off in your schedule.  Start with a small by taking the walk once or twice a week at lunch and feel your mood lighten.  The most important thing is to try it.

The initial resistance is the hard part.  Many times we are not open to experimenting because we don't think we will do it right or be successful.  We only need to find a few moments to build the momentum to move to the next place.

Stay healthy & well,
Lisa