Full Time, All the Time
with Britt and Robyn
I'm Britt. I work full time as a mom, wife, blogger and salesperson with a fancy management title. And I'm Robyn. I work as a project manager and between corporate meetings manage to cook a home-made meal every day. This blog is about our experiences of juggling full-time work with family.
Check out our personal blogs:
Miss Britt and Who's the Boss?
My office has a small but good café downstairs. It’s really not that big – stick 12 people waiting for their custom-made salad and it feels a bit like riding the crowded subway during rush hour. If that subway was a nice, bright, cafeteria filled with well dressed corporate types. A few times a week, I make the trek downstairs to grab lunch. I almost always get the same thing – a slice of cheese pizza and a green salad. It’s not too unhealthy, satisfies at least two servings of vegetables. And it is easy to eat when I sit back at my desk to keep working.
I’m not the only one giving up my lunch break for another hour in the office. In a New Zealand study, over half of those surveyed stated that they eat lunch at their desk rather than leaving their office. Furthermore, the respondents revealed a new trend when 41% said it shows increased commitment to their employer to take less than their allocated break. In another study by Croner found that one in five UK employees doesn’t take a break at all!
By working over my lunch break I can catch up on email, schedule meetings for later in the week, and calmly respond to that person that found the right button to push when I had the low blood sugar crankiness at the stroke of Noon. While I certainly don’t eat at my desk every day, I am finding myself doing it more and more often. There are more excuses to eat in the comfort of my cubicle than to eat in the comfy booths in the cafeteria. I often feel like I get a little extra accomplished during the day. Plus it makes leaving at 5pm on the dot to pick up my son from daycare less guilt inducing.
Three to five extra hours a week doesn’t seem like a lot to give up. Or so I thought. I did the math and nearly choked on my crouton. In my field of High-tech Project Management (where the average salary on Payscale.com is roughly $90K), that’s nearly $10,000 of work a year I give my employer for free. And that doesn’t even take into account all those hours I’m working at home during my “second shift” –the one that starts after the kids have gone to bed.
But starting this week, I am reclaiming my lunch break as MY time. I brought a book into work with me and plan on sitting downstairs in the café, eating my pizza and salad and doing something for me. I’ve also planned a lunch with a former colleague to keep up my networking and another with my manager who’s been working out of the office lately. Some days you’ll probably still find me at my desk during lunch. I know that I can’t cut out skipping my lunch-break entirely. But I am going to do my best to make it the exception and not the rule.
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I don’t think I’ve taken a proper lunch break in ages — but, after reading this post, I’m going to make a point of taking one! Thank you for the reminder!
Lylah | May 23rd, 2008 at 11:06 am
On a tangent, I hope you’re cleaning your desk before and after you eat. I did that today before opening up my sub sandwich and working on report cards. It’s essential to wipe down the surface to avoid breeding bacteria.
There, now you have another good reason to stop eating at your desk.
Daisy | May 23rd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I’m not always great about it, but a colleague and I try to hit the gym during our lunch hour. I often bail, but I try to make lunch dates with friends–even if it’s in the company caf. I’m usually too lazy, but sometimes I fix my lunch at home if I know I’m going to eat deskside. Bottom line: eating at work is a fact of life in our harried roles as working moms, but there are ways to make it a bit pleasanter.
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen | May 24th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Good for you on taking back your lunch break. I need to do that, too. I eat so many times in front of my desk, doing the same things you spoke of. And yes, it helps me get a little ahead, but the cost is:
1. I never get a mental break.
2. I tend to eat more becasue I’m mindless of what i’m eating.
When I follow through and step away from the desk for lunch I end up more relaxed — and productive — throughout the afternoon.
bloggingmom67 | May 24th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Woohoo! Karen is one of my favorite all-time bloggers, and Robyn, I’m looking forward to getting to know you too.
Welcome! Can’t wait to read your stuff.
Kristin | May 25th, 2008 at 1:11 am
If you can pull this off, I think it’s a great idea. When I worked in an office, I used to have one day a week when I’d bring a sandwich and go to the local bookstore for lunch — me, coffee, sandwich and magazines was like a mini vacation.
Nataly | May 25th, 2008 at 7:53 am
This is something I am guilty of too. I hope you figure out a way to take back your lunch time… When you do, will you let me know?
Karla | May 25th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Since I have started working from home I have to force myself to take a lunch. I find myself working right through lunch most days. I am doing my best to curb this bad habit.
Jess | May 27th, 2008 at 11:24 am
You rock. I say stick with it! Love you and this blog! congrats.
Sara | May 29th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I am the queen of taking my lunch. It’s the ONE time of the day that I get to be selfish - no work, no kids, no hubby. I sometimes escape to an empty office so I can have a computer to goof around on or as a resource. I take care of home business so I don’t have to deal with it at home (IMPOSSIBLE) with kids. An hour is just long enough to call on a medical bill, pay the bills, check out a website I’ve been thinking about, run an errand, call a friend I’ve been meaning to, read an article for work, make some goal lists, write thank you’s, shop online, check out car insurance quotes, etc. I also sometimes go to youtube and check out old episodes of Top Chef and Gossip Girl - ONLY do this if you can close the door! It really helps me to have a list of hour-long tasks that I’ve been meaning to do but never get the time. I just keep one on my Outlook at work (journal or task list function). Then when I get home, I can really BE home, instead of dealing with those kids birthday party RSVP’s or the cell phone bill questions. Love it! Let’s all convert! I feel less guilty because I’m getting stuff done. I try to do 2 days home business, 2 days self development (work articles, goal setting), and 1 day indulgence/ treat. Or sometimes 2 days…or more…ha!
BiblioBabe | May 31st, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Lylah - isn’t is so easy to forget something so simple as taking a lunch break. Glad I’m not alone
Daisy - yes I am compulsive about keeping my desk clean.
Lisa - using the break for the gym is a great idea.
Bloggingmom - you are right. there are major health issues with never taking a break. I heard once that by simply stepping away from your desk for 15 minutes gave your mind a chance to rejuvinate.
Kristin - thanks. Hope you stick around.
Nataly - love this idea. no bookstore close to my work, but I am reading books on my break in the lunchroom.
Karla - its proving more difficult than I thought. But its merely a matter of sticking with it. you can do it!
Jess - oh it is so much harder when you work from home. good for you!
Sara - love you too.
BiblioBabe - I am so stealing this idea. Although I have to admit that I often do online banking during those conference calls that are incredibly boring.
Robyn | June 4th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I often grocery shop for unparishable items during my lunch hour. That way, the weekend trip to the grocery is only to buy produce, dairy and meat - quick in and out.
Cool Midwest Mom | June 26th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
For more comfortable lunch break, while having an enjoyable time eating at your desk I recommend, try using a stainless steel container for its more safer than plastic ones. Stainless steel container from Happy Tiffin (http://www.happytiffn.com) is the one I’m often fond of. Its not just you who can gain benefit on it but also our environment because it was manufactured from a high quality stainless steel food grade and it is 100% BPA free. They offer various tiffin lunch box carrier, especially their latest product which is the insulated tiffin bags. Its really amazing to have it. Because the insulated tiffin bags can sustain your food’s freshness, your packed lunch can stay hot or cold. At a very affordable price you can have it. Many has proven its great quality.
Ara | November 8th, 2009 at 8:13 am