Maybe you only get half an hour, or maybe, like me, you get an hour off for lunch. Especially in the summer, a lot of us college students have jobs with shifts that are long enough to require at least a half an hour break. It can get so easy during the summer to be frustrated that you're stuck at work instead of doing all of your summer bucket list activities.
So here's a list of things that you can do to make your lunch break more exciting (other than fast food and Netflix).
1. Go on a walk
Improve your mental, emotional, and physical health all with a simple walk! See if a coworker will join you to make it that much more fun.
2. Send a text to the people you care about and let them know you're thinking about them
Now is always a good time to remind people how important they are to you.
3. Call someone you haven't spoken with in a long time
Here are 10 conversation-starters for people you haven't seen in a long time.
4. Hand write a letter
On this website, you can choose a greeting card template and print it for free, or design your own.
5. Exercise
Try this 30 minute workout routine, and here are nine exercises you can do in your office.
6. Take a nap
A 20 minute power nap is great for improving alertness and fine motor skills (for every day activities like typing).
7. Read
Here are 17 Young Adult books recommended by our Odyssey EIC, Cheyenne Zaremba.
8. Draw
Get some markers, crayons, pencils-- just doodle. And there's always those adult coloring books!
9. Have weekly lunch dates with friends who live nearby
This my favorite lunch time activity. We called them "Londay Munches."
10. Write
If you're an Odyssey creator, lunch breaks are great times to get working on your next article! Even if you're not an Odyssey creator, we can all use writing as a great outlet for all of our frustrations or joys during each work day.
11. Organize your desk
That's probably not the most exciting lunch break plan, but if you love to organize, it'll at least be satisfying. Here is how experts say your desk should be organized.
12. Talk to a coworker you've never talked to before
Meeting new people is always a good idea!
13. Pack yourself a picnic and eat outside
This might take some planning, but you can always invite your coworkers to participate! Here are 32 healthy picnic food recipes.
14. Research something you've always been curious about
We all have those, "How does this work?" and "Where did this come from?" sort of questions, so use your lunch break to fill your noggin with some knowledge.
15. Pull out a planner
Make a list of things you need to do that day, errands you need to run, clothing you need to pack, goals you have for the week/month/year, etc. Get yourself motivated by making lists! Here are free printable planner pages, grocery lists, and more.
