It’s your time of freedom, a chance to refresh and rejuvenate, a time to recharge your batteries and let your work problems melt away. So how do most of us spend our lunch hours at work? He usually curls up on a sofa and relaxes with a good read or just sits. The problem with spending an hour of your break time sitting in a sedentary position is that chances are you already spend most of the day sitting while you work. And, the problem of sitting for long periods of time? In a nutshell: your health.

Sitting for long periods of time has been shown to cause work-related aches and pains such as low back pain, neck pain, upper back pain, repetitive stress injury, fatigue, and carpal tunnel syndrome. These pains can occur due to a number of different reasons, including not sitting with proper posture, sitting in a poorly designed chair, sitting in a chair that is too big or too small for your body, sitting for long periods of time, sitting in the same position, and lack of movement. However, the main problem comes down to sitting. Although our employers require most of us to sit down for most of the day, our lunch break is the one time of day when we are completely free to do as we please. Instead of sitting down, we’ve come up with 7 alternative ways to spend your lunch hour.

1. Section – Even if you don’t have a full hour for lunch or are too busy to take a break, take a few moments to stand up and stretch. Roll your shoulders back, raise your arms above your head to full extension, take a brisk walk around the office, and shake your legs. It’s best to do this every 1-2 hours, but if your time only allows for it during your lunch hour, remember to do it.
2. Walk – Do you have some free time during your break? Take the opportunity to take a walk around your building, parking lot, or walk instead of driving to lunch. Walking will help take your mind off the stress of work while helping you stay active.
3. Go to an exercise class – For some of us, our work continues even once we leave the office. For others, we often have other activities planned for after work, like running errands or spending time with our families. Consider your lunch break as an opportunity to participate in an exercise class to help clear your mind.
4. Get a massage – Sometimes work gets in the way of life’s little luxuries that leave us feeling revitalized and invigorated, a massage being one of them. Take an hour out of your work day during your lunch hour to work out all the sprains and aches that have been building up in your back and you’ll feel like a whole new person when you get back to work!
5. Run – Often, after work, the last thing we want to do is put on our gym clothes and go for a run. Not only are we exhausted from the long day at work, but it is also dangerous to run in the dark at night. What better time to stretch and recharge than in the middle of the day with a quick run around the office. Bring a pair of gym clothes and running shoes to work and you’ll be good to go!
6. Try all the restaurants within walking distance – If you can walk there, you should try it! Work out while trying new quaint restaurants and on-the-wall food places you’d never consider going to if you had your car. You never know, you may find your next favorite place to eat in the process.
7. go to a park – Pack a lunch and have a picnic in a nearby park. You will enjoy being outdoors and away from anything that reminds you of work. Once you are done, take a walk and enjoy the scenery.

Whether you’re taking a walk or working out during your lunch hour, it’s important to keep your health active throughout the day. Even if you can’t take an hour break, make sure you get out of your office chair, stretch, and move during your workday at least once every 2 hours. So the next time you’re thinking about how you can spend your lunch hour, consider one of our 7 options!