How do you spend your lunch break? Catching up on Love Island gossip? Joining the Greggs queue for a steak bake and a yum yum?
Well, according to new research by people analytics specialists Humanyze, regardless of how you spend your time, doing it solo could be the key to maximising productivity in the workplace.
And that’s something every busy HR Manager will welcome.
Here are some of the best ways to get the most from your daily golden hour.
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Check off your life admin
Sometimes HR assistants get so caught up in helping co-workers manage their professional and personal affairs, you don’t have to time to sort your own.
And yet completing ‘life admin’ tasks is incredibly satisfying. Just think of the feeling you’ll get as another item is ticked off that to-do list!
So make a plan to tackle things, such as paying bills, booking appointments, refreshing your CV or replying to emails during your lunch break.
This will leave your mind clearer and more focussed . . . and save precious time at the weekend.
Get away from it all
Even if you’ve an Everest-sized workload, escaping the office and getting fresh air is beneficial.
Take a short stroll or find a park to decompress in but leave behind all thoughts of your HR duties.
Exercise such as yoga, running, rollerblading or a few lengths of the pool are all feasible.
But don’t forget to leave ample time to eat a nutritious lunch to set you up for the rest of the day.
Go shopping
Fighting your way around the supermarket during the post-work rush hour is about as much fun as a traffic jam on the M8.
So why not beat the crowds and buy smaller batches of groceries during a couple of lunch breaks each week?
It’s less hassle and the food you buy will be fresher.
Probably best to eat lunch first – shopping while hungry can lead to questionable choices. Put down that family-sized bag of Quavers!
Master an art
Creative and innovative thinking is an integral part of HR work as you come up with solutions to staffing issues and tackle new legislation. But don’t forget to indulge your own passion, whether that’s sketching, writing, reading, music or photography.
Whatever your creative outlet is, making time to enjoy it during your lunch break is a great way to de-stress and relax.
Engaging your ‘right brain’ also helps inspire problem solving in HR.
Finally, there’s always time during your lunch break to discover new opportunities with the latest HR/Training/Recruitment vacancies on s1jobs.