In 2019, I was invited to share what I would consider a life well-lived. While 2019 looked considerably different than 2020, upon reflection, my answer remains the same:
Summary.
Widespread remote work has led to longer workdays and more emails and meetings for many employees. Combine that with a back-to-back meeting culture, and foregoing breaks can be hard to avoid. But taking real lunch breaks has been linked to improved job satisfaction and productivity. Company leaders need to create the psychological safety for employees to take time for lunch, which includes ensuring that employees don’t get penalized or viewed as less productive for doing so. They can also set a good example by taking lunch breaks themselves, and actively encourage break-taking by limiting meetings at a certain hour of the day and arranging recurring lunch events.
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New!
HBR Learning
Time Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Time Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Make smarter, more purposeful choices about how you spend your day.