Did you know that a year’s worth of lunch breaks equates to almost 7 extra weeks of annual leave?

Laura Archer is author of 'Gone For Lunch: 52 things to do in your lunch break' and a blog by the same name.

When Laura discovered decided to reclaim her lunch breaks for herself the results were increased energy, happiness, and greater job

satisfaction. Laura identified the signs of “burnout” so you can recognise them before they happen, and provides some practical tips

for achieving a work/life balance, starting with walking away from your desk!

The following is an excerpt from "Gone for Lunch: 52 Things to Do in Your Lunch break"

"In general, I felt sluggish most days, fairly demotivated and occasionally resentful for being made to sit at my desk until 5.30pm - when I had got through everything I needed to do by 5pm. Everything was grey. I put my lethargy down to the nature of my work: humans are supposed to create, produce, build fires! We are not made to sit at computers. ​

But what has shocked me is how all those thoughts have evaporated, just from taking a lunch break a couple of times a week. I no longer feel tired and unhealthy, or creatively deprived. It seems that a few twenty-minute, well spent breaks are enough to hit my desire to go and live sustainably in the wild well and truly on the head. I am now thankful for the structure and security of my office job and the company of my colleagues, neither of which I would have as a self-employed freelancer [as I fantasised about becoming when dreaming about breaking free from the daily grind]. I get excited about going to work because I associate my working day with exploration and discovery, even though nothing has changed in my role other than the fact that I now approach it with more enthusiasm. Since using my lunch breaks productively, I am satisfied, energetic and when I think of work, it is bright and colourful.​

Finally, my whole lifestyle has improved. This I didn't realise until I hit a busy period at work and was unable to take a lunch break for almost three months. I initially noticed how furious I was. Being deprived of a break, after several months of midday freedom, was like being told you can't go on a holiday you've been looking forward to all year. I felt caged, exasperated and depressed. This initial reaction lasted for about two weeks, after which I accepted my fate and returned to my former grey state of being. 

​This was when I noticed that my whole life was affected by the lack of a lunch break. The quality of my diet plummeted. By the time I left work each day, I was so low on energy that I would reach for the nearest microwave meal or takeaway menu available. I also drank a lot more alcohol, meeting friends after work with that old familiar line, "God, I need a drink!" or thinking the equivalent to myself when I got home and poured myself a glass. I rediscovered caffeine, and all the pastries that accompany it. In short, my body was grasping around for energy. The effect knocked on to my weekends too, filled with more drink, more lie-ins, more sugary "treats", and that dreaded Sunday evening feeling that the whole vicious cycle is about to begin again. As soon as the busy work period was over, I ran to my lunch breaks as to a friend I hadn't seen in years, and everything else got better."

The blog  'Gone for Lunch' can be found here www.goneforlunch.com