Why Workplace Well-being Needs to Start with Lunch

By Rani Sheilagh - Cyberpsychologist | Wellness & Lifestyle Futurist

We spend so much energy talking about workplace well-being. Organisations invest in mindfulness apps, gym memberships, yoga classes, resilience training. Yet in most offices, many people still eat lunch at their desks, scrolling through emails, Instagram or TikTok, barely tasting a bite. I have to admit I’ve been guilty of this too.

As a cyberpsychologist and wellness and lifestyle futurist, I see this as more than just a bad habit. Eating in front of screens does not only dull the joy of food. It has real consequences for our nervous system, our creativity, and even how well we digest what we eat. Research shows that mindful eating helps us enjoy meals more and even reduces later snacking, while distracted eating can leave us less satisfied and more likely to overindulge afterwards (Higgs & Donohoe, 2011. Greater Good Science Center).

Food is one of the oldest rituals of human connection. Around the table is where families bonded, ideas were exchanged, and communities built trust. Yet in the modern workplace, that ritual is often sidelined in favour of productivity theatre. A rushed sandwich at the desk feels efficient, but what it really does is rob people of energy and presence for the rest of the day. In fact, workplace studies show that employees who step away for lunch report greater clarity, better performance, and lower stress than those who stay “al desko” (The Times, 2025).

The future of workplace well-being is not just about technology or fitness perks. It is about re-humanising food rituals in the workday. A shared meal, a mindful lunch break, a moment of joy over something delicious. These are not luxuries. They are strategies for creativity, connection, and thriving teams. Cornell University research, for example, found that firefighters who ate together performed better as a team than those who ate alone. Eating together builds trust and strengthens culture, something no app or gym membership can replace.

For leaders, the real opportunity may be to see lunch not as an interruption to the workday, but as a quiet lever for creativity, connection, and well-being. Paying attention to how we eat together might just be one of the simplest ways to redesign workplace culture for the better.

A YUMMIE TAKEAWAY

Try this:

• Step away from your desk for lunch at least once this week.

• Leave your phone aside for the first few bites.

• Share food or conversation with someone, if you can.

Notice:

• How do you feel afterwards? Do you feel more restored?

• Did the lunch break give you a fresh perspective or more energy?