Better Not Perfect Part 4: Your Lunch Break Called. It Wants a Walk.

Dan Beck

Nov 2

3 min read

Part 4: Your Lunch Break Called. It Wants a Walk.

The Scroll Hole

You sit down with your lunch. You pick up your phone "for a second." You look up, and 25 minutes have vanished. You now know what your high school lab partner's cousin made for dinner, and you've watched a raccoon steal a cat's food six times. Riveting.

Meanwhile, your legs have been sitting since 8 a.m. and they'd like a word.

Steal Back 10 Minutes

We're not asking you to give up your whole lunch break. Eat your lunch. Enjoy it. Then take just 10 minutes and go for a walk.

Loop around the building or the block
Walk to the mailbox, the coffee shop, or the far end of the parking lot (you already know the way, thanks to Part 2)
Grab a coworker and make it a walking chat
Rainy day? Walk the hallways or the stairwell (hello again, Part 3)

The Afternoon Bonus

Here's the sneaky perk: a short walk after lunch can help you dodge that 2 p.m. slump where your eyelids weigh 40 pounds each. You come back to your desk a little fresher and a lot less likely to fall face-first into your keyboard.

Sound Familiar?

Picture someone we'll call Tasha. Tasha eats lunch at her desk, one hand on her sandwich and one on her phone. By 2:30, she's yawning so hard her coworker asks if she's okay. By 3:00, she's on her second coffee and her third bag of vending machine pretzels.

One day, a coworker drags her outside for a quick loop around the building. It's only 10 minutes. Tasha comes back with pink cheeks, a clearer head, and absolutely no desire for pretzels.

Now the two of them walk most days. They call it their "lunch lap." They've solved roughly half of the office's problems out there.

Myth vs. Truth

Myth: "Ten minutes isn't long enough to matter."

Truth: Ten minutes is plenty to get your blood moving, shake off the stiffness from sitting, and clear your head. And ten minutes a day adds up to more than an hour a week you weren't moving before.

Myth: "Walking after eating is bad for you."

Truth: An easy-paced walk after a meal is a time-honored habit in a lot of cultures. Keep it gentle. You're strolling, not sprinting.

Today's Tiny Challenge

Take a 10-minute walk on your lunch break today. Set a reminder on your phone if you need to. (Yes, we see the irony.)

Try It Today Checklist

Ate lunch away from my desk (or at least away from my screen)
Took a 10-minute walk after lunch
Invited a coworker to come along
Noticed how I felt at 2:30 p.m.

Excuse Buster

The excuse: "I don't have time."

The bust: You have time to watch the raccoon video six times. We believe in you.

Simple Plan Pairing of the Day

A grab-and-go lunch means more time for your lunch lap. Today, try our Chicken Burrito Bowl. It's tender chicken tossed in rich enchilada sauce, served over fluffy cilantro jasmine rice with black beans, sweet corn, and chunky mild salsa, finished with a creamy queso portion on the side. A bold, balanced burrito bowl built for real flavor, clean reheating, and high-protein comfort without the wrap. and ready the second you are.

Coming Up Next

Tomorrow: If You Must Scroll, Scroll and Stroll. We're not taking your phone away. We're just taking it for a walk.

Short on time for lunch, too? Grab a Simple Plan meal. It's healthy, it's ready, and it leaves you more minutes for that walk.

This article is for general educational purposes and isn't a substitute for individualized medical or nutrition advice. You should talk to your healthcare professional about any planned or necessary changes in your nutrition.