Eating Lunch At Your Desk Isn't Doing You Any Favors

This Common Office Habit Is Hurting Your Productivity
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A crumb-free keyboard isn't the only benefit of eating lunch away from the computer.

Taking the time to step away for lunch could greatly enhance one's work ethic, according to Kimberly Elsbach, a professor of organizational behavior at the University of California, Davis.

"My research is really on the effects of taking breaks from routine work on your productivity, on your sense of self-worth and, most importantly, on your creativity," Elsbach told HuffPost Live on Wednesday. "For me, lunch isn't just an opportunity to nourish your body; it's an opportunity to nourish your mental state, your mind, and that has much more to do with taking a break from a routine surrounding."

Eating that sandwich in a "natural setting" -- outdoors or in an environment where you can be "engaged effortlessly" -- offers the mind a chance to refresh before approaching tasks ahead.

"Those kinds of restorative moments are super important to creating fertile ground for creativity," Elsbach concluded.

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Before You Go

10 Easy Ways To De-stress During Your Lunch Break
Peel An Orange(01 of10)
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Citrus aromas can curb stress and anxiety, as well as help with digestion and nausea, says Prevention magazine. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="60fe863ee4b06971f4099708" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="11" data-vars-position-in-unit="13">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/76061588@N03/8544151788" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Wickerfurniture" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="60fe863ee4b06971f4099708" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/76061588@N03/8544151788" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="12" data-vars-position-in-unit="14">Wickerfurniture</a>)
Read A Book For Six Minutes(02 of10)
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Research has shown that reading even for six minutes can lower levels of stress. (credit:Alamy)
Eat An Avocado(03 of10)
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Avocados have been shown to lower blood pressure, research shows. Other foods to help chill you out include salmon, almonds and spinach. (credit:WikiMedia:)
Walk To Some Green Space(04 of10)
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A short walk in the park helps lower stress and allows the brain to recover from tension, research shows. (credit:Alamy)
Delegate Some Tasks(05 of10)
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Pass some responsibility off to other people to help lower your stress levels. (credit:Alamy)
Try This Easy Yoga Pose(06 of10)
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The easiest yoga pose called Savasana -- or corpse pose -- only requires that you lay on your back and relax with arms at your sides. Do this for 15 minutes to de-stress, Yoga Journal suggests. (credit:Getty Images)
Practice Zen Meditation(07 of10)
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Find a peaceful place near your office and focus on your breathing and clear your mind for 10 minutes to bring stress down. (credit:Alamy)
Take A Nap(08 of10)
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A power nap of 20 minutes can do wondrous things for stress -- and boost memory, cognitive skills, creativity, and energy level, research has shown. (credit:Getty Images)
Take Your Dog To Work(09 of10)
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Research has shown that workers who take their dogs to work are less stressed out. (credit:Catherine New)
Listen To Mozart(10 of10)
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Research has shown that listening to Mozart is more relaxing than listening to new age music. Try listening to Eine Kleine Nachtmusik on your lunch hour. (credit:Alamy)