- New study reveals UK workers’ top ten lunch break habits
- Gen Z choose self-care activities, whereas Boomers opt to go shopping
With recent studies revealing that 70% of women and 56% of men in the UK have experienced burnout at work1, it’s never been more important to consider how workplace behaviours can contribute to your well-being.
In response to the growing burnout crisis, leading online furniture supplier, Furniture At Work, conducted The Great British Lunch Break Study, which asked Brits how they spend their lunch break, and the results are surprising!
From doomscrolling to meditation, the top ten most common responses were:
- Eating lunch at their desk – 50.4%
- Doomscrolling (scrolling social media) – 22.4%
- Walking – 21.2%
- Continue working – 20%
- Gossiping with colleagues – 15.4%
- Reading – 14.5%
- Having a power nap – 10.9%
- Meditation – 9.5%
- Shopping – 6.7%
- With pets/walking the dog – 4.6%
When breaking down generational divides, it showed that Gen Z prioritise mindfulness, with 17% of 18-to-24-year-olds choosing to meditate on their lunch break – the highest of any age bracket.
Contrastingly, 11.6% of respondents aged over 65 opt to go shopping during their free time – more than double the number of millennials and Gen Z combined (5.1%), which could point towards the generational wealth gap due to the cost-of-living crisis.
When looking at the findings on self-care and wellness activities, men reportedly prioritise self-care activities at a higher rate than women, with 12.3% of male respondents saying they meditated on their lunch break, compared to just 7.2% of women. The number of men who said they journaled was also three times higher than women, showing a clear focus on mental health.
Shifting the focus to finding the biggest workaholics in the nation; Bristol came out on top, with a quarter of respondents continuing to work during their lunchbreak, followed by Leeds (22.9%) and Nottingham (22.7%) in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
Contrasting with the most screen-addicted regions, the results found that over a quarter (25.5%) of Londoners are spending their lunch break ‘doom-scrolling’ – mindlessly scrolling social media – followed by Bristol and Belfast, with one in four respondents choosing this option.
A spokesperson for Furniture At Work said: “As more and more UK workers report feeling burnt out at work, it’s never been more important for employers and employees alike to prioritise healthier work habits.
“Although workers will benefit from taking up healthy lunchtime habits such as meditation and gentle exercise, workplaces should also be fostering healthy work environments that encourage regular breaks and reduced screentime.”
While working through lunch and doomscrolling are still leading the way for UK workers there are positive signs that Gen Z workers may be about to change all that by opting for healthier habits including meditation.
If you’re interested in learning more lunch break dos and don’ts, check out the office etiquette rules on the Furniture At Work blog.