Most of the time, I don’t mind the office life. (Though we all know I’d rather be writing in a cafe in some exotic location.) My office has enough space for me, and I’ve brought in a few colorful items to make it feel homey. However, after a few hours of working within the same four walls, I need to get out.
I usually bring my lunch from home – leftovers or soup in a Tupperware box, stacked neatly in the fridge with everyone else’s leftovers. There’s also a food court downstairs, making it even less necessary to leave the building. But I always need to stretch my legs, and I frequently have errands to run or someplace I want to visit. And I want to get out into the city, get to know my new downtown neighborhood, try to learn the rhythm of this new dance I’m a part of every day. So even if it’s freezing (and it frequently is), I pull on my coat and hat, sling my purse over my shoulder, and I’m off.
Often I head out the door and turn east, to visit the post office or the bank or spend a little while browsing at the Brattle. I’ve treated myself to a lunch or two at Thinking Cup, on the days when we run out of leftovers or I need a little something special.
Sometimes I head west, either to ramble around the Public Garden, pop into Paper Source to ogle the pretty stationery, or stroll down to Copley Square to browse the closing sale at Borders. (The big, glass-fronted Borders in Downtown Crossing is staying open, but the one near Copley will be gone soon.) Sometimes I head north up Charles Street, to browse the clothing racks at Second Time Around, and peek in the pretty windows of boutiques whose wares I can’t afford.
When it’s warmer I plan to take my lunch and a book out to the Common, to read and eat and watch the people and let the breezes play with my hair. It’s still too cold to do that, but for now, at least I can get a little exercise, take care of a life detail or two, or simply stop in somewhere for a chai latte, a good book or a bouquet of fresh flowers. (This habit is not, I admit, always great for my wallet. But it’s good for my body and my soul.)
How do you spend your lunch breaks?
cakes, tea and dreams 
I sit at the lunch table and try not to talk too much (I like to talk a lot.) Almost every day I mention cookies and how I’d like a cookie right now but I already spent my money on a muffin this morning.
Sometimes, a group of us goes to a sandwich shop nearby. Once we went to a poutine place but I don’t really like poutine.
Your lunch breaks sound wonderful and absolutely necessary! It’s so important to get outseide and take a mental and physical break during the day (even if you’re at home like me). The fresh air and stimulation are just so good.
There is something particularly peaceful about reading a book at lunchtime. It may seem antisocial, but I think it just maintains our sanity 🙂
Lunchtime is Google reader time for me. It’s a time I catch up on all those blogs of people I care about, including you!
I’ve been working part-time for the last ten years and don’t have a lunch break. I just munch sandwiches during work when I’m hungry. If I have to stay longer, it’s a special treat to go to the cafeteria with a co-worker. If I had a regular lunch break, I would defnitely need to read.
I can definitely relate to this! Luckily I’ve always worked in offices set in walkable locations—once on a lovely old university campus, once near a river, and a few times in downtown areas. For the past several years I’ve worked as a freelancer, and have taken advantage of my front porch and a variety of errands I can run from our house on foot or bike. A change of scene and fresh air are good for both the mind and body!
I work in small office, and we have a little kitchen with a table where we all gather for lunch. It’s nice – like having lunch at school with your friends 🙂 Luckily, we all like each other!
I eat at my desk because I have to fit a certain number of hours into the week, because I have flexible work schedule.
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