By working from home, many of us can spend long periods of time sitting down. Because of this, it’s easier to become sedentary, to get lost in distractions or even continue to work through our assigned lunch break.

It’s vital to take time out during your working day, and here we’ve provided eight ideas on how to make the most of your lunch break by undertaking fulfilling, fun and relaxing activities.

1. Eat your lunch away from your desk set-up

The most important thing is to make sure you take an actual break from work, which means moving away from your workstation or laptop. This will help you to stay focused, more productive and less stressed too. It’s also worth considering eating your lunch away from any devices like your phone to avoid distractions and practice the art of mindfulness.

2. Go for a walk

Recent guidelines provided by the government states that we are all allowed to exercise outside of our homes (so long as you stay two metres apart from those who live outside of your household). In this article we’ve suggested a walk, but you could also go for a run or a bike ride. Getting outdoors and being in the sun helps your body to absorb vitamin D, which can aid brain function, blood pressure and increase your energy levels. Loughborough expert Professor Kevin Morgan has also recently shed light on how getting outdoors can benefit your sleep as well.

3. Call a friend or a loved one

Keep in touch with your loved ones and maintain your relationships; hearing from you might benefit them as much as it does you. This could be a phone call, via social media, or even a text message. A lot of people are struggling during this time, so staying connected is important in order to reduce anxiety, low mood and feelings of loneliness.

4. Do a workout

Staying active is a significant part of our journey to maintaining a positive mind and body, and can easily be done in the home through online workouts or by creating your own routine. Using everyday household objects such as tinned food for weights and a chair for dips and push-ups can help those who might not have access to gym equipment.

Loughborough Sport has launched a new website offering a range of workouts suitable for all levels, as well as challenges and competitions to help keep you active during lockdown.Alternatively, check out free workouts provided by the NHS or give PE with Joe (aka The Body Coach) a try.

5. Bake a cake and get cooking

Although you can’t always guarantee which food products will be available in the supermarkets, you can start trying out new recipes using store cupboard ingredients and everyday essentials. You may have also seen lots of people sharing their tasty bakes on social media, so why not join in the fun and create your own masterpiece?

6. Enjoy reading

It’s something many of us wish we spent more time doing every day, but quite often the reality is we only feel we have time to read on holidays or at the weekends. Put yourself in a quiet place, read at least a chapter a day and get your head stuck into that book you’ve always wanted to read.

7. Listen to a podcast or your favourite music

Dedicate some time each day to tuning in to your favourite podcast or an album by one of your favourite bands for half an hour. Ask your friends and family for any podcast recommendations and try out new genres; it could be fiction, real-life crime stories, sport or comedy that you end up becoming a fan of.

8. Learn something new

If you find you have a little more time on your hands, consider starting a hobby or learning a new skill. Here are just a few ideas:

• Get crafty: learn how to draw, sew, knit or even how to make bath bombs – there are all sorts of free tutorials available on YouTube that you can try out.
• Learn how to play an instrument: Do you have a guitar in your home gathering dust? Or maybe you’ve told yourself for years that you’ll learn how to play the piano but never found the time? Now is a great opportunity to develop a new passion and set time aside each week to practice.
• Study a language: Not only does learning a language break down barriers on your travels, but you can also feel a great sense of achievement and possibly even boost your CV if you stay dedicated. Apps such as Duolingo, Babbel and the BBC website offer free language lessons suitable for all.