If You Want to Be More Productive, Stop Eating Lunch at Your Desk

If you're one of the 39 percent of Americans who eat lunch at their desks, it's time to step away—that extra commitment isn't doing anything to boost your productivity.

While many people think they get more done by noshing in front of their computers, taking a break actually empowers your brain to think more effectively, theWashington Post reported this morning. The Post quoted Kimberly Elsbach, professor of management at the Graduate School of Management at the University of California Davis, who said that "taking a break from cognitively taxing work improves creative thinking . . . everybody’s job has a creative component, such as problem-solving, managing teams, or finding creative solutions.”

Shutting down your e-mail, even for a few minutes, also reduces stress and fatigue. The article likewise included research from a productivity app that concluded "the most productive 10 percent of its users were those who took regular breaks that lasted about 17 minutes each." So get up and step away from your desk. Go for a walk or sit somewhere and read. Tell your boss you're doing it for the extra productivity.