What do You Do at Lunch?

Yahoo Hotjobs talks about what people do at lunch and I thought that would make a nice discussion topic for us. I'll start.

Roughly three days a week, I eat at my desk. I might do a puzzle or two, check the web, or do some personal tasks, but it's at my desk and it's way less than the hour I have available. Our office is out in the country a bit, so a drive anywhere takes up a good bit of time -- thus staying at the office is often the only choice available. But I don't mind as it helps me get more work done faster and works to make sure I get to leave every night on time. (BTW, I bring my lunch to work these days.)

On the other two days of the week, I schedule a lunch -- with friends, family, or acquaintances (such as people I work with on a non-profit board, a pastor at our church, or former work colleague.) I use this time to connect with people and sometimes to advance an out-of-work project. Since we work about 1/2 an hour from anyone I'd meet someone, there's a good amount of driving when I go out. As such, I limit it to two days per week.

How about you? What do you do during your lunch time?

Comments

[SUSAN]

We have a park next door to our office complex. I bring my lunch 4 days a week and go next door to the park to eat my lunch and read the book I borrowed from the library. :)

One day a week, a group of us go out for pizza.

Once in a while, if I need to run an errand, I'll do that at lunchtime.

I never used to take my full hour for lunch, but I realized, after being severed after 16 years of service, that the only being hurt by me not taking the time I'm entitled to, was me. Now I take my 1 hour each and every day. I get OUT of the building and into the fresh air.

[Kevin]

Usually eat at my desk, but occasionally go to the park near my office to eat. Sometimes run errands or go out to eat, but that's probably only about 2-3 times a month. I take shorter lunches so I can leave early or have extra billable time.

[Mark]

Eight times out of 10 I eat something I brought from home at my desk. If the co-workers want to go out on a Friday I usually go with them. Sometimes I'll run a few errands.

My company is moving from a bunch of remote offices to one central location, and our office is getting phased out over the next few months...needless to say there have been alot of after-work happy hours.

[Jay]

Almost always leave the building for 45 minutes to 1 hour, generally going to a nearby park with a book or to a free outdoor performance in NYC. (I've also been known to grab a spot on the grass, set my cell phone alarm, and rest for an hour.)

[WiseMoneyMatters]

I pick up my wife and we either go on a picnic or eat at my work. I almost always bring my lunch to work. Occasionally we will spoil ourselves and eat out but we do this at most once per week.

[Jim]

Four days of the week I bring my lunch and eat it at my desk. But on Friday I eat out. Also most days I take a walk and call my wife on my cell phone to chat for a while. I might use an hour on average, but I'm not really sure.

Jim

[Anitra]

I eat at my desk and read FMF (and other blogs) during my lunch hour. :) Fridays I usually go out with a group from the office; it's a nice treat to look forward to at the end of the week.

[Rick]

I don't take a lunch. I just snack on whatever food I brought all throughout the day.

[suze]

I walk every day, trying to get in a least a mile. In the winter I walk around the building. It's a large place, and once circuit of my floor is 1/2 mile.

In the summer/spring I walk outside.

I bring my lunch most days. I only eat out about one day a month when I network with a group from wrok.

[Kelly]

I workout for about 45 minutes and then eat the lunch I brought from home at my desk. Fortunately, our building has a workout facility and this way I'm able to get home earlier that I would if I worked out after work.

[texashaze]

I eat out every day. It's the only part of my budget I'm not frugal on. I think it's because I ate hot lunches at school when growing up. My wife was a 'packer' in school and could eat bologna every day. There is no way I can do that. We all have our own indulgences don't we?

[Jon]

Since I started carpooling in July my lunch habits have changed. The carpool coincided with my moving 25 miles from the office. Before that my house was a 10 minute drive and I often went home for lunch.

My typical week now:
1 day/week: Family lunch. The company caters lunch to encourage teambuilding.
Today: Walked to the mall. Had to stop by the bank, then had a chicken sandwich ($3).
About half the time: lunch in the office. I keep some staple goods (mostly ramen soups) in my office. No nutritional value whatsoever, but cheap.
Once or twice/week: lunch with friends or co-workers.

[David]

I travel for work (monday-thursday) and therefore eat out. We typically (for finical and health reasons) try not to have a full blown sit down meal. I like getting out of the office for a little bit, simply because it keeps me sane when I am working long hours. It is also for social reasons.

In previous jobs where I have brought my lunch, I would still try to get out of the office, whether that meant a walk around the city or a drive to the local mall.

[mrm]

Pool, ping-pong, air-hockey, XBox 360 or Wii in a nice little recreation area at work during lunch. :)

[Janette]

Lunch at my desk that I've brought from home at least 3 days a week. The other two days I will go out for lunch with coworkers.

[Joe]

I always eat at my desk and read my Bible, although sometimes I have to work through lunch. Living in Manhattan, it's too expensive to try eating out unless it's a big occasion. A sandwich and a drink can run you $12.

[Lauren]

Monday and Thursday I eat at a park near my office and read novels. Wednesday I go out with coworkers or I buy lunch and do homework at my desk (I am in grad school).

Tuesdays and Fridays I intern at a high school so I eat in the break room with the kids and staff.

[rwh]

I work out every day during lunch.

[Slinky]

Most often I meet my fiancee for lunch. We usually pack lunch and then picnic, but treat ourselves out sometimes. Otherwise I generally read, knit or play solitaire on my palm. Also, occasional trips out with coworkers.

[Penny]

I've been a telecommuter for more than 7 years, so I generally "pack my lunch." If I'm not swamped with work, I either bicycle or walk at lunch both for exercise and to get out of the house. I've saved a bunch by not eating out let alone on gas for the car. I'm eating healthier which has been reflected in my cholesterol numbers.

[rw]

when i was incorporate world,we just had half-hr, so i ate in cafeteria with coworkers...it was a good group and i oftenbrought lunch...but now i work in a small office where we take turns for lunch hour, so i have to adjust eating lunch on my own. i could eat at my desk but not used to stayin atoffice all day so i've been driving around gettin fast food. guess when i get bored of that, i'll bring lunch again

[stocksbondsandrock&roll]

I keep cases of Healthy Choice soups and sleeves of saltines (bought wholesale) in my office. I have an entire setup going...bowl, can opener, tabasco. I use the time to read up on news, do some blogging, or correspond.

The reason for the Healthy Choice? Lower salt...regular canned soups are way too salty. Bought wholesale, my lunches are under a buck per.

[Shan Conner]

I'm very fortunate to have an employer who pays for our lunches 4 of 5 days a week. On the 5th day, most people go out, but I always brown-bag it.

[Rob]

I go home. I only live a mile from work. :) And I bike to work (until it gets cold).