A tough thing for many new managers to learn is how to make time to go to lunch. (Lots of experienced managers have the same challenge!)
There will always be something more to do, another meeting that got scheduled, or a fire to put out. Those who are successful and healthy in the long term learn to manage their workload and not become absorbed by the crisis-of-the-day. Sure, some occasions require an immediate response, but it should be the exception.
Gulping down a meal at your desk doesn’t count, either. It’s best if you make time for a break or even a social call outside of your work environment as taking that 30 or 60 minutes can clear your mind and help you refresh for the second half of the day.
One way to facilitate this is to schedule lunchtime on your calendar as a repeating appointment with no end date. (I scheduled mine 11:30 am – 12:30 pm — and on many days that left my 11-11:30 am and 12:30-1 pm slots unscheduled.) I didn’t eat every day, but the majority of the time I at least had a respite from meetings or outside demands during that time.
Focus on the “break” rather than the “lunch” and make it a priority to happen. Better to eat lunch than to have the job devour you.
