More than half of American workers remain indoors throughout their entire in-office workday, according to a survey that also found a strong preference for outdoor lunch breaks among employees. The survey of 2,000 hybrid workers revealed that 56% do not step outside between their morning and evening commutes.
Despite the lack of outdoor time, 91% of respondents believe taking a lunch break is essential, and 85% admit to skipping their break altogether on occasion. The research, conducted by Talker Research for Wild Planet, suggests that taking lunch outdoors could positively impact mental and emotional well-being. Workers who ate lunch outdoors reported a happiness rating of 66%, compared to 51% for those who ate indoors.
Ideally, 78% of workers would prefer to eat lunch outdoors for most of their workdays. However, logistical challenges such as numerous work meetings or tasks (29%) and pressure to remain available to colleagues (25%) keep them from doing so. The average worker eats lunch at their desk about three days a week and spends approximately 2.5 days eating at their desk even when not actively working.
Many employees believe that fresh air helps reset their focus (64%) and that screen breaks are crucial for mental clarity (58%).
When workers do take a break, they often struggle to disconnect from devices. On average, 61% of their lunch break time is spent looking at a phone or laptop. Common non-work activities during breaks include scrolling through social media (41%), reading (35%), responding to personal messages (37%), and managing personal life administration (31%). Work-related activities also intrude, with 32% reading work emails and 28% responding to them during their lunch break.
Despite these habits, there is a strong inclination towards nature. Outside of work, 67% of workers are actively prioritizing spending more time outdoors than they did a few years ago. Their outdoor activities include walking (67%), spending time with family and friends (49%), and caring for pets (38%).
Sue Thanavaro, Brand Marketing Director of Wild Planet, commented on the findings, stating, “A significant number of American workers clearly feel the benefit of stepping into the outdoors during their lunch hours. Taking your meal outside forces you to slow down, disconnect from the screen, and actually appreciate real, mindfully sourced food. It’s one of the easiest ways to reconnect with the wild and give yourself both a mental and physical reset.”
The survey was conducted online by Talker Research between June 24 and July 2 among 2,000 hybrid workers with internet access.