f you are lucky enough to have a job, and have been working from home for the past six months, you may have forgotten that you still have a lunch break: time that belongs to you, to do with what you will. Stepping away from your desk or workspace to do something different is an important part of claiming that time. But what should you do? Here are 15 suggestions to help re-energise your days. Phone a friend – or make a new one Being separated from colleagues has stripped us of a lot of routine human interaction. Your lunch hour is often a convenient time to reconnect with old friends, says Clare Evans, a time management coach. “Often, we’re too busy to make the time in the evening, but a quick catch-up can get you back in touch and talking,” she says. Otherwise, you could challenge yourself to speak to a stranger while you are in a shop or a cafe. “Just have a chat as you grab your lunch, even if it’s the classic British opening gambit of discussing the weather,” says Evans. Visit your favourite tree Don’t pretend you don’t have one. The key is to go outside, away from your computer screen, and if you combine it with exercise, so much the better. Susan Saunders, the author of The Age-Well Plan, says: “Seeing a tree combines so many of the habits that contribute to longevity: being outdoors in daylight, vital to keep our circadian clocks ticking accurately; exercise from walking; a chance to savour the moment. And even one lonely tree provides us with a little green space.” Learn to speak Italian, or play the piano Spend your lunch break doing “something you normally never have time to do – learn a language, write a book, research your genealogy,” says Grace Marshall, a productivity expert. If you have always fancied playing the piano or another instrument, take a tip from Marshall. She has been fitting in a lot of violin practice. “It’s amazing how those daily half-hours add up.” Sarah Wheeler, a leadership coach based in London, says she has been spending her lunchtimes brushing up on her French and Spanish with the website Duolingo. Combine it with the time you save by not having to commute and you could be spending 10 hours each week on gaining a new skill, boosting your brainpower and memory. Get a head start on dinner – for tonight, and next week “Prepping food is surprisingly relaxing, and a great way of zoning out from all that brain work,” says Sam Gates, the author of The Batch Cook Book, out next month. “My all-time relaxing food prep job is making cute little round things like meatballs or bite-size falafels, like a child playing with Plasticine, while listening to my favourite podcast. They’re ideal for making at lunchtime because they need time to firm up in the fridge, and they also freeze really well, so you can make a huge batch and use them for several meals.” You could also knead bread dough for proving through the afternoon, peel or chop vegetables (or slow-cook meat) for dinner that night, or make muesli or overnight oats for breakfast tomorrow. List three things you are grateful for A consistent daily “gratitude practice” can rewire your brain towards optimism in three weeks. “The more specific you can be, the more benefits you will feel,” says Nataly Kogan, the founder of the wellbeing consultancy Happier. “Making gratitude part of your lunch break will help you feel less stressed and more motivated for the second half of your day.” Get a quick rush of blood to the head Eliza Flynn, a personal trainer, swears by lunchtime headstands: “I’d been feeling that I needed to do something totally different from desk work, and headstands have been brilliant. They really shake up my day and re-energise me.” The less adventurous might opt for crow pose tutorials on YouTube (Yoga with Adriene is hugely popular for good reason, with some sessions only 10 minutes long). Lianne Carolan, the founder of a company selling clothing designed for breastfeeding mothers, heads for a swing set in the woodland near her home in Leeds during her lunchtime. “Five minutes on there and I feel so much happier and less stressed,” she says. Tick off some chores “OK, there’s less joy in this, but it frees up your after-work time for more fun things,” says Marshall. “Get the laundry in, water the plants, walk the dog. Sometimes the mundane can be a mindful break, too.” Evans suggests a 15-minute cleaning blitz. “It’s a total change from work stuff and it helps you to keep on top of tidying and decluttering.” Pump up some music and it becomes exercise, too. Take a nap “Nappers lead longer, healthier lives,” says Saunders, pointing to a recent study of older adults in China that found an association between daytime napping and a low probability of disease, high cognitive and physical functioning, and active engagement with life. Daniel H Pink, in his new book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, shares his tips for “the perfect” nap: time it with your mid-afternoon dip in energy (generally around seven hours after waking); drink a cup of coffee beforehand; set a timer for 25 minutes; and make it habitual for greater benefits. Get creative Creativity can help you to process your feelings during challenging life experiences, says Kogan. At Happier, she leads corporate employees in doing a 10-minute watercolour painting – but drawing, doodling or even writing a poem will also “give you a meaningful boost”. Megan Charnock, an artisan baker in Saffron Walden, Suffolk, has recently taken up free writing: a “brain dump” on a blank page. “This is new to me, but feels as liberating as fresh air. Just emptying your brain helps give you clarity and direction.” Eat lunch A great perk of working from home is being able to avoid sad salads at your desk or mediocre meal deals. Instead, you can take the time to make yourself something you really want to eat, and enjoy it. You could turn the time when you are eating into quality time with your new co-workers. Mandy Dineley Penney, a writer from Hampshire, says her husband and their two children, all working from home, gather in the kitchen at lunchtime to talk about their days and plans for the future. “We don’t do anything exciting, but it’s like a staff room.”