A small break with room for a book
For many people the middle of the day is the only stretch that belongs to them. Mornings are for getting started, afternoons are for finishing, and evenings are for everything at home. A midday break, even a short one, can hold a surprising amount of reading. Fifteen or twenty minutes is not a lot, but it is enough to make progress through a book over a few weeks, and enough to give your mind something different from the morning’s work.
Not everyone has a proper break. Some jobs offer only a rushed snack, some have fixed schedules, and some lunches are social. This article is for those who do have a window and want to try using it, without turning it into another task.
Decide whether lunch is the right slot
Reading at lunch suits some people more than others. It may work well if:
- You have a predictable break of at least fifteen minutes
- You can step away from your desk or work area
- You are not expected to join colleagues or friends every day
- You feel mentally refreshed by something unrelated to work
It may be less suitable if your lunch is the only time you see friends, if you need to run errands, or if you find it hard to switch off from work. In those cases an alternative window, such as spare minutes elsewhere in the day, may suit you better. Many people read on some days and socialize on others, which is a sensible compromise.
Choose material that fits the length
A short break rewards material that can be started and stopped easily. Ideas include:
- Short stories, which can often be finished in one sitting
- Essays or magazine pieces with a clear beginning and end
- Chapters of a novel that end at natural points, if you are prepared to put it down mid-story
- Light reading when you are tired and need to relax rather than to be challenged
Heavy, dense material is not forbidden, but it can be frustrating if you spend half your time getting back into the argument. If your lunch period is short, consider keeping the demanding books for a longer, quieter time and using lunch for something you can drop in and out of.
A bookmark, or a note of where you stopped, helps. If you read on a device, make sure it opens at the right place.
Find a spot
Where you read matters almost as much as what you read. Some options:
- Away from your desk. A different room, a park bench, a library or a quiet café can help your mind switch tracks. Moving even a short distance creates a sense of break.
- Outdoors in good weather. Fresh air is pleasant, though light and weather can complicate matters.
- At your desk. If you must stay, turning your chair, putting your headphones in or using a book rather than a screen can help signal that this is a break and not more work.
Choose a spot where interruptions are unlikely. If colleagues often approach you at your desk, a polite “I’m taking a short reading break” may be enough, or you may prefer to leave the area.
Handle the practicalities of eating
Reading and eating can be awkward together. A few tips:
- Pick food that is easy to eat one-handed and not messy, such as a sandwich or fruit, if you want to read while you eat.
- Keep pages clean. A paperback is easier to wipe than a library book, and you may want to avoid sticky or oily foods when borrowing from a library. Basic book care applies here as everywhere.
- Alternatively, eat first and read after. This also allows you to enjoy the food, and many people prefer it.
- Set a quiet alarm if you worry about running over time.
An e-reader or phone is convenient in a bag, but a phone brings notifications. Putting it on do-not-disturb for fifteen minutes often makes a big difference.
Build a small routine
A routine can help reading at lunch survive busy weeks. A simple pattern might be: eat, walk for a few minutes, sit down, read until a set time. Repeating the same order each day makes it feel automatic. Some people treat the slot as protected reading time that they do not give up lightly, while keeping flexibility for days when a meeting or a social lunch takes over.
It can help to keep your book in your bag or desk so you never have to remember it. If you decide on the day before what you will read, there is less to think about at midday.
Do not aim for large amounts. A realistic target is a few pages on most working days. If you read at a modest pace, the total builds up over a month more than you might expect, though the exact amount depends on your speed and how often you actually manage a session.
Common problems
“I’m too tired to concentrate.” Midday slumps are normal. Choose something easy, or listen to an audiobook while you walk. Audiobook listening can turn a walk into a reading session if your eyes are tired from screens.
“My break keeps getting eaten by work.” Consider whether the break is genuinely yours. If it regularly disappears, you may need to protect it or accept that another time of day works better.
“I feel guilty reading at work.” Taking your own break is generally acceptable, but rules differ between workplaces. If you are unsure, check your employer’s expectations. Reading something work-related on your break is a separate matter from reading for pleasure.
“I lose my place or momentum.” Use short pieces or finish at a chapter end, so that picking up the next day is easy.
Keep it light and see what happens
A lunchtime reading habit does not have to be grand. Try it for one week and see whether you like it. If it gives you a calmer afternoon, keep it. If not, move reading to another time. Nobody gains from forcing a break into something that feels like a duty, and many readers find that a few quiet pages are their favorite part of the day.