#alternate RSS Feed for Lifestyle articles - Telegraph.co.uk RSS Feed for Expat articles - Telegraph.co.uk [p?c1=2&c2=6035736&cv=2.0&cj=1] Accessibility links * Skip to article * Skip to navigation [telegraph_print_190.gif] Telegraph.co.uk ___________________ Submit Wednesday 19 December 2018 * Home * Video * News * World * Sport * Business * Money * Comment * Culture * Travel * Life * Women * Fashion * Luxury * Tech * Film * Women * Men * GoodLife * Wellbeing * Interiors * Gardening * Food * Pets * Relationships * Expat * Puzzles * Announcements * Events Advertisement 1. Home» 2. Lifestyle Workers more positive if they eat outside the office, study finds Walking away from your desk and eating lunch outside makes a person happier about their work, according to a new study. Can't stand a noisy eater? You may be a creative genius. Can't stand a noisy eater? You may be a creative genius. Photo: Alamy By Hayley Dixon and agencies 11:11AM BST 14 Apr 2013 Leaving the office to eat lunch increases general wellbeing, and makes employees look more favourably upon their job, it is said. In contrast, those who eat at their desk are likely to feel more miserable, possibly damaging their productivity. Eating sandwiches on the beach was found to boost mood the most, with a park bench in a green space second best. Both of these locations make us happier - and more positive about our job - than going to a restaurant, psychologists found. Going home to eat also perks people up and the research even found that snacking on a bus or train made people happier. Related Articles * Farmers, forestry workers and fishermen happier than the rest of us, ONS study to find 22 Jul 2012 * Bamburgh Castle 'best place' in Britain to eat lunch 27 May 2013 * Walking back to happiness for Marks & Spencer? 06 Apr 2013 Going to a work cafe had next to no effect on workers' “happiness score”, while eating at their desk made them feel more downbeat. The research was commissioned by bread brand Kingsmill and carried out by scientists at the University of Sussex. A Kingsmill spokesman said: "It's fascinating that lunches outside, at the beach or on a park bench, can have such a dramatic impact on people's emotional wellbeing and attitudes towards work. "Eating sandwiches with the sun on your face, or feeling a light refreshing breeze, can really help refresh you and refocus your mind for the afternoon ahead." University of Sussex scientists measured workers' happiness eating lunch in different places using a number of different psychological tests. These included self evaluation questionnaires and word association tests. They then assigned a happiness index score to each location. On average, when workers ate at the beach their happiness increased by a score of 17.04, while eating at their desk caused their happiness score to fall by 1.42. The report states: "People who ate lunch at the beach showed the greatest increase in happiness. "This was followed by people who are lunch in a public green space; at a restaurant; at home with family; and public transport. "People who ate lunch at the work cafe essentially had no change in happiness after lunch. Eating lunch at a work desk may actually make people less happy." It went on: "People who ate lunch at the beach showed the greatest increase in association between happiness and work. "Eating lunch at a work desk or work cafe decreased associations between happiness and work." Kingsmill is now calling on employers to let staff eat lunch off-site, even if only occasionally, in a bid raise happiness and productivity levels, and have launched a nationwide search for the UK's top 10 Lunch Spots. Followed by the beach and a green space people most enjoyed eating lunch in a restaurant, followed by at home, then on public transport. The desk was the least satisfying place to have lunch, the study found. Lifestyle * News » * UK News » * Science » * Hayley Dixon » Read more from Lifestyle Advertisement Advertisement IFRAME: https://s.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/_p/prime-location/v1/telegraph_widg et.html More from the web More from the web Advertisement Advertisement More from the web IFRAME: https://s.telegraph.co.uk/international/Barnebys/2014/Barnebys_UK_300x5 50.html More from The Telegraph Loading News Progress 17 supply vehicle departs from the International Space Station The latest news, opinion and analysis View Football Catch up on all the latest football news and results View Film All the latest film trailers, reviews and features View Competitions Enter one of our exciting new competitions View Back to top * HOME * Motoring * Motoring News * Food and Drink * Recipes * Restaurants * Women * Women's Life * Sex * Family and Parenting * Gardening * Gardening Advice * Gardening Pictures * * History * Expat * Car Warranty * * Crossword * Dating * Theatre Tickets * Contact us * Privacy and Cookies * Advertising * Fantasy Football * Tickets * Announcements * Reader Prints * * Follow Us * Apps * Epaper * Expat * Promotions * Subscriber * Syndication © Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2018 Terms and Conditions Today's News Archive Style Book Weather Forecast