In modern corporate settings, the post-lunch window — particularly between 1 and 2 PM — is often filled with back-to-back meetings. On paper, it may seem like a convenient time. In reality, however, this practice may be quietly draining both employee performance and long-term wellbeing.
I am giving you the reasons why scheduling meetings during this time is misaligned with human physiology and workplace productivity, supported by current research in chrononutrition, cognitive science, and behavioral health.
The Problem: Skipping or Delaying Lunch
A typical office routine involves:
- A light or rushed breakfast (or sometimes skipped altogether)
- One or more caffeinated beverages mid-morning to maintain alertness
- Continuous work that pushes lunch later and later into the afternoon
When a meeting is scheduled between 1 and 2 PM, it interferes with the natural lunchtime window. As a result, employees often skip lunch entirely or delay it until well past 2:30-3 or even 3:30 PM. The consequences are both short-term and cumulative.
Impact on Cognitive Function and Productivity
Several studies show that prolonged gaps between meals reduce cognitive performance and impair decision-making.
- A study in Physiology & Behavior (Green et al., 2005) found that skipping lunch significantly reduced reaction time, concentration, and problem-solving ability.
- Glucose is the brain’s primary fuel. When blood glucose drops, mental fatigue increases, especially in tasks requiring attention and memory (Gomez-Pinilla, 2008).
- A UK-based study (Wansink et al., 2006) noted that employees who skipped lunch were more likely to experience workplace accidents, mood swings, and poor interpersonal communication during afternoon meetings.
Delaying food intake during the natural midday energy dip also affects motivation, increasing the tendency to multitask ineffectively or disengage from discussion-heavy meetings.
The Vicious Cycle: Caffeine Overdependence
After skipping or delaying lunch, many people reach for another round of caffeine — tea, coffee, or energy drinks — to make it through the afternoon. This leads to:
- Temporary alertness but reduced sleep quality later in the evening (Clark & Landolt, 2017)
- Increased acid production, especially when caffeine is consumed on an empty stomach, leading to bloating, reflux, or gastritis (Jarosz & Taraszewska, 2014)
- A continuous reliance on stimulants instead of nutrition for energy
Moreover, caffeine after 1 PM has been linked to sleep disruption even when consumed 6 hours before bedtime (Drake et al., 2013), setting up a cycle of fatigue that starts all over again the next morning.
Workplace Culture: The Misalignment
Many employees feel pressured to attend lunch-hour meetings without expressing discomfort. This has led to a normalization of eating lunch at their desks post-meeting or not eating at all. Studies suggest:
- 57% of employees report skipping lunch due to back-to-back meetings (Workplace Wellness Survey, SHRM, 2022)
- Over 65% of employees feel their workplace does not support mindful eating practices, contributing to lower satisfaction and higher burnout risk (Gallup, 2023)
Recommendations: Build Healthier Workflows
- Protect the 1–2 PM Window: Consider this a “no meeting zone” across teams unless in emergency situations.
- Encourage Structured Breaks: Leaders and HR should emphasize the importance of taking a complete, uninterrupted lunch break.
- Offer Nutritious Options: If meetings are unavoidable around lunch, provide healthy snacks or schedule them with food breaks in mind.
- Lead by Example: When leadership respects meal timing, employees follow suit, reducing guilt or hesitation around breaks.
Final Thoughts
Skipping lunch for the sake of a meeting may feel productive in the moment, but the long-term costs — both in health and output — are too high to ignore. Respecting lunch hour is not just a personal wellness choice; it’s an organizational imperative.
“An undernourished mind cannot make over-performing decisions.”
As workplaces rethink wellness strategies, rethinking the clock matters as much as what’s on the plate.
References
- Green, M. W., et al. (2005). “Cognitive performance following moderate calorie restriction.” Physiology & Behavior
- Gomez-Pinilla, F. (2008). “Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience
- Clark, I., & Landolt, H. P. (2017). “Coffee, caffeine, and sleep: A systematic review of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials.” Sleep Medicine Reviews
- Jarosz, M., & Taraszewska, A. (2014). “Risk factors and dietary habits in gastritis.” Przeglad Gastroenterologiczny
- Drake, C., et al. (2013). “Caffeine effects on sleep taken 0, 3, or 6 hours before going to bed.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
- Jakubowicz, D., et al. (2013). “High-calorie breakfast vs. dinner differentially influences weight loss, insulin sensitivity, and ghrelin levels in obese women.” Obesity
- Garaulet, M., et al. (2013). “Timing of food intake predicts weight loss effectiveness.” International Journal of Obesity
- Zarrinpar, A., et al. (2014). “Chrononutrition: Time-restricted eating and metabolic health.” Cell Metabolism
- SHRM Workplace Wellness Survey, 2022
- Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report, 2023
