In today’s workplace culture, eating meals at our desks is commonplace. More and more, Canadians are eating meals in solitude, which, according to experts, is more strongly associated with unhappiness than any single factor other than having a mental illness. That said, recent research has revealed the clear benefits of employees eating together—think increased productivity, stronger working relationships and improved overall workplace happiness—and today President’s Choice is challenging Canadians to Eat Together by sharing a meal with your colleagues, friends or family. We spoke one-on-one with PC spokesperson and Vancouver-based clinical psychologist Dr. Joti Samra about the benefits of eating together. Bon appetit! —Noa Nichol
How and why does eating alone/at our work desks impact our lives (especially in terms of happiness/mental health)?
Eating alone is not a natural human behaviour—it’s a learned one that has become more prevalent as we have entered the workforce. In fact, a recent survey conducted by President’s Choice indicates that almost half (42 per cent) of working Canadians eat lunch alone at work every single working day. And, almost two-thirds of us eat lunch alone at work at least three days a week. These numbers are stunning and concerning—given that we are fundamentally social creatures, and our social connections are so integral to our overall happiness, quality of life, and physical health.
What are some of the benefits of eating together, at work and at home?
Taking a pause point through the day to eating together with our colleagues has important impacts—it allows us to take a mental break from work, to unplug and recharge and go back to work in a more productive focused way, and it allows us to build closer connections with our colleagues. PC’s survey revealed that we know there are myriad benefits of eating together; 74 per cent of people indicate that they have improved communications and stronger relationships with coworkers, increased happiness (57 per cent), greater job satisfaction (55 per cent) and greater productivity (47 per cent)! Similarly, eating together at home allows us to deepen our connections with our partners and our families—it’s a time we can connect about the day and debrief about our stressors.
What does the phrase "sharing a meal" mean to you, as an expert?
"Sharing a meal” to me involves a few key elements: hitting the pause button on all other distractions and demands (and our present day society has tons of those!), being present with another person (or people) and engaging in a natural human behaviour (eating!), which we, since the beginning of time, and across all cultures and communities, do WITH other people!
What are some of your top tips and tricks for making time to eat together—at work, or with friends and family?
First, today, President’s Choice Eat Together Day is a wonderful day to draw awareness to your eating behaviours—do a self-audit of how often, in any given week, you typically eat alone. Second, make a commitment to make a change in your behaviour and set an attainable goal—specifically an ideal number of times a week you would like to intentionally focus on eating with others, both at work and at home. Third, write your goal down and find an accountability buddy (such as a co-worker or a partner) who can help keep you accountable. And remember: eating together is not just a "nice to," it’s a "need to" with respect to enhancing and optimizing our psychological and physical health. Join the conversation on Eat Together Day with #EatTogether.
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