What Do Nonsmokers Do on Breaks at Work?

Im curious because as a smoker ten minutes mean a smoke (or two depending on the shift) and briefly looking at my phone. Its not a whole lot of time and I can only picture a nonsmoker sitting there for ten minutes but prove me wrong...what do you do on your breaks and lunches?

I run though the halls falsely accusing my enemies of criminal behavior and then I go back to my proletarian cubicle and hide under my desk like I normally do when I'm actually working.

We have a decent break room at work. I usually just drink something and eat a granola bar and check my phone. I never get a lunch only a break.

I don’t get breaks. Just lunch 30 minutes. It’s short but there is a ton one can do besides smoking. Plus I also try to use the bathroom during that time so it’s more like 25 minutes.

We usually talk to people who also have lunch at the same time, it’s always same people each semester and sometimes all year so we discuss all kind of stuff and get good laughs.

If I eat alone, which happens sometimes, I am on my phone or check personal emails or read a book/my kindle or shop online or watch/listen something. Or I have to get some work done so I eat and get stuff done. Or just enjoy quiet moment which is absolute luxury lol

I have a part side job, which I work during school breaks/holidays where I do get 15 minutes break. It’s not long enough to write home about but I am either on the phone or read a book if I remember to bring it or eat or listen to something. I actually worked that job yesterday and I spent proverbial 15 minutes organizing my purse and my wallet. Then texted my husband briefly.

Well, I'm a smoker too, but I'm interested in this thread because I sooo want to give it up this year.

I don't get breaks, and my break consists of like 5 or 10 minutes at lunch usually. Otherwise I eat at my desk and keep working.

I'd imagine most people check their phone, make phone calls, go to the bathroom, maybe eat a snack. Maybe read a book or listen to an audiobook. Stuff like that?

As a non-smoker, I can understand why there's comments about doing other things in place of smoking. If you're genuinely trying to give up then you need to find something to occupy yourself. Spending the break looking at your phone, why not try a game or reading online news. Take a short walk, chat to other colleagues (they may be wanting to quit too). Maybe start crafting; amazing how much knitting can be done in these breaks and it's better for your health.

I worked in an office and smoking was banned inside. Breaks taken by smokers were unofficial and covered by non-smokers. Sorry that seems harsh but that's how it was. I do know of some companies that make their smoking workers clock out for a break to make it more fair, but I've got slightly off topic here!

I don't take them 15 minutes is useless.

I usually work through breaks, but if I need to get away from work for a few minutes I'll chat with someone, play on my phone, check out the news, that sort of thing. My job entails a lot of sitting. Some times I'll just walk around the building to stretch my legs.

Congratulations and good luck to those trying thg o quit smoking.

Yes, I know a lot of my non-smoking coworkers have to be forced to take their breaks because they find it pointless. In the places I've worked it's required to take breaks and those that don't want to usually sit there.

One of my managers tells me he reads, but I can't see myself getting lost in a book only to stop as soon as I start. For me, book reading can't be timed.

Walking sounds like a good idea. I've done that before on breaks.

I used to take walks, maybe surf the internet a bit, write something of my own, get a cup of coffee, go to the vending machine, or walk around and chat with people I liked at work.

Both of us were married (to other people), but I had a crush on a programmer in the IT department. I always visited him and flirted. We never didn't anything bad except flirt. His colleague in the IT department would tease me. I didn't care. I'm a born flirt.

I read a lot on this forum how much socialization and flirting and chatting people do during work hours- and NOT on break! So since they have so much leisure time at work while on a clock, they likely don’t need those extra 15 minutes. But if you work non stop and don’t even have time to use the bathroom, those 5-10- 15 minutes are very much needed.

We also have to recognize difference in job tasks. For many people those few minutes are a big help to actually get physical or mental rest. Simply sit down and let their feet rest etc

Go to the bathroom--or hit the snack and drink machines or the water cooler.

How about everyone just does what they want to do on their breaks and takes them if they want to or don’t take them if you don’t want to. There’s usually no law on what you have to do.

Just do you.

I usually don't take my 10 minute breaks. I just work through them. I take my lunch break which is 30 minutes, but I eat at my desk and usually respond to emails and phone calls while I'm eating. Only time I take a 10 minute break is if I need to take a personal call, or one time I walked over to the store next door and bought a soda. But usually I just work through them. 10 minutes isn't really long enough to do anything so I think they are kind of pointless.

When I worked, I very seldom took breaks. If I did I'd use the time to breathe, do a mindfulness meditation. De-stress. Very few places here permit smoking within 100 feet of the building.

Since giving up smoking a while ago and vaping, but only for a short time, during work breaks (not long anyway), I don't feel any cravings for nicotine. Am I supposed to? I don't know, but we are all different.

Sometimes it’s not as much craving for nicotine as craving for a certain routine of lighting up a cigarette etc I quit about 15 years ago and I never stopped wanting to smoke. I have dreams of myself smoking. Lol but I know all too well if I smoke one cigarette I’d be a smoker again. So I know better. And life is so much easier now when smoking is out of my life

Hi divine1966. Not everyone has "official" break times. Yes, most companies will indicate lengths of breaks, but not all of them dictate when you must take them or exactly how long they should be. Many companies are not following people with stop watches, either. That being said, sometimes walking around socializing is partly working. For example, when I chatted up the IT guy, we were often also exchanging information relevant to our jobs.

I don't know if you are a salaried or by the hour employee. I was salaried most of the 10 years at my last workplace. In some cases where people are salaried, the main goal is getting the work done, and creating and implementing new projects that ultimately make or save a company money. That is often easy for a boss to measure during annual performance appraisals. Or if they don't see it, the employee can show/prove it. Another difference is that very often salaried employees are unofficially expected to work more than 40 hours per week. I usually worked between 45 to 60 hours per week, when not traveling for business. When I traveled for business, it sort of seemed like I was working every single minute of the day when not sleeping, eating, or showering. Given this, a "longer break" is not always that big of a goofing off.

Another thing to note is that some salaried people bring work home. I tried not to, but it happens a lot. Sometimes I may not have been "officially" working at home, but I was thinking about new projects and work-related problem-solving while making and eating dinner, and while sitting, superficially listening to TV.

As a person with a mental illness, breaks are extremely important. It's important for me to be able to take some when I need it. If I was chained to a desk and watched like a prisoner, I would have to quit the job.

I'm glad you're not smoking anymore. Good on you!

Interesting though, but since 3 days ago when I last posted, I caught a pleasant vanilla-fruit smell from a passing vaper.

The woman was using very low nicotine, "0.6g", and that the vaping calmed her down. That piqued my interest so she wrote the name down, how much and where from.

I might just resurrect my old vaping tank and try this stuff again. Because I really do need to relieve stress and walking is not something I wish to do after a 10 hour slog!

Nice talking to you, and happy New Year!

When I used to work retail I would just sit down for 10 minutes until the break was up. I suppose I could have read a book or looked at my phone, etc., and I did that sometimes, but 10 min is a short break in my opinion. Also, I am pretty sure they just do those breaks to make sure they comply with laws. In my opinion, a ten minute break every four hours of work isn't worth anything. Just make there be no breaks, honestly, if there's not gonna be anything worthwhile I can do on my break. That's my two cents.

I also used to hate that I had to clock out for the lunch time. 30 minutes. I mean it's not like I was getting paid a ton, but that can add up.

Anyway, that just turned into a rant about how I hated my retail job breaks. Ha.

I go out to my truck and read.

Hey all, I want to give everyone an update of what I've been doing on my non-smoking breaks.

My work has a large parking lot, so if the weather isn't too bad I'll take 2-3 laps around which takes up my whole break, or I'll sit in the back and eat a plate of food, or I'll sit down and meditate, or I'll listen to music. I usually like to be alone or away from all the noise and people, so walking around the parking lot is a nice treat, and I thought at first it'd be nice to not be dragged outside, but now it's a choice to go out there rather than a have to.

It's been storming lately and I am so, so, soooo glad I don't have to smoke in such extreme weather like I used to. I don't crave smoking at all with the patch, but it does come into my mind sometimes.

Lark, sounds like you've found some good ways to spend your time. Thanks for updating us.