Did you know that the best mid-day escapes often include a sweat session? Sure, taking a lunch break is important, but research has shown that working out in the middle of the day may be just the thing to stay on track and boost your productivity. 

- Keep it simple with these tried and true mid-day workout tips

- Try out some of these workout ideas to make the most of your limited lunch-break

Why taking time out of your day for a mental break is key to a healthier, more productive life.

A 10-hour work day; getting to the gym; taking the kids to soccer practice; cousin Kate’s wedding this weekend; what’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner? This thing called life can be stressful and busy.

But as life gets busier, it’s even more important to take time for yourself and give your mind a break.

Taking breaks is vital to overall health. Continued strain on your brain can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue and mental exhaustion.

Did you know? Nearly 80 percent of U.S. employees don’t even take a lunch break.

Yet studies show that taking regular breaks of even 1.5 minutes can increase productivity by more than 6 percent, while breaks of two minutes can increase productivity by 11.5 percent.

So what type of activities should you do to give your mind a rest? Try some of these activities:

·      Get outside and take a short walk.

·      Read a book, even if it’s for 10 minutes a day.

·      Stretch – try some yoga moves – I love finding quick stretch routines on Pinterest.

·      Doodle or color – Adult coloring books are all the rage – Keep one nearby, even in your desk at work.

·      Take a nap. Who says napping is for college students? Even 10-20 minutes will do.

·      Put on your headphones and listen to one or two of your favorite songs.

·      Talk to a friend/coworker. Step away from your desk to chat about non-work related things with someone.

·      Try meditation – the ultimate relaxation technique.

·      Observe nature – take a look out the window at your office or take a walk in the local forest preserve.

Taking just a few minutes out of your day to give your mind some relief can result in a more productive day and an even healthier life.

What do you do to give your mind a break during the day?

At this time of year, we crave the warmth and energy of the sun more than ever. And, this Earth Day, just like every day, we are inspired and captivated by the natural power the sun can bring. To celebrate, we want to see some of your most creative and breathtaking sun-centric photography!

Beginning April 22 through May 13, submit a sunscape photo by tagging @theproteinbar on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, or email your photo to [email protected]. Images must scale to 1920x1080 to be eligible for consideration.

One winner will be chosen to receive an exclusive Protein Bar Swag Pack and have their photo featured on the Protein Bar blog and social media channels (reaching 50,000+ unique users). Additionally, all photo submissions will have the chance to be prominently displayed in-restaurant with a photo credit.