We Asked CBD OLs & Finbros How They Spend Their 2-Hour Lunch Break

What CBD Workers Do On Their 2-Hour Lunch Break, From Gymming To Shopping

Have you ever wished for a longer lunch break, so you don’t have to wolf down the last of your cai fan while nervously eyeing the clock on your phone?

Well, try not to turn too green with envy, but some people out there are lucky enough to get two hours to makan and whatever else they wish to do.

To make the most out of their leisurely 120-minute break, they’re going to the gym, indulging in some retail therapy, or going for walks.

MS News spoke to a few people blessed with this super covetable privilege on how they spend it… and let you in on another way to make the most of your midday meal break.

2-hour lunch break a norm in some industries

While some of you may be thinking, “Har, use two hours for lunch can meh?”, it’s actually the norm in the banking industry, according to 32-year-old banker Ryan Yeong.

Thanks to the extra time, he can go for a 45-minute workout at the nearby gym, take a shower, head back to the office — and still have an hour left to eat.

He said having that time to exercise in the middle of the day frees him up to do other things after work, such as resting, doing chores or going out for dinner and drinks with friends.

“I don’t think I’d ever get used to having a one-hour break since I’ve been enjoying two-hour lunch breaks for years,” he admitted.

An opportunity to relax & practise self-care

Self-care is an important concept these days, particularly among stressed millennials who crave a break for their mental health.

This is why Fels Leow, a 32-year-old customer success trainer, spends her lunch break on her favourite activities that are “easier on the brain”, such as scrolling through social media or catching up on the latest drama.

“My work requires a lot of problem-solving and planning, so my lunch break is mainly for me to avoid doing anything that requires brain power,” Ms Leow explained.

This little bit of me-time can do wonders in helping to make her feel refreshed, recharged, and ready to take on all the tasks and challenges in front of her like a champ.

Getting to avoid weekend crowds & spend time with loved ones

For 35-year-old energy industry analyst Carina Huang, her favourite thing about having an extended lunch break is shopping at the mall while avoiding the typical weekend mob.

“I try to avoid going out on weekends because the malls can be extremely crowded, so getting to go in the middle of a weekday is definitely an easier and more relaxing experience for me,” she said.

Plus, with all her shopping settled in the day, Ms Huang can look forward to going straight home to rest and spend time with her family.

And speaking of family, anyone with young children or pets would know they both require care, attention, and love.

Data analyst and self-professed “cat slave” Nancy Tan, 30, tries to ensure she gets all her important errands done during her two-hour break so she can rush home to feed and play with her beloved pet feline after work.

Even her lunch break tasks are related to her furkid, such as shopping for cat food.

“Some of my favourite specialist pet food stores are in the CBD,” she explained, echoing Ms Huang’s point that shopping on a weekday afternoon is an excellent way to avoid the weekend crowds.

Make the most of your lunch break — 2-hour or not — with Grab 99¢ Pre-Order

Not all of us are fortunate enough to be given such a lengthy lunch period. Sometimes, by the time we’re done deciding what to eat and queuing for our food, almost half our break might be over.

However, with some planning, we can still make full use of whatever time we’re given so it doesn’t feel like we always have to rush. In fact, you’ll even get to save money along with your time as well.

Following the launch of Grab’s ‘Saver’ delivery, the company has introduced a ‘Pre-order’ option, which allows users to — as the name suggests — pre-order their lunch to have it delivered between noon and 12.30pm.

Here’s the best part: as long as you pre-order by 11am, the delivery fee will cost just 99 cents — a fraction of standard delivery fees. And it certainly isn’t often we hear of things costing under S$1 these days.

Orders can be placed up to five days in advance to over 300 locations in Singapore, so you can have your meals planned for the entire week.

Oh, and if you happen to work or live in an area where the pre-order option isn’t available, just fill out this form so that Grab knows there’s demand to roll it out there.

With your lunch essentially settled and en route to you automatically every day, you can use those extra 15 minutes or so to pop by the supermarket to pick up essentials or squeeze in a quick mobile game to unwind after surviving a stressful meeting.

Grab’s 99¢ Pre-Order Delivery option is also great for busy folks who usually have a ton of urgent tasks to attend to and don’t have enough time to even think about lunch, let alone go out and buy it.

Besides the lunchtime slots, you can also pre-order for teatime and dinner by 3pm and 5pm, respectively, to enjoy the 99-cent delivery fee.

The teatime delivery slot is from 4pm to 4.30pm, while dinner will arrive between 6pm and 6.30pm.

Difference between Grab Saver & 99¢ Pre-Order deliveries

Grab’s 99c Pre-Order and Saver delivery options provide more affordable ways for customers to get their food sent straight to them so they can save time and stay safe from the scorching heat or pouring rain outside.

There are a few key differences, of course.

For starters, Grab Saver is up to 40% cheaper than standard delivery, while Pre-order delivery costs 99 cents as long as you order before 11am.

The former is more suitable for those without a fixed lunch hour, while the latter is for those who want to plan and know precisely what they want to eat for their next few lunches. Both are for those who are willing to wait a little longer in exchange for savings.

Either way, these services will let you make the most of your time — even if your break lasts just 60 minutes.

For more information and to place your pre-order, click here. And don’t forget to drop Grab a follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Making lunch breaks more meaningful

Every single day is made up of hundreds — if not thousands — of decisions, both big and small.

It can get overwhelming if you already have a lot on your plate, so why not give yourself ease of mind by planning when you can so you don’t have to think so much about it later?

These days, thanks to the help of technology, you can afford to do one or two more relaxing activities during your lunch break than just eating.

This post was brought to you in collaboration with Grab Singapore.

Featured image adapted from Andres Ayrton on Pexels and cottonbro studio on Pexels, for illustration purposes only.