The lunch break outdoors

Short answer: Half an hour outside in the middle of the day calls for one more layer than you wear indoors. If you stand still to eat, you cool down faster than if you walk, and that is easy to underestimate.

Standing still cools you down

Without movement your body temperature drops quickly, even at twenty degrees if there is wind. You sit or stand with your food, and your body makes little heat. After a quarter of an hour you feel it in your shoulders and arms. So always bring a layer such as a bamboo hoodie for women, even when the sun is out.

The sun is deceptive

A sunny lunch break can look warm through the window, but in the shade or the wind it is another story. Many people head out in what they wear at their desk and feel cold as soon as they sit down. That is easy to avoid. Take the layer with you and put it over your shoulders in the shade.

A thin inner layer does the most

A base layer that moves moisture keeps you from getting cold when you go back in. If you walked briskly to lunch, you may be slightly damp, and you notice it when you sit. A thin layer close to the body, such as a bamboo slip, keeps your skin dry and makes the change more comfortable.

Your feet feel the ground

If you sit on a cold bench or stand on paving, heat drains out through your feet and legs. It happens slowly, but it is one reason you suddenly feel cold after fifteen minutes. A pair of bamboo socks for men and women in a denser knit helps noticeably.

Put something between you and the bench

A cold bench draws heat from your body however warm the air is. If you have a spare layer, fold it and sit on it. It sounds simple, but it makes a big difference on an autumn day. Otherwise, eat standing up or walk with your food so your body keeps moving.

Take a walk after eating

If you have time, a short walk after lunch warms you up again before you head back to your desk. It is also a good way to get some air and movement in a day spent sitting. With an extra layer, the break becomes something to look forward to rather than rush through.

Keep the layer ready by the door

The extra layer only helps if you remember it. Hang it by your desk or near the exit so you grab it on the way out. A thin layer that rolls up easily takes no space in a bag and can stay there all week. Then you are always ready for a break outdoors.

Settle back in comfortably

When you come back in after lunch, your body has to adjust again. If you got cold, it takes time to warm up at your desk. If you got sweaty, you cool down. A layer that is easy to put on and take off, and a base layer that keeps you dry, make the afternoon more comfortable.

Frequently asked questions

How quickly do you get cold

Ten to fifteen minutes standing still in the wind is enough for many people to start feeling cold, even in sunshine.

Should you bring a layer every day

Yes, it takes up no space and makes the break usable, even if the weather changes during the morning.

What helps most on a cold bench

A layer between you and the surface, such as a folded spare layer, so your body does not lose heat to it.