Breaking Bad!

Snacking in bed or at your desk is a slippery slope, a gateway drug to a life of groundhog days and nighttime despair (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration). 

We've all been there! You need to get something done at work or you’re in your flow. Or your favourite movie/series is playing at home and suddenly, the siren song of snacks begins calling even though you’re in bed. Whichever spot you find yourself in, before you know it, crumbs are raining down like a biblical plague and your desktop or bedroom sheets resemble the inside of a toaster. 

It’s an absolute dopamine dilemma, as that delicious first bite? Always pure bliss. Your brain releases dopamine, the reward chemical, making you feel amazing. But then there's the catch, your brain starts to associate your desk or your bed with that blissful dopamine hit. Soon, your desk or bed have become a trigger for snacking. Easy rewards without effort, leads to dopamine desensitisation, hence you need more to get the same dopamine hit! Hard to relate to? Think of it this way… do you ever go to check your phone for one thing and find yourself scrolling 30m later? Easy dopamine hits without effort. Same thing! It messes with your motivation, mood, and drives you want more stimulation. 

This then leads to work and sleep sabotage. Eating before bed in particular can interfere with your sleep cycle, leading to restlessness, indigestion and a rough night. Even worse before you know it snacking in bed starts to create a negative association with your bedroom. Instead of a peaceful haven, it becomes a place for indulgence and potentially effortless consumption…(read: guilt).

Sitting at a desk or being restricted to a workplace all day is bad enough; especially if your movement opportunities are minimal but then eating there too can make you feel like you're stuck in some sort of groundhog day scenario. Get up, stretch, and enjoy your lunch in a different environment. Your body (and your sanity) might just thank you. 

Ready to go breaking bad? Here's a couple of things you might like to try out.

• Declare your workspace and bedroom a crumb-free zone not a cafe. It's official. No more eating in these spaces, period. 
• If that is easier said than done and the habits are really locked in and as common as Monday morning coffee, try easing yourself slowly out of the habit. Create a designated snacking spot. The kitchen counter, the living room, the work canteen, a bench outside (read: anywhere but your bed or desk). 
• Give mindful eating a try. Paying attention to every bite, where it originates from, how did it come from source to your plate and palate, think of the whole journey and savour every bite. 
• Maybe try rewarding yourself for breaking the habit. Put a few dollars to one side each time broke the habit and use it to invest in you. You deserve it!

And there you have it ... make a decision to ditch the desk lunch habit, just pack up and head out. 

Lay (pun intended) the foundation for a great night's sleep with a nice clean, snack free (read: guilt free) bedroom.