Lunch breaks are neither exciting nor restful

I'm the type who brings a bento to work on weekdays.

At my previous job, there was a dining and break room on a different floor, and we would eat while chatting in a group.
People around us were free to do as they pleased—watching TV, reading, or taking a nap.
By the time I finished brushing my teeth in the crowded restroom and sat down, the people who took a cigarette break after their lunch break would be heading off to the smoking area.

I remember saying things like, "It's not fair, is it? I wish they'd make a break space for non-smokers too."

At my current workplace, there's no place to eat, so I eat my bento at my own desk. (The boss is somewhere else.)
There's a theory that since people are influenced by the information they take in through their eyes, eating while looking at the same scenery as when you're working means your brain doesn't recognize it as a break, so you don't actually rest. I strongly believe in this theory.

Our company, and the building it's in, have such terrible layouts that even though there's plenty of space, it can't be used... I guess they just don't realize that employees need to take breaks. *Sigh*

The small conference room in the office is occupied by the male sales staff.
I don't mind if I go in there, but it's a hassle to have to be polite and make small talk.
I'm sure they want to watch TV and get excited talking about baseball or soccer.
I don't even know what team Ohtani-san is on, and I only recently found out that Ma-kun came back to Japan.

If anything, I just want to be alone during my lunch break. I want to watch foreign dramas on Netflix on my smartphone (using wireless earphones).
I've finished many series by doing this every day, but my "My List" just keeps growing. I'm busy, you know! (Laughs)

The guest area with the sofa and low table is out of the question because it's right in front of the entrance.
In reality, there's quite a lot of foot traffic even during lunch break.
I understand mail carriers and delivery people, but why do people from group companies come by when they know it's lunch break?

Thinking, "I'm on my break, you know..." I quickly chew, swallow, put on my mask, and deal with them. The phone rings quite a bit, too.

When the current executive arrived, I complained about this situation, so they started (trying to) cover for me during lunch break.
In reality, I can still see and hear everything, so I end up handling it most of the time, but it's reassuring just to have someone around who knows the Labor Standards Act.

Here is what the boss said when this executive arrived and started gradually organizing company rules (!), putting working conditions into writing, and introducing time cards (!):
"Oh, come on, saying it's overtime after 30 minutes... if you're chatting while cleaning up, 30 minutes goes by in no time, doesn't it?"

I don't know where to begin to explain this to you...

Let's wrap up the complaining and talk about my bento situation.

It's been over 10 years since I started my current routine of porridge and a side dish made in a thermal food jar.
It started with a tweet from Daisuke Sakurai-sensei (@PandaKanpo). (The original teaching is that it's good to have porridge for breakfast, so if you can, please try it.)

I switched from my previous smaller bento box (rice and side dishes) to porridge in a thermal food jar. First of all, it was genuinely fun to actually be able to make porridge.
A 500ml size, seasoned porridge with egg soup or Chinese soup stock. No side dishes.

After lunch, I'm less likely to be hit by drowsiness, and I've started getting hungry sooner. Apparently, getting hungry is a good thing. (It means your digestive system is resting properly.)
I lost weight slowly and steadily, and I feel like I'm in better shape somehow.

Sometimes, instead of rice porridge, I would have a hearty soup, or days with curry, stew, or oden. I used to enjoy my bento back then, haha.

Now, it's a 300ml soup jar with plain rice porridge. Rice, some pearl barley, and a few goji berries.
I've settled into a style of having this with small side dishes like a rolled omelet, vegetables, and meat or fish. The side dishes change, but it's essentially the same thing every day. I've decided that's just how it is.

On my days off, if I occasionally eat out and have a full meal, my body has reached a point where I don't need to eat dinner. Or rather, maybe the amount I can eat has simply decreased, haha.

Thank you for reading until the end!