EATING lunch at your desk is often linked to stress and burnout, but new research suggests it's not that bad for you if it's your decision.

And it's better than spending a lunchbreak chatting with your co-workers.

Researchers from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that working through lunch is fine, especially when employees feel like they made the decision to do it, LiveScience reports.

"We found that a critical element was having the freedom to choose whether to do it or not," said John Trougakos, co-author of the study. "The autonomy aspect helps to offset what we had traditionally thought was not a good way to spend break time."

To test the impact of lunchtime activities, the researchers monitored workers and how they spent their lunch breaks over 10 days. They then asked each worker's colleagues to describe how tired their co-worker seemed at the end of each day.

The workers who were the least tired at the end of each workday were the ones who spent their lunchbreak doing relaxing activities they chose themselves.

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The researchers also found that spending your lunchbreak socialising and bonding with co-workers leads to higher levels of tiredness.

Especially if you chat with other employees in the company kitchen or if the boss is nearby, Dr Trougakos said.

This is because you conversation is likely to be about work, and you are likely to be mindful of what you say around your co-workers.

"You're hanging out with people who you can't necessarily kick back and be yourself with," Dr Trougakos said.

While we are on lunch, find out what successful people do in their lunch breaks

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Originally published as Working through lunch isn't that bad for you