The Power of Lunching Together
Last week we talked to WNYC's Data Analyst Lauren Morris, who rarely brings her lunch to work. She is constantly bogged down by long work hours and rushing around for her job. But we asked her, what it would take to make lunch from home for an entire week. And now we know the answer: shame.
"My motivation is totally shame based. I know this event is happening and I know everyone is excited about it, and I know that I will let my team down," Lauren said. But she rose to the occasion and has brought lunch every day this week.
Lauren made chili with beans, corn, carrots, and mushrooms, and brought multiple servings in one container. She plans to make crispy tofu sandwiches for the rest of the week. "I was excited. I was like—I felt a little ridiculous, because their lunches look a lot better than mine. But, you know, progress."
The purpose of this project was not to just encourage people to bring their lunch from home, but to do it together, and publicly. Declaring good intentions publicly can make you feel accountable, help build support, and turn an idea into a habit.
But building a habit can take weeks, and backsliding is very common. Lauren proposed extending this challenge for the rest of Food Fridays, as a way to turn this challenge into a bona fide habit.
