Five Little Wins You Can Build Into Your Work Day Lunch

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Whether this year has been a good or bad one for you, one of the enduring downsides to 2020 has been this feeling that every day is on repeat. Whether you work from home or commute every day, there's a certain sameness to our routines right now. To help you shake off that Groundhog Day vibe, we've teamed up with Oporto to help you build some little wins into your working day — from virtually escaping the office to literally submerging yourself into a cool body of water. These quick, easy-to-action things to do will make you feel like you did something different with your break, and will hopefully boost your mood, too.

Charlie Bliss

MONDAY: TAKE A TOUR OF NORTHERN TERRITORY ART

It's the beginning of the week, and maybe you've got a stack of emails to wade through before lunchtime — but don't let that stop you from having time 'away' from the inbox. If you have a desk-bound job, or five minutes spare with your phone in hand, you have time for a trip to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT). It's not easy to cross the border right now (and it certainly wouldn't be advised on your lunch break), but you can explore an exhibition of artworks by 65 First Nations artists in the 2020 National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards exhibition. Click through to each virtual room to discover a burial pole painted with the image of a serpent by Paul Namarinjmak Nabulumo, a tribute to the dying Great Barrier Reef by Torres Strait Islander artist Jimmy K Thaiday and an biographical work by South Australian multidisciplinary artist Nyurpaya Kaika Burton. It'll feel like a mini holiday from your Monday.

'Rebecca': (L to R) Lily James as Mrs de Winter, Kristin Scott Thomas as Mrs Danvers. Courtesy Kerry Brown/Netflix

TUESDAY: CATCH UP ON MOVIE TRAILERS

If you're WFH, you can sometimes miss out on that office banter about what your 9-to-5 buddies are watching, reading or listening to right now. And if it's been half a year since you visited the cinema, maybe you're feeling out of touch with the latest film trailers. Well, use that half an hour in the middle of your day to play catch up. Have you seen Timothée Chalamet and the giant sandworm in the latest and highly anticipated adaptation of Dune? How about the ominous first trailer for Netflix's take on the psychological thriller Rebecca? It stars Lily James, Armie Hammer and Kristin Scott Thomas and hits your screens from October 21. And, if those have you fired up for seeing films on the big screen, why not book into a showing tonight at Cineplex? Tickets are just $8.50 on any night of the week. Or, at Dendy's Bargain Tuesdays you can see a flick for $12.50. Here are our picks of what's on at the cinemas right now.

Bunya River Crossing

WEDNESDAY: GO FOR A DIP

Is there anything more rejuvenating than a swim? When you've hit hump day and need a reward for your efforts so far, seek out one of these outdoor swimming pools in Brisbane. The central Spring Hill Baths are open year-round and they're heated when the weather's not on your side. For wilder spirits, you could take a drive to one of these rivers and float upstream as you wash away your cares. Then, for the most adventurous of lunchtime dips, check out these ten unusual swimming holes — from saltwater pools to lakes with healing powers. You'll feel refreshed and ready to tackle that to-do list when you return. Or, cash in some of that annual leave and make an afternoon of it.

THURSDAY: HAVE A WATERSIDE LUNCH

The benefits of a walk in the sunshine are well documented, and though we know it's good for us, the week can often fly by before we've even considered stepping out the door during lunch. If you've made it to Thursday and haven't stretched your limbs before 6pm on any of your working days so far, make today the day. We suggest planning ahead to order one of Oporto's new Rappas — such as the Vegan Rappa, which includes a pea and herb patty, mixed lettuce leaves, slaw, fresh tomato, avocado and a tomato and capsicum relish in a warm pita bread wrap — then pick it up from one of Oporto's city outlets and take it to Brisbane City Botanic Gardens or Roma Street Parklands. Either way, you'll have a beautiful body of water to sit by and admire. For more ideas, check out these picnic spots around Brisbane.

FRIDAY: BUST OUT OF A VIRTUAL ESCAPE ROOM

If the daily grind is not stimulating your mind as much as it should, flex your brain power on something altogether more thrilling, without leaving your screen. The Sydney Opera House has launched a virtual escape room which challenges you to bust out of the iconic landmark in the middle of the night. You will navigate your way around backstage areas, like the orchestra pit, costume department and props room, to find clues and ultimately escape. You'll need a pen and paper handy, so you can write down the passwords you discover along the way. Start playing Trials of Wisdom here. Or, try more virtual escape rooms from Strike and The Escape Game.

Check out Oporto's full Rappa Range here, then make tracks to your closest store — or order online.

Top image: Roma Street Parklands by Brisbane Marketing, courtesy Tourism and Events Queensland