Running on Empty: Why Skipping Breakfast Has Become a Workplace Norm

It’s a Sunday. Mom asked if I wanted something for breakfast. And I paused because it has become completely normal to reach the office without breakfast. Sometimes, not even a cup of coffee or tea.

Nearly 1 in 4 urban Indian professionals skip breakfast entirely.

And 72% of those who do eat something in the morning end up with nutrient-deficient meals, often lacking fibre, iron, and B vitamins.

We wake up before sunrise, race through morning routines, travel over an hour, and log in before 9 AM.

Some days, it’s only after a colleague asks a question requiring basic patience… that you realize you haven’t eaten.

Even in a city like Indore, we have over 2 hours of commute daily (each way closer to the urban average of 55–59 minutes in cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai)

Often, I have work calls from the bus on my way back, because productivity continues even if I am not at the desk. And I often hear others on the phone at work as well.

Also, if something’s needed first thing in the morning, it usually means one of two things: either stay up late to get it done, or set an early alarm and beat the sun to it – because working on a laptop or a phone in the bus would make you dizzy.

When dinner is by 8 PM and lunch doesn’t happen until 1 pm, you’re running on a 17-hour fast, whether you meant to or not.

And while intermittent fasting is trending… most of us are just unintentionally underfed.

Sometimes, (most of the times) the office bus becomes a mobile breakfast café. People eating bananas. Apples. Some purchase poha from the vendor at their bus stop (healthy?).

And of course, everyone knows who’s eating what because breakfast smells louder than perfumes at 7:50 AM in the bus. It’s funny.

Not eating is not always a choice, but when long commutes become standard, so does the struggle of time management and work life balance.

Sure, you can always grab something once you reach the office, but how often does that really happen when you’re already diving into your day the minute you walk in, answering a call with one hand and opening your laptop with the other?

Recent studies show that urban workers are nearly twice as likely to report health concerns compared to their rural counterparts.

Maybe we should normalize having tea before the team meets – and avoiding a social media post before breakfast.
And asking “Did you eat yet?” as often as we ask “Did you send this email to me yet?”

If you’re working this weekend or preparing to be “on” again Monday, be kind to yourself.
Treat the commute like the shift it is.
And give your body something to work with, not just work on.

In a culture that celebrates being always-on, let’s start honoring the smallest win: Showing up well-fed.

PS: Workplace Maggie always comes to the rescue. What about you?

Monday Blues?

Monday blues are real.
But for some, they don’t end on Monday.

A colleague seems off.
A friend sends a “hey, you up?” text at 11 PM.
A teammate vents on a call.

Your instinct might be to fix it.
Or brush it off.
Or say you’re too busy.
Or that it’s not your problem.
Or that they should handle it alone.
Or that they shouldn’t have come to you at all.

And while you’re shutting them down,
They just want you to listen.
They don’t need fixing.
They don’t need solutions.

They just need you.
Listening. Present. Human.
Because they trust you.

And when you shut them down,
You don’t just end the conversation.
You break something they were brave enough to bring to you.

Here’s a fun fact:
Elephants stand silently next to a grieving herd member.
Not to cheer them up.
Not to explain the pain.
Just to be there.

PS: Yet another sketch by me. Because some messages are better felt than said.

It’s called “empathetic behavior.”
The thing we always talk about.
The thing we keep posting about.
The thing that sounds like a fancy mental health term.
But it’s really just being human.

And elephants do it better than most of us.

So if someone comes to you and vents today—listen.

You might be all they have in that moment.
And that might be enough.

Yes. Try to be an elephant today.
Ears out. Mouth mostly shut.

Toon Takeaways: Ratatouille!

Be the reason someone shares their ideas, issues, and views with you.

Not the reason they stop after a few.

Remember Chef Gusteau says that “You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try things that may not work, and you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from”?

That’s when Remy gets the confidence to pursue his passion and not be limited by his background or origin. 

Imagine if the Chef just shut him out instantly or blamed him for the issues he faced?

An idea always starts with a hesitant voice.

A half-knock on your cabin door.

A request for a conversation.

A message that says, “Do you have some time?”

And it matters how you respond in that moment. Specifically, the words you choose make a super strong impact. If you immediately say no, shut out, or blame them, it may not work.

Yes, you might be thinking, “I’m just being honest.”

But your words don’t just communicate—they echo.

A sharp “no” or a blame can shut doors in someone’s mind.

So slowly, without a fight, they check out.

They stop asking. Stop suggesting.

They go on auto-mode.

It’s never about just this idea. Or a challenge. Or a major issue they are facing at work.

It’s about whether it’s safe to bring the next one.

Everyone gets tired. Everyone is busy. Deadlines are real. Time is short.

But empathy takes seconds.

Choose kindness. You might be shaping someone’s courage to try again. You might be losing someone slowly and gradually without even realizing.

Even just saying, “Okay, can we sit on this tomorrow?” or “Let’s talk more soon” or “I understand the challenge you are facing, it must be hard…but let’s sort this out this way…” or “I am here for you always, but let me finish this task and get back to you…” makes a world of difference.

If dismissed once, they might just choose silence next time.
And no—it’s not their fault if they don’t come back. Some doors, once shut, leave people feeling dismissed, not welcome.

Because what you see as just another issue or idea, might have taken them tons of effort to first resolve it, or calibrate and brainstorm.

And your words might echo as a lasting silence.

Think of Ratatouille, where Chef Gusteau says, “Anyone can cook.”

It’s not about food—it’s about possibility. And opportunity.

Yes. Anyone can build. Anyone can create.

But only if they’re heard.

Be the reason someone feels heard, not hesitant.

The reason they open up, not shut down.

The reason they share the next idea—because they felt safe with the first.