Reclaiming Your Life While Munching
Feature Interview With Cheryl K. Johnson, Author of “Box Lunch Lifestyle.”
Cheryl K. Johnson's "Box Lunch Lifestyle: Using Your Lunch Break to Win Back the Life You Deserve" is an epic read that challenges the notion that we are doomed to a life that is unfulfilling and leads to missed opportunities. In a world where the relentless grind of work can leave us feeling like mere cogs in a machine, Johnson offers a refreshingly practical and empowering solution: reclaim your lunch break and use it to transform your life.
The book's central premise is as simple as it is profound – that the precious moments we allot for refueling our bodies can also be the catalyst for reclaiming our sense of identity, purpose, and personal agency.
Johnson's infectious enthusiasm and no-nonsense approach cut through the excuses and self-doubt that often hold us back, challenging readers to embrace the power of small, incremental changes.
Through a series of easily implementable strategies, "Box Lunch Lifestyle" guides the reader on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. From practical tips on nourishing the body and mind during the lunch hour to thought-provoking exercises that encourage readers to confront their fears and redefine their priorities, Johnson's approach is both holistic and deeply empowering.
At its core, this book is a clarion call to action – a rallying cry for those who refuse to accept the status quo and are ready to reclaim the life they deserve. With its blend of relatable storytelling, actionable advice, and unwavering belief in the transformative power of the individual, "Box Lunch Lifestyle" is a must-read for anyone seeking to break free from the shackles of a unfulfilling existence and embrace a future filled with purpose, passion, and genuine fulfillment.
🥡 What initially inspired you to merge your decade of boxing training with lifestyle improvement, and how has this unique approach benefited your own life?
CJ: I’m not sure what made boxing so appealing to me. The opportunity just kinda dropped into my lap and, for whatever reason, I tried it. And taking a chance on this unlikely pursuit has brought me a level of confidence—and fitness—that I didn’t think was possible.
Not everyone wants to be a boxer. But I do think that everyone has their own quiet, quirky personal aspiration that sits on the back burner waiting for us to have extra time, or the right kind of energy, to make it real.
But I say, “Don’t wait.” Let me show you how to use a typical 30-minute workday lunch break to become a person who’s a little healthier—and a LOT more interesting. The simpler, sustainable lifestyle you deserve isn’t as far out of reach as you might think.
🥡 In "Box Lunch Lifestyle," you emphasize starting with just the lunch break to initiate change. Could you share a success story from someone who has transformed their life using your strategies?
CJ: A Box Lunch Lifestyle is this simple: fifteen minutes to stop, eat, and enjoy food you made for yourself, and fifteen minutes to pursue a quiet ambition, or what I call a Second-Place Dream. These dreams aren’t in second place because they’re less important, but because those small personal things we’re drawn to in life just never seem to make it to the top of the list.
A better lunch break can make these quietly remarkable Second-Place Dreams come true. Just this past month, I was given a copy of a novel written by Chris who, inspired by Box Lunch Lifestyle, finally decided that his story idea deserved to make it to the top of his list. Starting with just fifteen minutes on a typical day meant that he now has a printed book to hold in his hands and share with his family, friends...and the world. Remarkable.
Rory wants to flex her literary muscles differently. She's always wanted to read War and Peace and fifteen minutes during a few lunches is enough time to finally get started and decide for herself if it’s the worthy piece of literature she’s always thought it might be.
Denise finally started cooking vegan meals for her lunches. Lois stands firm on boundaries to defend her lunch time from an overly demanding management job. Don has turned his workday lunch break into a mini digital detox routine.
I challenge you to try finishing the sentence “I’ve always told myself that someday I’d…” I bet an answer or two comes to mind pretty quickly. Want to eat a little better? Try some yoga? Learn Japanese? You probably already know the “what.” The “how” and “when” to make it real is lunch. Trust me. It works.
🥡 What are some common challenges people face when trying to implement the Box Lunch Lifestyle, and what advice do you give to overcome these hurdles?
CJ: My goal is to help wanna-be changers get started. Today.
And we can come up with a list of excuses as long as our arm for why change isn’t possible. A whole chapter of the book addresses them: “My job makes this too hard.” “Other people won’t understand.” “I don’t know what to eat.” Beneath all these excuses, I think, is not trusting yourself.
So, here’s where to start: put lunch breaks on your schedule. Don’t say you’ll do this later. Stop and do it right now. Add lunch to your calendar for the next three weeks. Whatever you schedule today can shift later to meet the demands of a day that you can’t predict three weeks from now, but don’t shortchange yourself.
Because nobody else will do this small, vitally important and tiny-bit-rebellious version of self-care for you. That spot on your calendar is your promise to start showing up for yourself (again). It’s the space to breathe, trust that you’ll figure out what you want, and take action. Take back your lunch, and I think you’ll be amazed at the change in your energy—and what you believe is possible.
🥡 Your book encourages readers to be their own champion. Can you elaborate on the mental shifts that are necessary for someone to start seeing themselves in this empowering way?
CJ: The practice of a Box Lunch Lifestyle is perfectly in sync with what we know about effective habit change. Lunch is something small, a familiar part of our culture that can be easily reframed as fun rather than a chore, and it’s an event that shows up gently every day to remind us of our two most basic lifestyle choices: what we eat and how we spend our time.
When it comes to being a champion, in his book The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business, Charles Duhigg says, “You have to believe that things will get better.” Think about that. When it comes to living our lives or making choices in a new way, our logical adult brains say, “Of course I can start that [whatever pursuit].” But you have to honestly believe the change you want is possible. The way a kid believes. It’s tricky sometimes, but that’s what makes you a champion.
This may be the most amazing thing to me about a Box Lunch Lifestyle. It is no-excuse proof that “better” is possible. If today you eat homemade food for lunch and spend just fifteen minutes watching birds or planning your dream vacation, you did it. You win. There’s nothing left not to believe in.
Box Lunch Lifestyle is a roadmap for how to show up for You. It’s how meaningful change can start without quitting a job that feels like a slog, downloading another app, or throwing away all the carbs in your pantry.
🥡 Looking ahead, how do you see the Box Lunch Lifestyle evolving? Do you have plans to expand these ideas into other areas or mediums, such as workshops, online courses, or a follow-up book?
CJ: Readers of all sorts are among my favorite people, so I especially love book clubs. It’s a treat to meet these curious, organized groups who invite authors into their conversations. (Want to invite me to yours? Here’s the link.)
In fact, I recently hosted a book club for a university, and it was truly amazing to hear the big and small ways that just tweaking their lunch breaks made a difference in how the staff and faculty felt about themselves and their work.
Box Lunch Lifestyle can also be a great way to breathe fresh life into any kind of group: neighbors, faith-based friends, old classmates, or other parents. And when it comes to work-based teams, I think it’s time to say goodbye to the old “Lunch & Learn” model.
So let’s make this time personal and fun. Instead of passively listening to an expert’s ideas, imagine regular lunch-time engagement with other Box Lunch Lifers charting their own course: choosing food that makes a person proud (not just what’s on the list of the latest weight loss plan) and inspiring each other to invest in those uniquely personal Second-Place Dreams. That sounds to me like the kind of lunch-time world we might all like to live in.
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