Ah, lunch. The one time during the day that we DON'T have to be at work while the sun is up. It can be a very relaxing and calming experience - a good meal, shooting the breeze with some friends, very therapeutic.

However, there is nothing that ruins a lunch more than an annoying "Lunch Buddy". These are the people that shatter any hope for having a restful and fulfilling lunch. The following are some common characteristics of the Lunch Buddy:

• Talks non stop about topics nobody wants to hear about
• Extremely picky about their food selection and makes everyone go where THEY want to go
• Awful eating habits (examples include extremely loud chewing, super messy)

Sound familiar? Chances are, you've come across at least of few of these people at your work. Most of the time, they mean well, but that doesn't change the fact that they constantly ruin your oasis of time around 1 p.m. each day.

It can be pretty hard to ditch these kinds of people around lunchtime, since they are always on the lookout to see who is going to lunch. You don't want to be rude, so you just can't say, "Well Jim, we'd love to have you along, but every time I see you eat I want to throw up and never eat again. So, you can't come." As much as you'd like to, this is not an option.

Fear not, all hope is not lost, here are some suggestions on how to keep a good working relationship with these people but enjoy yourself at lunch at the same time:

• Use MSN messenger or email to communicate your lunch plans. The less that is spoken, the less they'll know about.
• Don't leave in a big group to go to lunch. Slowly, one at a time, wander away from your desk and meet up at central point far enough away so the Lunch Buddy can't see you gathering.
• Actually invite them to lunch once in a while. This will ease any suspicions they have that you are actually ditching them. You also have a 50/50 chance of them saying that they can't go, which is pretty much win-win for you.
• Pick a place they don't like to go. This is usually a good option, but sometimes they will try to haggle with you and most likely someone in your lunch group will fold and agree to go with them.
• Eat lunch later than the usual "lunchtime". This is purely dependent on your schedule, but if you can get away with it it's a pretty good bet the Lunch Buddy has eaten lunch already. Try for a 1:30 lunch if you can hold out, or go early like at 11:00.

You can always use a combination of the above techniques, to try to raise your chances of success. Using the first two together is a good way to start, a combination that I have utilised before to great success.

Taking a little extra time to plan your lunch can save you hours of wasted lunch opportunities. Now go and free yourself from your Lunch Buddy today!