Over at a friend’s office, 12:30 is a special time indeed. That’s because after everyone’s eaten a quick lunch, they all rush to their workstations and play a few rounds of Counter-Strike.

That’s right. And it’s all legit. In fact, his HR personnel and even an executive sometimes join in on the fun. And yes, the gals are getting better at fragging their male counterparts. Games usually involve two teams of more than ten people each. How’s that for participation? Of course, everything ends at 1 pm.

As you may know, after lunch can be a very sleepy time. With stomachs full of food, dozing off becomes a very enticing prospect. But thanks to Counter-Strike, my friend says, this is no longer a problem. The adrenaline rush derived from letting loose with virtual guns and riddling virtual opponents with bullets keeps everyone awake.

My friend and his workmates are more productive, having enough energy to get working immediately after lunch. The post-lunch sleepiness does kick in after a few hours. By that time however, the work day is almost over. He also tells me that they’re planning to try out StarCraft soon. They also welcome the daily deathmatch as a needed break from the monotony of work.

Maybe this is something you can propose to your boss? You’ll need something more definite than the anecdotal evidence outlined here though. Case studies? A controlled experiment?