It’s been said more times than we can count: sitting for eight hours on your office chair can take a toll on your health. From poor vision to poor posture, from carpal tunnel syndrome to stress-related weight gain or weight loss, you might not realize that your physical, mental, and emotional well-being are already suffering because of work. And when you’re not in tip-top shape, your productivity may be affected as well.
Here are some simple tips to keep yourself healthy at work.
Sneak in Some Exercise
One of the simplest ways to be more physically active even while at work is to take the stairs instead of the elevator, especially if you’re only two or three floors up the building. You may also want to park your car farther away to squeeze in some more extra steps. If you are able, take a walk during lunch. Not only are you burning some calories, you are also refreshing your mind by changing the scenery for an hour or so.
Standing desks are also a great way to keep yourself muscles active while working. You can set an alarm to remind you to stand and then sit back down again to rest your legs. Remember that staying in one position for so long is not healthy, whether sitting or standing.
Bring Your Own Lunch and Snacks
When you bring your own food to the office, you are in control of what you eat not just with the ingredients you use but also when it comes to proper servings. It also saves you money. If you’re not that skilled in the kitchen or feel like you don’t have enough time to cook, don’t worry — there are a lot of recipes for easy-to-prepare meals that you can find on the Internet.
For snacks and beverages, you are also never short on options. Various kinds of nuts and seeds, dried fruits, vegetable and root crop chips, Greek yogurt, nut and grain milks, coconut water — the list is extensive and you’ll never find yourself wanting. You can also prepare your own snacks at home if you have the time and if you want to customize your healthy snacking experience.
Bring in Some Greens
And by greens, we mean greenery. Plants can help keep you healthy by making your environment healthy. For one, they can help improve air quality by naturally removing toxins; the microorganisms in the soil also play a role in cleaning indoor air. Choose green leafy plants — the bigger the surface area of the leaves, the better they will be at purifying the air.
Apart from giving you fresher air to breathe, plants can also give a more cheerful, friendly vibe to any space. Some people also find plants to be calming or peaceful. Indeed, studies have shown that indoor plants can help improve concentration and mood, increase productivity, and reduce stress.
Take a Vacation
When you’re stressed, you’re more at risk of getting sick. That’s because stress impairs the immune system. This is why minimizing stress is important in keeping yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy — and taking a vacation is one of the best ways to de-stress. If you can, take long vacations to help you recharge and rejuvenate better. And remember: when you’re on vacation, take your mind of work matters. Just let yourself enjoy the time off.
If you don’t have the luxury of time, staycations during the weekends are also a good idea. Indulging your hobbies — whether it’s playing video games, cooking, painting, dancing, or photography — is also a good way to relax and forget about the stresses of work for a while.
Finally, if at all possible, avoid working long days consecutively. This can lead to what is called burnout. This type of stress not only affects your immune system, but also interferes with your sleep and can impair your concentration. Leave the office on time and get some rest — your work will still be there tomorrow. And besides, you’ll perform better at work if you’ve gotten some quality sleep the night before.
Sometimes, the pressure of performing well at work results in poor health. However, you’ll be able to fulfill your responsibilities better when you’re at the pink of health. So do yourself a favor and take care of your health — your overall well-being (and your coworkers) will thank you for it.
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