Things to Do at Work to Be Healthier
We all know the day-to-day office struggles of skipping by the candy dish, saying no to the free sodas in the fridge or turning down the oh-so-delectable breakroom doughnuts. It’s easy to form bad eating habits at work – but these aren’t the only things in the workplace that are diminishing our health goals. Check out these tricks for creating a healthier you at the office.
Stand Up
It’s pretty common knowledge by now that sitting down at your desk ALL-DAY is bad for your body. But research reported by The Mayo Clinic shows “those who sat for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to the risks of dying posed by obesity and smoking.” If you spend less time sitting down you can reduce your blood pressure, blood sugar, excess body fat, abnormal cholesterol levels and decrease your risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer!
Personal Time
In order to get more work done, it’s easy to want to skip out on lunch breaks. But eating at your desk isn’t going to boost your productivity in the long run if you’re burning yourself out. It’s important to set aside time to focus on “you.” Outside of eating a healthy lunch (away from your computer screen), try walking to grab a coffee, catching up with your friends on social media, reading a few pages in a book, or chatting it up with a coworker. Don’t underestimate the power of a little downtime.
Vacations are also an important part of staying healthy at work. Vacations help reduce stress. And stress can impair your immune system, which increases the risk of illness. So, don’t sleep on the Personal Time Off days.
Break Out the Disinfectant
Speaking of not getting sick… Sure, it’s fun to spray the air duster on your keyboard and see all the crumbs fly away but it doesn’t actually kill all the germs. Make it a weekly habit to wipe your desk down with disinfectant. Take it a step further and protect the whole office from germs by hitting these three other hot spots: doorknobs, elevator buttons, and conference phones.
Breathe In, Breath Out
It might sound cheesy, but if you just take a few minutes each day to stop, look away from your computer and breathe, you’ll feel a lot better. If you’re feeling ambitious, practicing meditation can improve your mind, heart, and body. WebMD reports that meditation can ease chronic pain, anxiety, and stress while improving heart health and boosting mood and immunity. In fact, brain scans of people who are meditating have shown an increase in activity in areas that control metabolism and heart rate. Other studies have shown that meditation produces long-lasting changes in the brain activity in areas involving attention span, memory, and learning.
Skip the tempting breakroom carbs and start your healthier workday by incorporating some of these easy tips into your office routine.