Take Breaks
It sounds simple, but how many people regularly skip breaks at work? Make it a habit to take at least one break (if not more) during your work day. Contrary to what you may think, taking breaks will help you get more work done. It is amazing what half an hour away from the workplace can do for your productivity and general wellbeing.
As well as having a break, try and do something that will make you feel better. Some form of exercise will help you feel much better when you return to work, even a short walk can do wonders. Sitting quietly and reading a book could also be refreshing.
Healthy Work Practices
If you work in an office, make sure you have a good chair to work from. You could even try standing up or exercising whilst working!
Healthy Fuel
Get in the habit of eating and drinking healthily whilst working. If you’re used to grabbing a chocolate bar as a quick fix, buy some healthy snacks for work like fruit or nuts to help you resist the temptation.
Drinking water is very important for our health, but most people don’t drink enough of it. We lose as much as a quarter of water each day just through breathing! Over the course of an average day, a healthy adult can lose eight to 10 cups of water before they have even exercised. This is not even taking into account the effect stress can have on our bodies. Drinking water and / or herbal teas at work is a great habit to get into. This doesn’t mean you have to cut out your tea or coffee habit completely; why not have one cup instead of five and replace the other four drinks with healthier alternatives.
Planning your other meals outside work makes a big difference to what you choose to eat. Taking a little time at the beginning of your work week to plan your meals and food shopping means you will be more in control of what you consume (and spend!) and are less likely to choose quick fix options.
Exercise
The way we approach exercise makes a huge difference to how we feel about it and whether we actually do any. Exercise really is essential to good health and many people would benefit from seeing it as a non negotiable part of life rather than a luxury, especially if you do a sedentary job.
Think about how you view exercise and whether you need to change your perspective. Most importantly choose exercise that you enjoy. Exercise shouldn’t be about punishing yourself. If you don’t currently exercise, start small and find a way to go for a walk each day. Small changes can have a big impact and also stop you feeling overwhelmed.
Get Fresh Air!
Fresh air is so good for us! Open your windows if you work inside and make sure you get out into the elements regularly. We were not designed to thrive under fluorescent lights!
Declutter
Declutter your work space regularly. Clutter isn’t good for your mental wellbeing. If your work space is cluttered, take some time out to give it a good clear out and clean and then get in the habit of keeping it this way. A clean and inspiring work space will enhance how you work, help you think more clearly and help you to feel better.
Work Smarter
So many of us procrastinate or stretch our work out to fit our day. See where you can work smarter. Get in the habit of getting the most important thing done first each day. This will help you to get more done and could even mean working less.
Good Work-Life balance
Making sure you are doing things that you enjoy outside work and also taking time to relax and unwind is vital. Most of us can usually keep going for a while but at some point life catches up with us! Take regular time out to refuel and refresh. It makes a huge difference to our approach to work and life in general.
I would love to hear from you now. How do you stay healthy at work?
Bio: Jen Smith is a Life Coach and Mentor living in the UK. She has tried many career paths herself and now helps people achieve their goals and dreams. You can find her at www.jenmsmith.com.
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