Tips for living a healthy lifestyle in the workplace
From 2 July until 6 July it is Employee Wellness Week. So, we offer you tips to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle in the office.
Many of us spend at least 40 hours a week at work. Because of that, our jobs and what we do when in the office have a huge impact on our lives. As Annie Dillard once said: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
It is, therefore, crucial to ensure that we maintain a healthy lifestyle - even at the office.
Here are tips for staying healthy in the workplace.
Eat healthy food
It goes without saying that what we eat affects our health. A bad diet can result in one getting sick.
In order to ensure that you eat healthily, it is important to plan your meals and be disciplined enough to stick to your diet.
Learn to resist the office food temptation.
Bring a lunch box to work, because that way you get to not only save money but can eat nutritious foods which you can cook and prepare at home.
Also, opt for healthy food instead of junk food. If you feel like snacking, rather snack on fruit or healthy snacks such as nuts.
Avoid prolonged sitting
Don’t just sit at your desk the entire time you are at work. Research has found that prolonged sitting can cause harm to one’s health. According to cancer.org, it can even increase one’s risk of suffering from cancer.
Take short breaks from your desk and walk around the office building. Instead of taking the elevator, walk up the stairs.
Drink water
Being in the office the entire day can cause many of us to drink lots of beverages. Instead of drinking coffee, tea or fizzy drinks, rather drink water.
Water has a lot of health benefits. It flushes body weight, helps with the digestive system, regulates body temperature, and delivers oxygen throughout the body.
Exercise
Exercise will do wonders for your health, skin, and can even help you maintain a healthy body weight.
There are simple, yet effective exercises that you can do from your desk. You can stretch your arms, do chair squats, and water bottle twists.
The video below has great office exercises. Matt Thibault, a wellness coordinator, shares exercises you can do from your desk that won’t annoy your colleagues.
READ: Survey: Employees want physical contact banned in the workplace
Image courtesy of iStock/AndreyPopov