Contributed by – Healthians Team
We all, on average, spend 40 years of our life working. Since the quality of our work life directly impacts our wellbeing, it is of utmost importance to be healthy at work. Organizations have understood the importance of having a positive work culture and are thus continuously taking initiatives to improve their work environment. However, you should always put in efforts from your end to make your work life healthy. After all, only you can decide the way you want your life to be. To help you out, here are 7 tips that you can incorporate into your lifestyle to maintain your physical and mental health while you enjoy the most active years of your life.
Eat and drink consciously
This is the most common advice and you must be hearing it for the millionth time. The fact that all the successful people swear by this habit makes it so popular, yet we all fail to follow it. Eating junk while working is so tempting that we fail to realize that instead of stacking the drawers with packets of chips, we could stock them up with dry fruits or carry fresh fruits. It is understandable that cooking fresh meals for breakfast and lunch every day is not possible and ordering in could be the only option, but what food is being ordered can be selected wisely. These little changes in diet will make sure that diseases like obesity and everything related to it stay away and you stay healthy.
Maintain a proper posture
Tension neck syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome are most commonly reported in those who work in front of a computer for long hours. Sitting in one position throughout the day causes pain and stiffness of the muscles. Thus, it is important to take short breaks and move after every hour. However, while sitting and standing you’ve got to make conscious efforts to maintain a good posture. A good posture will not only keep your joints healthy but it also has an impact on your mood and the kind of vibes you emit. Standing tall with an open chest makes you look confident and happy. If you aren’t sure what your ideal posture while sitting and standing should be, then you can read this article to understand that better.
Have breaks for little exercise sessions
In a typical work culture, you are required to sit in front of a computer for the most part of the day. Such a lifestyle can make you obese. And that is the root cause of major diseases like stroke, fatty liver, infertility and even cancer. Moreover, looking at the computer screen for long hours can cause strain to your eyes. Over the course of time, this can result in weak eyesight. Since you cannot compromise on your work, you need to find a way to not let your body suffer. Here, what you can do is, take short breaks after an hour or so. Get up from your seat and roam around for a while. Stretch out your muscles. Or perform eye exercises to reduce the strain. These quick breaks will also keep you from getting tired which, in turn, will help you improve your productivity.
Hang out with health-conscious colleagues
As a kid, your parents must have advised you to always pick your friends wisely because the people you hang out with have an impact on your lifestyle. It is true at this stage of life as well. If the people you’re spending your all day with are lazy or eat junk all the time, then you’ll surely start picking their habits. So, even at your workplace make sure to surround yourself with people who are health-conscious, who keep the junk away and have a healthy lifestyle. You can make a routine with them wherein you go for a walk after lunch or workout post work together. Having such like-minded people around will also keep you motivated and they’ll never let you go off track.
Follow all the hygiene rules
You could be following all the advice to stay healthy. But you’re still at risk of falling sick if you don’t stay away from germs. They are everywhere. From that coffee machine to the doorknobs, they all are loaded with germs. You need to take extra precautions here. Use tissue papers while touching such things. Wash your hands frequently. Always keep hand sanitizer handy. Make sure that your desk is clean. Wipe it with a tissue every morning before starting your work. Also, avoid close contact with those who are sick or have symptoms of communicable diseases. Hygiene rules should be followed strictly to stay healthy and germ-free.
Don’t restrict yourself to your chair
Stress in work life is inevitable. In the long run, it can become the cause of health issues like obesity, asthma, heart diseases and mental disorders. To relieve the stress, it’s always advised to spend some time close to nature. For this, you don’t always have to plan a vacation in the mountains. You can simply go to the balcony or terrace of your office and absorb all the goodness of the sun or even better if you have a park nearby. The greenery will surely clear your mind and help you think straight. You can also utilize this time to track your progress, both personal and professional. By spending such time and relieving your stress, you’ll be able to focus on your work better.
Have fixed sleeping hours
You might be having less control over your work timings but you surely can control your sleep timings. Good sleep is necessary because it enables the brain to function properly. Lack of sleep can lead to health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases. It might also slow down brain functions. So, to avoid such issues and to maintain your productivity at work, make sure that you get at least 7 hours of sleep each day. It will be even better if you make a sleep routine wherein you sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
