Summary: It’s easy to stay healthy at work if you stick to these tips.
One of the most common complaints I hear from my clients is that it’s just too hard to keep up healthy habits when they’re at the office all day. For one thing, people are constantly bringing in candy and treats that are hard to keep away from, but it’s also hard when you have a busy schedule, a long commute, and have little time to spend home. Don’t let these excuses get you down. You CAN live a healthy lifestyle even when you feel like you live at the office, all it takes is a few simple tactics and being conscious of your choices. Here are ten simple tips to help you out:
- Keep healthy snacks at your desk. It’s a lot easier to avoid the candy jar or donuts left over from a meeting if you know you have a snack waiting for you at your desk. Choose things that don’t need to be refrigerated like nuts, apples, or even granola or fruit bars with minimal ingredients.
- Bring your own lunch. Going along with bringing your own snacks, it’s a lot easier to avoid unhealthy foods in the cafeteria or joining in on Taco Tuesday when you have your own lunch waiting for you in the fridge. It can also save you a lot of money!
- Drink plenty of water. Drinking lots of water is good for your health, your brain function and your energy. Plus the extra trips to the bathroom are a perfect excuse to get up and move your body.
- Stretch often. Speaking of getting up and moving, many of us have horrible posture because we’re leaning over our computers all day long. Once an hour try to stand up and stretch out a bit to loosen your muscles and get your blood flowing.
- Get outside. One of my favorite things to do, even in the Chicago winters, is to take a quick walk during lunchtime. A simple one mile walk will take you less than 20 minutes and give you fresh air to revive your body and your mind.
- Take the stairs. You’ve heard this time and time again, but that quick burst of cardiovascular exercise actually does have its benefits.
- Find a stress relief toy. At my old job, the most productive team in the office all had little stress relief toys. While it may seem silly or childish, they are great to keep you from taking out your emotions on someone else, and give you the opportunity to lower your stress level, which is good for you and everyone else in the office.
- Schedule walking meetings. If you need to strategize or talk something through with a coworker, see if they’ll take a walk around the block with you. Not only does it get you moving, but it will probably spark some creativity to help solve your problem. If you’re a supervisor, it’s also a great way to get to know the people who work for you and make them feel like you’re willing to take the time to focus on them.
- Workout in the middle of the day. If you have a set lunch hour or can take the time in the middle of the day, try using that hour to head out for a quick run or take a yoga class. Many studios offer 40-45 minute classes around noon for people who want to fit in their workout at lunch.
- Hang out with other healthy people. The people you spend the most time with during the day are often a big influence on how you think and spend your time. Look for other people in the office you can befriend who are also invested in creating healthy habits and hopefully you’ll have a positive influence on one another.