Keeping Yourself Fit and Healthy at Work
There are times when the working environment can be less than perfect for your health. If you are keeping a busy schedule and always working through your lunch break, then you will quickly start to become susceptible to all manner of illnesses and viruses. However, just because you are working hard, it doesn’t mean that you must let your health suffer. There are ways that you can learn to take more control of your health and make yourself feel better.
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Cut Down on the Caffeinated Drinks
You might be the type of person that doesn’t feel awake until you have had that morning cup of coffee. Do you head out from home and straight to the local coffee shop on the way to work? If you do, then you may need to cut down. Although you think that the caffeine is keeping you awake, it is just giving you a massive high, followed by a big low a few hours later. It can make the day a rollercoaster of ups and downs that can interfere with your ability to work efficiently. Instead of the coffee or the tea, try drinking water or juice instead. It might not seem as nice, but it will keep you hydrated and stop the highs and lows. If you need a hot drink, then try switching to a caffeine-free alternative such as green tea. And just in case you wondered, ordering decaf coffee is still bad as even that contains some small amount of caffeine.
Quit Bad Habits
If you smoke or drink too much alcohol, then it is a good time to stop. With smoking in particular, not only is it directly bad for your health, but it can also have other indirect effects. There are ways you can quit smoking if you cannot do it alone, but the result is the important thing. Drinking in moderation is not too bad, but if you are drinking every day to excess, then you need to cut down to avoid health issues.
Keep Your Snacks Healthy
Everyone gets a little peckish at work during the day, but if that means you reach for the nearest candy bar or potato chips, then you need to think of something else. Just like coffee, sugar gives you a great high, but that is followed by a low that then makes you crave more sugar. It soon becomes a vicious cycle that can be hard to break, and the best way to deal with this situation is to gradually move your diet away from those sugary snacks and onto something healthier.
Take some fruit and nuts. For vegetables, cut them up into sticks and if you need carbs, then whole grains are your healthy alternative. When you start to feel peckish, break out the fruit or the nuts to give you some natural energy that will last longer. Bananas are the best for this; they can release energy for long periods without a big rise and fall of your blood sugar. These are also snacks that you don’t have to keep in the fridge, so if you must go out, you still have a snack with you. It reduces the temptation to go and find a bacon roll and a soda. Additionally, talk to your manager about getting healthy office snack delivery service to help combat those afternoon cravings.
Take Regular Breaks
Although you might think that you are productive by working through your lunchtime or working late without stopping, you are actually doing the opposite. Everyone needs time to relax and move around even at work, not only will it stop you getting a stiff back, but it will also help to wake you up and clear your mind. It is also a good way of avoiding eyestrain as this can be caused by prolonged periods staring at a computer screen. If you can, try to sit somewhere else for a few minutes while you have a drink or eat your snack. It will give you some time away from your desk and prevent your break from being interrupted by people asking you questions.
Stay Organized
There is nothing worse than thinking you have finished all your work only to find that there is something you have forgotten. It can often happen if you fail to plan things correctly, you need to get organized both at work and at home to make a difference. Start by making a list of all the jobs you need to do during the day at work; once you have made a list, you can tick things off as you do them. Not only will this stop you from forgetting things, but it will also mean you can become more productive and less stressed. If you can transfer that organization to your home life as well, it will make even more difference. If you also make a list of things you need to do at home, you might be able to do some of them on the way to or from work. It will mean you won’t have to go back out when you get home, and it will save you time.
Cut Down on Stress
You might think that cutting down on stress is hard, especially when you have a busy schedule. In fact, there are many ways that you can reduce stress even with a busy life. The first step is getting organized as mentioned before. The next thing is trying to delegate work if you can, though you might want to do it all, there will be a time when you will just have to let someone else take it on. Try to practice relaxation techniques that can help you to calm the body and mind, many of these can be done anywhere, so it is great for the office. Stress is one of the major causes of illness both physical and mental, so reducing your stress will keep you healthier for longer.
Most of the time, being unhealthy is just another habit that you need to change. Instead of eating or drinking the wrong things, you just need to start a new habit with healthy alternatives.