Sitting in an office setting for nearly forty hours a week can have a lot of negative effects on your health including heart disease, higher blood pressure, and muscle degeneration. In order to counterbalance these negative effects, it’s important that employees learn ways to stay healthy at the office. Below you’ll find four simple tips to help you stay healthy and happy at the workplace.
Rethink Your Commute
An easy way you can be more active at the office actually happens before you even get to the office. Rethinking your commute or the way you get to the office each morning can not only do wonders for your health but save you a lot of time. If you normally drive to work, think about walking to the nearest public transportation or riding your bike to the office if you live close enough.
Stay Hydrated
Most people don’t drink enough water throughout the day. Depending on your activity level and body size, you should be drinking roughly 2 liters of water a day. Employees often forget to drink enough water when at the office because they aren’t doing much physical activity or sweating. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t necessary to hydrate. An easy way to remember to drink more water is to invest in a reusable water bottle and keep it at your desk all day long. That way you won’t have to get up to get a drink.
Keep Your Work Area Clean
It’s easy for employees to get sick at work because of the proximity you are to other people all day long. If you know you are susceptible to catching other people’s colds easily, then take extra precautions to keeping your work area clean. Invest in antibacterial wipes to wipe down your keyboard, your mouse, and your phone at the beginning of each work day. It’s also a good idea to keep antibacterial gel close by so you can clean your hands before you eat anything in your work area.
Take a Moment to Breathe
When people think about staying healthy at the office, they often forget about mental health. Mental health is just as important as your physical health when it comes to being a happy and productive employee. Make sure you schedule a moment in each day to take a breath and relax. Setting an alarm on your phone can help remind you to close your eyes and take a break from whatever you’re doing. Taking frequent breaks throughout the day will not only relieve your stress but can actually make your more productive.
For more tips on how to create an effective and healthy workplace, check out our blog “Creative Solutions to Organize Your Workspace and Get More Done.”