How to Take Care of Yourself in the Office

Sometimes work can be a stressful place. There are deadlines, meetings, emails to answer and you have to make sure you are taking care of yourself mentally and physically too. Considering how many hours you spend working, it is so important that you take care of yourself whilst you are there.

Here are some simple strategies you can follow while you are at work.

Take Breaks

Taking regular breaks is one of the most important methods and the one that most people ignore. Whether it’s to make a drink, go the toilet or get outside at lunchtime, breaks are paramount for a healthy work-life balance. People management state taking a lunch break is vital for staff. It’s no surprise eating the right foods will boost brain function and improve productivity. So, whether you get 15 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour, that is your sacred time and you can spend it however you wish.

Catch up with someone on the phone, take a walk to get your lunch, go to the gym for a quick session or spend time reading a book. Lunch doesn’t always have to be about food, take the time to do what’s important to you.

Keep Hydrated & Eat Healthy

Meal planning will help you stay on track with healthy eating. If you know around 3pm you will want a mid-afternoon snack from the vending machine, plan that into your day. Take fruit, yogurt and other healthy snacks and make your lunches. It’ll save you pounds on your wallet and waistline too. It’s so easy to drink copious amounts of tea and coffee every day, but a lot of people find it hard to drink the recommended amount of water.

Get yourself a water bottle and set yourself the goal of drinking more water when you’re sat at your desk. If you constantly want tea and coffee, start by swapping one of them out for a glass of water instead. It will soon become a habit and you will find you can drink more water with ease. Staying cool and hydrated is one of the easiest ways to stay productive at an office job, which is why most office buildings have an air conditioning unit for their staff. If this was to stop working (resulting in your company looking for good ac repair in Des Moines perhaps) you would soon realise how being too warm negatively impacts your day. Furthermore, being too warm leads to dehydration, so if you aren’t drinking enough water, this can be disastrous for your day-to-day progress.

Protect Yourself

According to a study stated in the Huff Post, around 70,000 deaths could have been prevented in 2016 alone, if people moved more. Sedentary behaviour is part and parcel of an office job, but there is plenty you can do to combat the effect of sitting down for a large portion of your day and avoid an injury at work claim.

Offer to make teas and coffees for anyone who wants them, even if you don’t want one. It will mean you get away from your desk for a bit and move your body. Ask your employer to assess your work station, to ensure you are not risking your health. If a work station is set up incorrectly, it can cause back pain and eye problems. It’s also worth asking your employer if you can have a standing desk, so that you’re not sat down all day.