HEALTH: Staying healthy at work – 8 easy steps

Here are eight ways to stay healthy at work:

1. Choose healthy snacks
Everyone gets hungry and more so when it is a quiet day at the office, but instead of nibbling on a packet of chips or chocolate, opt rather for a fruit. With winter now upon us, oranges would be ideal way to stay healthy, as it is packed with Vitamin C to combat picking up weight and getting sick.

2. Drink more water
Put away the gassy cold drink, minimise your coffee intake and start drinking more water. Between two to three litres a day is the ideal water intake, as the sluggish feeling one feels during the late afternoon is signs of dehydration. Plus, you will lose more weight avoiding sugary drinks.

3. Walking
Sitting down at the office for eight hours a day, doing minimal physical labour takes its toll on a person. Try and get up every 45 minutes and take a stroll around your office. Also, try and go for a quick walk during lunch and rather walk to your colleague’s office than dialling their extension.

4. Smoking
Giving up a smoking habit is another ideal way to improve your health at work. While in general smoking is bad for your health, not having an exercise regime and spending most of your day in a seated position, the side effects of smoking are more pronounced. Another positive side effect of giving up your cigarettes is you will have more time to finish your work and unwind.

5. Avoid germs
Try cleaning your telephone, keyboard, mouse, computer and computer screen with disinfectant. Why? Germs! Many times colleagues might require the use of your office equipment while you are out. They in turn might be ill. Using disinfectant might help avoid nasty coughs and colds.

6. Posture
Sitting right is more important for your health than many realise. If you do not sit with the correct posture, you are bound to develop problems with your back and spine.

7. Multitasking
Avoid multitasking. While it allows you to manage multiple work related issues, it causes unnecessary stress which is bad for your mental well-being and immune system.

8. Eye strain
Working all day with computers tends to put a substantial amount of strain on one’s eyes. Therefore you should try and set your screen an arm’s length away from your face, so your eyes are not hampered by the continuous glare.

While all these tips are handy to ensure you stay healthier and more focused at work, it is imperative to maintain a exercise regime and healthy diet outside of your work space as well.

Do you know of any other ways to stay healthy while working in a busy office environment? Comment below and leave your tips!