Wellness at Work

Did you know that the average person will spend approximately 90,000 hours of their life working? That’s about ⅓ of your life! Since work takes up a huge chunk of time, it’s important to know how to maintain our physical and mental health while on the job, so we can minimize burn out and keep showing up as our best selves. Read on to find out how.

Eat smarter. Instead of going to the office cafeteria every day or getting fast food, pack a lunch and healthy snacks to keep you from getting hangry. We all know that iced coffee is not a meal.

Hydrate often. Drinking enough water helps you stay alert throughout the day and keep you from getting the munchies. If you find it hard to drink water during the day, try getting a reusable water bottle and keeping it at your desk. You can also experiment with putting different fruits in your water to amp up the flavor.

Think outside the box. Finding the time to get any physical activity in when you have a 9-5 can be challenging, but you can keep it as simple as choosing to take the stairs instead of the elevator to get some steps in, parking further away and walking a slightly longer distance to your car, or taking a walk around the office on your break.

Take five. Speaking of breaks, it’s important to step away from what you’re doing every so often, even if it’s just for 5 minutes, to refocus your energy and re-energize yourself. Consider setting a reminder to take a breather on your phone or computer so you don’t forget!

Keep it clean. Make sure to keep clutter at bay at your desk, as a messy workspace contributes to stress. Designate 15 minutes at the end of the work day to take stock of the current state of your desk and return items to their proper place and get rid of what you don’t need so that you can begin the next work day with a clean slate and a clear mind.

Keep it cool. If you have a particularly stressful role, it’s important you find a way to decompress and take care of yourself. This may look like listening to your favorite music or podcasts as you work or spending breaks socializing or recharging with alone time. It can also mean asking for support from your coworkers and superiors when you are overwhelmed.

All the strategies will help you maintain your health while keeping a full time job and lead to a happier and more fulfilling life.