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Healthy workplace habits

Blog   10 05 2019

Matt Darvill Blog, Health and Fitness, Work Life...

If you work in an office, you’re probably of the opinion that it’s a very difficult place to be healthy. With the extended periods of sitting staring at a screen and easy access to unhealthy snacks, it can almost seem that the workplace is working against you. When it comes to improving your habits to be healthier at work, there are loads of easy changes you can make, find out more below!

Drink more Water

Certainly the most common advice is to drink more water. This is an easy change you can make which can help relieve afternoon snack cravings, reduce headaches and keep you focussed and concentrated. Keep a bottle on your desk as a constant reminder to drink more throughout the day; you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.

Switch to Fruit and Nuts

Replacing the sweets and chocolate for fruit is a really easy change to make. Of course, this is easier said than done, as by mid-afternoon we’re often reaching for the sugary snacks for an energy boost. The best thing you can do is replace the sweets altogether, to completely remove the temptation. Changing your snack habits will prevent a sugar rush and subsequent crash, instead giving you a more balanced energy level throughout the afternoon.

An even healthier alternative is ensuring that you eat lunch every day, reducing your afternoon snacks. Our blog from last week went through the importance of taking a proper lunch break, read all about it here.

Stand up and stretch

Being sedentary for too long can cause aches and pains at the end of the day. If your office doesn’t have a standing desk, or anywhere to work standing up, then get up and move as often as you can throughout the day. If you need to speak to someone on a different floor, why not take the stairs? Perhaps you can schedule a walking meeting?

Posture is also really important and is often something office workers can experience issues with. Cushions can help create a more natural sitting position, so you’re not hunched over your desk for extended periods of time. Remember to regularly change seating position and sit straighter whilst at your desk to reduce aches.

Culture changes

Some workplaces are so conscious of the need to be active that they schedule official ‘judgement free’ times in the day. A common example is everyone doing push-ups at the same time in the afternoon. It can be anything quick and easy, that requires no extra equipment. With everyone getting involved there is no fear of looking silly, and everyone gets the benefit. Here at Ambitions, we have a yoga session every Wednesday after work, giving everyone an easy and accessible route to an exercise class, by bringing it to the office.

We hope that these ideas can help make your work life healthier and happier. Is there something we have missed that has helped you? Let us know in the comments below.