The office is a horrible place for your health. Sitting all day staring at a computer screen can cause obesity, high cholesterol, headaches, fatigue, depression, aches, injuries, and tons of other health problems. Fortunately, following these tips will go a long way toward making your work hours productive for your body and mind.
Bring a sack lunch. Stop going out to eat and make your own food at home. That way, you’ll know what you’re eating. Salads are always a great option, but remember to add fruits and vegetables even if you go with a sandwich. You can also box up half your meal next time you have dinner at a restaurant and eat it the next day for lunch; that way, you’ll spread one meal over two days and end up eating less.
Move around. Now that you don’t have to go out to lunch, you’ll have time during your lunch hour to take a walk or do some other form of exercise. You should also take water and restroom breaks throughout the day and try to keep moving even while sitting. Staying motionless for long periods of time will keep you from burning calories and raise your cholesterol levels. Also, make sure to stretch every now and then to keep your back and hips flexible; this will prevent aches and pains.
Bring a water bottle. Dehydration causes headaches, fatigue, and lack of focus—often before you start feeling thirsty. Keep a full water bottle by your desk so you’re not dissuaded from drinking by the distance to the water cooler. Having a water bottle near will also keep you from drinking other unhealthy liquids like soda, and water is also known to trick your body into thinking it’s full so you don’t overeat.
Maintain good posture. This is very hard to do when you’re at work, but incorrect posture will put unnecessary strain on your spine, shoulders, and knees, potentially causing aches or injuries. Sit with a straight back, your feet flat on the floor. Keep you major joints at angles slightly larger than 90°, your wrists and arms straight in line with you keyboard, and your elbows supported.
Stop staring at your screen. It will irritate your eyes, tire them out, and cause headaches and fatigue. Make sure to look at something else for a few seconds every once in a while, especially something far away. When you are looking at your screen, keep your face a few feet away from it.
Clean your desk. Work desks are atrocious bacteria farms. Scrub yours down with disinfectant periodically. Also, try to keep your desk neat and orderly; having an organized workspace has been shown to improve your mood.
If you ever do suffer a workplace injury or get sick at work, Neighbors Emergency Center can help. We offer 24 hour emergency care in Houston and Austin with little or no waiting, so you can get back to work in no time.