Some people are lucky enough to have an active job, but there are many of us who have jobs that involve us being sat at our desk for eight hours a day, five days a week. This can leave us less healthy and nowhere near as fit as our active counterparts. Not only do we miss out on the physical activity that many people do in their jobs, we’re also at risk of damaged eyesight through staring at computer screens, eating too much and sitting at that desk all day can lead to an increased risk of muscular skeletal disorders, obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease.
It all sounds pretty scary, but don’t worry too much. We’ve created a list of five ways that you can stay healthier at work.
1. Say no to snacks
If you are sat down at work for long periods you are already burning a lot less calories than those who are more active, and even those who are just stood up rather than sat down. Theoretically, there are 3500 to one pound of fat and so for every 3500 calories you eat that you don’t burn off you will gain a pound of body fat!
While it’s great when your co-workers are bringing in cookies, cakes and sweets it’s much better for your health and for your waistline if you can bring yourself to say, ‘No, but thank you very much all the same.’ It looks easier than it is.
2. Take the stairs
Making small changes to your habits such as taking the stairs instead of the lift, parking at the far side of the car park and taking a short walk on your lunch break can make all the difference to your health. Going for a walk at lunch time doesn’t only burn calories, it also allows you some much needed time away from the office and the computer so that you can de-stress.
4. Eat Healthily
It’s not just important to avoid excessive snacks in order to stay healthy, it’s also important that you ensure that your meals are healthy and that you practice portion control, eating only as much as you will burn off. Eating just thirty calories a day more than you burn off can result in you gaining a pound a year. It doesn’t sound like a lot but 30 calories is less than a single biscuit, a few extra biscuits a day can result being a few pounds heavier fairly easily over the course of a year.
4. Take a Break from the Computer
Spending too long sat at the computer can cause eye strain, headaches and repetitive strain injury. You can alleviate this by taking a 5-10 minute break every 50-60 minutes. It doesn’t mean you can’t be productive, just find a task to do that doesn’t involve using the computer.
5. Stretch Regularly
Stretching exercises can help reduce a lot of the health risks that office workers face. The human body is just not designed to be sat down for long periods of time and standing up and stretching out can reduce the risk of muscular skeletal disorders.
Focusing on being healthier at work means that you don’t have to worry so much about it at home, so instead of feeling you ought to finish work and head straight to the gym why not incorporate a healthier lifestyle in the workplace?
