We’re all familiar with the advice to eat well, take the stairs, move more, don’t have too much caffeine, eat healthy snacks and drink plenty of water throughout the day, but for some of us, it’s just not that easy.
Having an office job is not the best for your health, even if you work at home. In general, tradespeople tend to be more active than fitness instructors, for example, because their jobs require them to move around more. Construction workers may be lifting heavy objects, climbing ladders, and working in awkward positions. Carpenters may be sawing wood, hammering nails, and using power tools. And plumbers may be crawling under houses and working in tight spaces.
If you’re stuck behind your desk and need some new advice, you want to take it up a notch and add something new to your work routine, then have a look at these new ideas to see how you can spice things up a little in your day:
Get A Standing Desk
Have you heard about standing desks? They’re certainly getting more popular and for good reason as people realize that sitting for 40 hours each week isn’t great for them.
Sitting all the time burns very few calories, and many studies have linked it to weight gain and obesity.
When compared to an afternoon of sedentary work, an equal amount of time spent standing has been shown to burn over 170 additional calories, so that’s almost 1000 extra calories burned each week from simply standing at your desk each afternoon.
Take Stretch Breaks
Being conscious of physical health at work can be as simple as taking stretch breaks now and then. If getting a standing desk isn’t possible for you right now, or you want to start easy, then make sure you incorporate regular stretch breaks.
You will find that if you begin to do this, you will have less stiffness in your muscles from sitting, you will have higher energy levels and see yourself being more productive. Taking stretch breaks improves flexibility, leaving your muscles feeling less tense; it leaves you feeling refreshed and helps to improve your posture.
Learn About Office Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the study of the relationship between a worker and the essential functions of a job. So, for example, it looks at how you sit at your desk, how you position your body, are you comfortable using the telephone and your computer.
Learn about office ergonomics and focus on where equipment is placed and how to lift heavy objects. This can reduce the risk of injury, and you won’t have to worry about getting a sore back or hand cramps by working in uncomfortable ways.
Take A Walking Meeting
An easy way to schedule some walking into your busy day would be to do it during your meetings. This is easy to do for internal meetings and those which don’t need you to present on a screen.
Go for a walk with your co-worker to have your meeting, and you’ll find that not only will you be getting the exercise you’ll come up with some great ideas.
Walking meetings are perfect for brainstorming too. If you do need to take notes, record the meeting on your phone, so you don’t forget anything you came up with.
Incorporating these simple yet effective strategies into your daily work routine can make a significant difference in your overall health and well-being.
