How to Stay Healthy Whilst at the Office

A significant part of your life is spent in the workplace. As this is a place where you spend so much of your time, it is vital that your working environment does not have a negative impact on your health. There are steps you can take to prevent this from happening and the following tips will help you to stay healthy in the office:

Sitting Comfortably

How you are sitting is really important as sitting incorrectly or having poor quality office furniture can cause problems with your back and joints. An adjustable chair is best so that you can alter the height of the seat so you are sat with a good posture at the desk. The chair should fully support your back and enable you to sit with your feet flat on the floor in front of you. This will prevent you from hunching over your desk and reduce the chances of you suffering from back pain.

Take a Break

Taking a regular break away from your desk is important for several reasons. Sitting in the same position for too long can cause problems with the circulation in your legs and may also cause joint pain. Also, working at your desk for too long can mean you find concentration difficult. Taking just a short break to stretch your legs can help you to stay healthy and also to refresh yourself and regain focus. Take a toilet break, go and get a drink or simply have a quick walk around the office.

Healthy Snacks

If you spend long hours sitting inactive at a desk, there is every chance you will begin to gain weight. This is especially the case if you are taking unhealthy snacks to work, such as those laden with salt, sugar or fat. Being overweight has many potentially serious consequences for your health. To reduce the likelihood of weight gain and to help you to maintain a healthy body weight, choose healthy snacks to take to work.

Try fresh fruit, nuts or seeds to eat at your desk. Also, if you take lunch to work, make it yourself instead of buying prepared food from the shop so that you know exactly what is in your food. Another advantage to doing this is that you will save money.

Exercise Regularly

Just because you are sat at a desk during your working hours, this is not an excuse to avoid exercise. There are even exercises that you can try while sitting at your desk. During your lunch break, walk to the local park instead of eating in the office. An ergonomic chair is a great solution to any back or joint pains. This is because these particular office chairs are designed specifically to help with an individuals posture and comfort whilst working long hours in the office.

Similarly, walk or cycle to work instead of driving or using public transport if you live nearby. There are additional benefits for the environment if you choose to walk or cycle as you will reduce your carbon footprint. If you do not live close enough to your workplace to walk or cycle, park your car a block away from work or get off public transport a stop earlier than usual and then walk the rest of the way.

Pleasant Surroundings

Health is not just about your physical well being. Mental and emotional health are just as important. The environment you work in can have a significant impact on this. The décor and layout of the office are predominantly the responsibility of the manager or business owner. However, there are steps you can take to make your space more appealing.

Keep your desk clear and uncluttered and add a personal photograph or some nice flowers to your desk. If possible, move office furniture close to a window so you can take advantage of natural daylight and a breath of fresh air.

Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking enough water is essential to good health and current guidelines recommend drinking between six and eight glasses a day. Taking a bottle of water to work and refilling it regularly will prevent you from becoming dehydrated during the working day. In the short-term, dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue and a lack of concentration.

An office is not always the healthiest of environments in which you can work. However, by following these tips, you can help yourself to stay healthy while you are working in an office. If you are the manager of an office, support your employees in taking these steps to maintain good health.