Trying to take care of your body and stay focused at work can be a full-time job. From the 3 pm sugary coffee crash, to the tired eye drooping from staring at a screen. There are some practical tips and tricks like blue light glasses, or herbal tea that will help you take care of your body at work.
Whether your struggle is staying awake and alert for a long commute or keeping on task when you have a monotonous day to day schedule these ideas will be great to add to your routine.
1. Blue Light Glasses
The workplace has changed, and whether we like that or not it means that a lot of our time is spent in front of a screen draining our eyes and attention. So much screen time can result in eye issues, loss of focus, and addition to your work bag is Blue Light glasses.
Not only can they be a simple, easy, and stylish piece to add to your wardrobe, but they help filter out the harsh light that’s difficult on your eyes.
2. Coffee Alternatives
Coffee may smell amazing and taste great with all of the sugary, processed goodness that gets added all the time, but the sugar crash just may not be worth it. Nowadays there are so many alternatives to your standard, harsh cup o’ joe.
Some examples are herbal teas, that can be refreshing and stimulating without the harsh after-effects. Mint tea is soothing, stimulating and can calm nerves and an upset stomach, whereas coffee can cause those things.
Smoothies are a delicious solution to the morning drink that can taste great, but all be chalked full of vitamins and minerals, this could be a meal replacement, and will keep you going much longer than caffeine. If you just can’t live without it, don’t forget there is always decaf!
3. Take your lunch break!
I know this sounds simple. You always take your lunch break right? Eating a burrito in front of your computer doesn’t count! Getting up, walking around, leaving the building and getting some fresh air will put you in a whole new mindset for work.
Part of taking care of your body is listening to your body and taking breaks when needed and when available. A change of scenery for 30 minutes can put your body in a completely different place for the rest of the day.
Making sure that you are getting the necessary nutrition on your lunch break can also be a vital component of taking care of your body. Rich, starchy, and fatty foods may have you wanting to use your keyboard as a pillow… Whereas leafy greens and lean protein can keep you energized and ready to conquer your big afternoon project.
4. Exercise
People are like plants, sunlight, food, and water are necessary for growth. Taking care of your body means doing all these things. Drink water, eat right, and get outside! Utilizing your lunch break to take a walk, or stopping by the park after work can be a huge game-changer in how you focus, and how you feel.
If you are a morning person, then you might want to get up early and hit the gym or go for a run before the office day starts, to relieve stress and prepare your mind for the day ahead. Your body will thank you for working out all the stress of the day, and moving your muscles so that when you sit you can stay, and focus.
5. Getting up to go to the bathroom
Maybe you are a crazy working machine that just doesn’t divert from the task at hand, maybe you are stuck in traffic, or held up in meetings all day. Whatever the case may be, there are lots of people there that don’t get up to go to the bathroom often enough.
If you are drinking the proper amount of water and fluids in a day, you will need to get up to use the restroom several times. If you aren’t you are holding all the toxins in your body because you are distracted this can be bad for you in the long haul. If you are never feeling like you have to go to the bathroom then you probably are not drinking enough water, and that is not good for your body either.
Getting up to go to the bathroom gives you a great break from the screen, stretches your muscles that are tight from sitting, and gives your brain a reboot from your current project.
6. Office Furniture
Maybe you do not have much control over this tip, if you moved into an already furnished office, or work with set machinery you may not have as many options, but you still have some. Making sure that you have good furniture that won’t put a strain on your back, or keep you in an uncomfortable position is a crucial step to taking care of your body when you are in the same place for 8 hours.
If your job forces you to stand all day, you can make sure to have orthopedic shoes, and inserts for your shoes, so that your feet aren’t killing you at the end of the day. If you sit in an office chair all day, it is important to make sure that the chair supports your back, and you can add pads or support to basic office chairs.
This may be an added expense that doesn’t seem necessary, but taking care of your body is important. The small expense will pay off when you are using your shoes or chair for 40 hours or more a week.
Whether it’s purchasing a new product, building a new habit, or remembering to give yourself a break, there are a lot of easy ways to take care of your body at work. Implementing the proper things for your specific work environment could be crucial for your work success. As our workplaces continue to change, it is important to remember to take care of your body throughout the day to keep you going in the best way.
Nichole
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