If you’re one of the approximately 126.40 million Americans who are employed full-time, you probably spend a lot of time at the office. In fact, it may sometimes feel like you spend more time at work than at home! One of the biggest struggles for full-time workers is maintaining a healthy lifestyle in an environment that’s often sedentary. If you are someone who struggles with balancing work and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, here are a few ways to create a healthy office environment.
Sitting at a desk for 8 or more hours per day can not only be mind-numbing, but it can actually be bad for you as well. Studies show that getting at least one hour of physical activity per day can offset the health risks associated with sitting for long periods of time. If you don’t have time to hit the gym before or after work, consider spending your lunch break by taking a walk. You can also try holding “walking meetings” instead of holding a traditional meeting in a conference room, something both you and your colleagues will enjoy. In addition to this, a popular trend in offices is hosting impromptu dance parties or group workouts, as a way to break up the day and get everyone’s blood pumping. It may sound silly, but incorporating physical activity into your workday can be extremely beneficial to your physical and mental health.
Keeping your body fueled throughout the day is key to productivity, so carefully choosing what foods you’re putting into your body is crucial. During a busy workday, it’s easy to want to grab the closest bag of chips or salty snack, but doing this can actually backfire and make you feel sluggish and unmotivated. Choosing healthy snacks is one of the most important parts of staying focused at work. Some workplaces can even elect to use an office snack delivery service. Things like nuts, dried fruit, and granola are all healthy options for those times when you just need a pick-me-up. The next time you feel yourself getting hungry, try reaching for a healthier option. Your body and mind will thank you.
With how much focus we tend to place on physical health, our mental health can sometimes get overlooked. Making sure you and your colleagues feel happy day-to-day is crucial in maintaining an overall healthy office environment. One way you can do this is by offering “mental health days” for employees who may need to take a day off for reasons other than physical illness.
Many workplaces have started offering mental health days, and employees appreciate having the option to take a day for themselves once in a while. Another thing many employers have started doing is offering “unlimited vacations”, which means that employees can take off as much time as they’d like, as long as they get all of their work done and meet any deadlines beforehand. Keeping yourself and your colleagues’ mental health in mind is one of the biggest but most underrated aspects of maintaining a healthy office environment.