In case you were left unaware, this past week was National Public Health Week. It’s a great time to put an emphasis on our health and to keep our habits in check. It reminds us that when your schedule is packed to its fullest capacity, it’s really easy to lose touch with your health.
Aside from your annual doctor visits and dental cleanings every six months, here are 4 simple things you can do throughout your week to make sure you’re taking care of your health, both mentally and physically.
1. Take a Break
This is a tough one for some of us. If you have a job that requires hours of sitting on your rear, chances are you’re not only sore, but bored. Keep your mind fresh by getting up every thirty minutes.
That’s right, every thirty minutes (or do your best).
Studies show that sitting for adverse periods of time can lead to some serious health risks, such as a fluctuating blood sugar level, heart disease, and as morbid as it is, even death.
It’s also advised that if you’re staring at a screen for eight hours a day, that you let your eyes take a break as well. Every time twenty minutes go by, it’s recommended that you let your eyes linger at something twenty feet away. For how long? Twenty seconds or so.
That’s easy to remember.
You could even combine your breaks. After all, the best thing we can do is our best.
2. Sit Right
We’ve said this over and over, I know. Making sure you have the right chair is so important, though. If you’re sitting for eight hours a day, you might as well give your body the best of the best.
Added lumbar support is what’ll do you some good.
Described as the “gold standard in office seating” by The New York Times, Humanscale’s Freedom Chair sure does live up to its name, allowing its occupant to move freely if they wish to recline or sit up with a simple shift in weight.
It’s an ergonomically efficient chair that conforms to its user’s body, rendering it one of the ultimate comfort havens. It’s also available with or without the headrest.
The Freedom chair is also a net-positive product, meaning that it’s kind to the environment in more ways than one by being climate, water, and energy positive. That’s a major plus, right?
If the decision is made that this is the chair for you, not only can you be kind to your body, but you’re being kind to the environment by purchasing a sustainably-made product.
3. Be Mindful
At this point, it seems like I’m just creating a schedule for you to follow. Get up every thirty minutes, let your eyes wander every twenty minutes, but while you’re at it, be mindful!
Mindfulness is something achieved when we are intentionally aware of our surroundings, bodily sensations, thoughts, and feelings. While you’re up moving around every thirty minutes, take note of these things!
It’s been proven to help reduce stress levels, increase emotional regulation, increase focus, and improve working memory.
Pretty neat how such simple activities routinely executed can improve productivity across all realms.
4. Get Moving
If you go into the office and are within a walkable or bike-able proximity, this is your sign to incorporate alternative means of transportation into your life.
I get it, it’s hard to do sometimes. As a resident of Oregon, I’d say this is attainable roughly three out of five days of the week. If it’s not pouring, however, I enjoy a nice walk to work or a quick bike ride to get my body moving early in the morning. There’s no other way to describe it other than a “refresh” of sorts.
That exercise to start your day will truly add quite the pep in your step, increase productivity, and especially your mood.
The Takeaway
Hopefully at least one of these methods can be incorporated into your work routine. Once you get into the swing of it, it becomes like clockwork (trust me).
And hey, the fact that you’re even here right now searching for means to improve is something to be proud of. Go you.
