Jumping from meeting to meeting, finishing up that to-do list, alternating between in-person and phone conversations…forget about what’s going on in your personal life. So often just our work life keeps us so hung up and out of balance and we go home to our loved ones running on fumes…
We always hear about slowing down, prioritizing, meditating, and taking breaks, etc for keeping healthy in general. But changing habits is not an easy task, so something simple and quick is in order…
How about some practical, easy to implement tips to improve your health in the cubicle life, mentally and physically?
1. Keep a pair of sneakers for a short afternoon walk
Athleisure is all the rage now! Go and get yourself a pair of super cute sneakers, or two, or three! (I am definitely guilty of having too many pairs of chic sneakers) Leave them under your desk, and they will do the job of reminding you to take that daily walk outside (or around) your office building! I like to do this around 2:30 or 3, with a cup of newly brewed coffee to go with it.
2. Get a Fitbit
This tip is pretty simple. A mobile electronic device that keeps track of your daily steppage and activity level, and it even yells at you when you are sitting on your butt for too long – how convenient! If you haven’t gotten around looking for one, browse away below!
3. Have a bottle of water within reach, always
Keeping our body hydrated has not only physical benefits and mental benefits. When you take a sip of water, your eyes are away from the screen, you’re moving your body/spine, and you are moving more than you would otherwise!
You can even take it to the next level by preparing bags of frozen fruits to add into your water bottle at work. Check out this Pinterest Board I have created on lots of Fruit Infused water ideas. They are totally fun to try!
Follow Cubicle ‘s board Tips for Healthy Cubicle Life on Pinterest.
4. Snack healthily
This tip is all about preparation, so when temptations roll around, you have strategies in place to fight them! Simply put, stock up on diverse but healthy sets of snack so you don’t fall prey to the birthday cakes, homemade cookies and pies, and unhealthy vending machine munchies!
My favorite is NatureBox. it’s a monthly subscription of healthy snacks if you haven’t heard of them. But other simple things like salted almonds, greek yogurt, popcorn, chia pudding, can all be good substitutes for sugary office treats. Another Pinterest board to inspire you!
Follow Cubicle ‘s board Healthy Office Snacks on Pinterest.
5. Alternate your drink of choice
Organic Raw is a very common brand that can be easily found at local grocery stores. It’s one of my personal favorites!
If you’re a coffee fiend like me, you are probably all too familiar with the struggle of trying to curb your addiction, only to give in too soon to pedestrian office brewed coffee…
Try switching it up to different kinds of drinks! Japanese matcha green tea, white tea, rooibos, or my new favorite: KOMBUCHA! It’s kind of amazing how much health benefit kombucha provides, and how much energy it provides me in my personal experience.
6. Have an “item of joy” nearby
This is where we get into keeping our mental health in check at work.
Let me explain “item of joy” a bit here, before you jump to conclusions, ahem. What I’m referring to here is anything that brings a smile to your face every single time, instills positive energy in your head, inspires you, or even motivates you! I’ll make it easier… here’s a list of things that are MY items of joy. I think you will get the point!
7. Find inspirations on career improvement sites
This is for dealing with stress related to work issues. Gearing up for a promotion? Have difficulties dealing with a problematic co-worker? Needing to ask for a raise but don’t know how? There are websites chock full of advice, best practices, tips and tricks for dealing with difficult situations in professional settings. At the minimum, they provide peace of mind and let you know you are not over-reacting (or otherwise). Here are a few of my favorite sites:
Career Contessa – Honest conversations by real women about work and life – to help you achieve fulfillment and balance in both.
Punched Clock – Lifestyle articles for becoming a happy, healthy professional and continuing your success outside of work.
Career Girl Daily – Your daily lifestyle guide
8. Have a “person” to go to
If you’re lucky, you already have the image of that person to you in your head as you read this. It may be a co-worker, a mentor, a friend who works in the same company but a different department, who understands context without you having to explain every aspect of a “situation”, should you have one.
Believe it or not, this is very emotionally protective to have a person like this in times of trial. Having someone that “already understands” makes it easier to talk about what you’re experiencing, and they will see your perspectives more easily and readily. Find your “person” if you don’t have one already.
So those are my 8 tips for keeping a healthy Cubicle Life. What are your thoughts? Do you have more tips to share with me? Leave comments below and let me know!
All opinions are mine. This blog is being sponsored by Sodexo, global leader in Quality of Life Services (www.Sodexo.com)