5 Tips for Staying Healthy in the Office

As the summer season begins, the graduates of the class of 2015 are leaving their schools to enter the workforce. Many must now adjust to a very different lifestyle. Instead of having free time between classes and activities, they now have a full-time job with regular hours and less off-time. With an office job usually comes less physical activity and personal time. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are some tips from MM Hayes on how to adjust to a new job and stay healthy in the work environment.

1. Stay hydrated. Going from being active all day to sitting in an office is a drastic change for many people. Sitting down for extended periods of time makes it more difficult to notice dehydration. The average adult should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, as recommended by the Mayo Clinic. To remember to stay hydrated, bring a water bottle with volume markings to keep track of how much you are drinking and how much more you need to drink. Set a reminder on your computer or phone to remind yourself to refill your bottle.
2. Keep active. It can be hard to exercise during the day when you have a full-time job at an office. However, there are plenty of simple ways you can incorporate exercise into your workday, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away so you have to walk further each morning and afternoon, or taking walks during lunchtime. Team up with a friend in your office so you can encourage each other to work out. Every little bit counts.
3. Prevent eye strain. People who sit in front of a computer screen all day are particularly susceptible to eye strain. Eye strain can cause headaches and increased sensitivity to light. You can prevent eye strain by making sure your computer is positioned properly with the screen an arm’s length away from you and the top of the screen at eye level. The 20-20-20 Rule is also a helpful way for combating eye strain. After every 20 minutes, you should look away from your screen and focus on an object that is 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
4. Pack a healthy snack and lunch. This will help you maintain a nutritious diet and avoid the temptation of the unhealthy snacks in the vending machine or other workers’ desks. Most companies have fridges for their employees to store food. If your company has a cafeteria, look for healthy items to spice up your daily meals. Many organizations now have wellness programs that allow employees to earn perks while eating healthy.
5. Wash your hands frequently throughout the day to prevent contracting germs and illnesses from your co-workers. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds.