Working at a desk all day can be bad for your health. Stress, weight gain, and back problems are all associated with desk jobs, and when you add the hours you spend driving and watching TV, it can add up to a very unhealthy lifestyle.
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can change about your job. What you can do is change your habits, adjust your lifestyle, and invest in some office furniture that will mitigate the damage done to sitting all the time. If you’re worried about the impact of your job on your health, consider some of these tips for staying healthy.
#1 Leave the Car at Home – One of the healthiest decisions you can make in your life is to leave the car at home. Today, 90 percent of Americans drive to work and they spend on average 100 minutes every day in their cars. Not everyone will be able to give up their cars, but if the option of cycling or walking to work is available, you can do yourself a lot of good by taking it. Cycling or walking to work is one of the easiest ways to incorporate fitness into your daily routine. Instead of losing nearly 2 hours a day to your commute, you spend that time getting real exercise.
#2 Good Posture – One of the leading causes of health problems related to desk jobs is poor posture. Slouching at your desk can lead to issues like arthritis, cardiovascular issues, back pain, varicose veins, and even poor digestion. You can improve your posture by investing in a new computer desk that makes it easier to maintain good posture. Get a computer desk that allows you to keep your keyboard only a few inches above your thighs. It also helps to have a computer desk that lets you raise your monitor so that the top is level with your eyes. Good posture starts with the right computer desk.
#3 Take Breaks – If you work at a computer desk, get up and walk around every now and then. Every hour or so you should take a few minutes to stand up, walk around, or stretch it out. Go out of your way a little bit when you refill the coffee or head to the copy room. Anything to add more steps to your day.
#4 Eat Better – Avoid restaurants and make a real effort to focus on fresh vegetables and leafy greens. Almost anything you make at home will be healthier than salt-heavy options you can get from restaurants. Not only is it healthier to make your own lunch or bring leftovers to eat the next day, but you can also save money by skipping eating lunch out.
#5 Drink Water – Drinking plenty of water doesn’t just keep you hydrated, it also keeps you full. You will be less tempted to snack or eat calorie-heavy options when you’ve been drinking plenty of water, which will help with weight loss or preventing weight gain. Make sure your office is stocked with a high-quality office water dispenser to ensure good, filtered drinking water.
A desk job is inherently unhealthy. Take the right steps in the rest of your lifestyle to compensate. That includes everything from your computer desk setup to your diet.
