A while ago, we wrote an article on what you can do to improve your mental health at work. Following that, we’d also like to talk about a few actionable measures you can take to improve your physical health at work.
Work may have a direct correlation with mental health but it also has a stronghold over your physical health too. The way that it can affect you totally depends on the kind of industry you’re in. For example, some jobs require manual labour, whereas others don’t.
Thankfully, in today’s world, a lot of jobs come with health insurance to accompany them. However, it’s better to be on the safer side of things than to be sorry, so here are a few steps you can take to improve your physical health at work.
1. Put incentives to use
If your workplace offers any incentives, like discounted gym memberships or annual health checkups, or sports-club memberships, etc., then take it up for maximum utilisation. Because they’re available freely or at a discounted rate, it’s much easier on the pocket and at the same time, it also allows you to look after and build your health with it.
Better yet, take advantage of it now so that you build a habit of it. It’s not necessary that every workplace provides these incentives, so if you’ve lucked out in the workplace incentive lottery, use it to your heart’s desire.
2. Build more activity in your commute
Commutes are an excellent way to build activity in even a sedentary life. For example, if you would use your car to go from destination A to B, you can maybe use buses and enjoy the walk to the bus station instead. Cycling to work is another option to consider.
Because walking and cycling are low in intensity, even a long journey won’t harm you in any way. That being said, always consider the barriers of your physical and mental health, and only try to achieve your goals by keeping those targets in mind.
3. Go outside during a break
Getting daily steps is important. So, one way you can do that is by going on a walk everyday, or another way you can do that is by N.E.A.T (Non-exercise activity thermogenesis), which basically means increasing activity in your day to day life. For example, you can employ a standing desk, or get in more steps by taking the stairs.
Frequent breaks are important for your mental health, but it is even better if you go outside on walks for such breaks as it will not only help your mental health but will also improve your physical health too.
4. Your diet forms your lifestyle
The food we eat slowly overtakes our life. Having healthier food options can result in a better sleep cycle, improved moods, better digestion, and can overall affect your physical well being in a positive way.
On the flip side, not having nutrient-rich foods can cause you to break out, can really tarnish your sleep cycle, can boost obesity and diabetes, and affect your mental health as well as your physical health.
5. A bad sleep cycle is the root of all evil
Sleep is something that all of us have come to appreciate in our adult lives. However, for those of us who are yet on the journey to understand what can sleep do for your lifestyle, here are a few quick ways that sleep can affect your physical health:
– Immune health gets compromised if you don’t get enough sleep.
– You become at-risk for obesity and heart problems.
– Your cognitive health declines.
– Your memory is compromised.
– Your overall mood is affected by your sleep cycle.
6. Posture can affect you in the long-term
There are a lot of ways that our posture can affect our health. More often than not, a bad posture can leave you sore and full of body aches. Over the years, it can also result in constant headaches, joint problems, and reduced breathing capacity.
The list of problems it can create is endless. But there are two solutions you can use to avoid these problems:
1. Be mindful of the way you sit, stand, walk, and sleep.
2. Invest in better quality furniture (and for this one, Auraa Designs can definitely help).
TL;DR
To revise, here are a few ways you can improve your physical health: utilising incentives, building more activity in your commute, going outside during breaks, having a better diet, getting 8 hours of sleep, and correcting your posture (furniture can be a huge help here and Auraa Designs always can help when it comes to furniture).
