Here are our tips for simple changes you can make to start your journey to healthier living.
Switch up your food choices
The most obvious route to a healthier working lifestyle isn’t always the easiest to commit to. But rather than making drastic changes to your diet, try focusing on making healthy choices—consistently. Opt for whole-grain bread over white bread, choose sweet potato fries over regular fries, and lean meats over red meats.
Get the blood flowing
It can be tricky to get your recommended 30 minutes of exercise in a day, especially if you work long hours. An exercise tracker is a great way to identify areas of your day where you could walk a little further or the times of day when you’re most sedentary. Complete some simple stretching exercises to keep your circulation flowing. An exercise ball can replace your desk chair to help strengthen your core and stability.
Tidy up your inbox
An overflowing, badly organized email inbox can create extra, unnecessary stress. And it can cause you to miss important communications and deadlines. Set aside some time to clean up your inbox. If the email is dealt with, delete it. File everything that needs to be kept in project-based folders, and add a red flag to any emails that still need to be dealt with. Only emails with red flags should remain in your inbox – and as soon as they’ve been answered, they should be filed away with everything else.
Take better breaks
When you’re rushing to hit a deadline, it can be easy to stay at your desk, working at your computer, for hours at a time. But health regulatory boards recommend taking a 5–10-minute break every hour or so. Short, frequent breaks are much better for you than longer breaks—for example, taking a 20-minute break every three hours. Set an alarm at your desk to sound every hour, and make sure that you step away from your screen. A 10-minute break doesn’t mean you have to wander around or stare aimlessly into space. Turn the time into something productive – try nurturing a plant, completing a jigsaw puzzle bit-by-bit, drawing or writing a letter by hand. It doesn’t just rest your eyes; it exercises your brain, too.
Reach your potential
Set career goals and identify ways to help move them forward. Try to organize a virtual meeting with a senior team member who can act as a mentor, or ask if you can shadow somebody who already works in the role you aspire to be in. Research training courses and conferences that you can attend, to learn more about your industry and develop the skills you need to advance. Also, attend virtual networking events to broaden your horizons and help reach the next rung of the career ladder.
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