Honoring a Healthy You at Work

Posted on April 09, 2018 by Allison Sweeney, One of Thousands of Health and Fitness Coaches on Noomii.

“Live and work but do not forget to play, to have fun in life and really enjoy it.” -Eileen Caddy

Many of us are looking to improve our outer shell. The problem? We are all so busy, and most of the time we are plopped down in our desk chair at work. Scary thing? There is mounting evidence to prove how inactivity can lead to heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer.

This should be enough to make anyone’s ears perk up! The problem? We all must work, so how can we work effectively while simultaneously supporting a healthy lifestyle?

Consider these ideas below as you strategize ways to be productive in the workplace AND active:

Walking Meetings
Ideally suited for a 2-4 person meeting. Ask your co-workers to join you outside for a walk. A walking meeting is beneficial on many levels, and it also increases the activity level for you and your team. You will also benefit from the change in scenery. Conducting this type of meeting also inspires free communication and idea sharing. Better for health and business.

Parking lot fun
Park in the WAY back of the lot. Easy way to increase your steps.

Stairs vs. elevator
Pack your fancy shoes and come ready for stairs in your tennis shoes.

Exercise ball
Strengthen your core, improve your posture, and burn calories by simply swapping your desk chair for an exercise ball.

Standing Meetings & Workstation
Standing is another great way to improve posture and burn calories. Conducting this type of meeting is found to make the meeting more efficient. Why? People are more likely to stay focused on why they are there, and maintain focus on topics rather than idea hoping. Standing desks are a growing trend in the workplace, but we all do not have access to one. A tall boy table can be a perfect substitute. Consider adding a tall boy desk to your work-space, and you can offer to host your own standing meetings.

Commute
Can you walk, bike or run to work for even part of the way? Consider this option. It is an easy way to increase activity, soak up your daily vitamin D, and you never know who you’ll meet on the way. You are guaranteed to increase your mental health and well-being.

Track your activity
More and more people are using wristwatches to monitor their movement. These wristwatches are your own personal health tracking device. This activity track provides its user detailed data regarding the frequency, duration, intensity and patterns of movement in order to count all your steps. It also details out the amount of calories burned, the distance traveled, and it monitors your sleep quality. Impressive. The suggested goal is for people to target at least 10,000 steps daily. How can you increase your steps? A tip to begin, target a 5-10 minute walk 3 times during your workday. Between your set goal, and the data you are actually creating, it’ll likely inspire you to continue to improve.

Co-workers challenge
Are you the boss? Create your own Wellness Committee. Are you an employee? Develop a proposal to present to your boss. I believe people perform best when they are motivated and there is a bit of healthy competition. Once your ideas have been announced, there is no real choice other than to participate. Here are a few ideas for team challenges: conduct a 30-day step contest, organize a certain number of walking meetings, detail out a team dietary cleanse, and/or organize daily lunch walks for 15-30 minutes.

No denying this reality. Inactivity is actually killing people. With only a few alterations to your daily routine, you will find yourself on a new and healthier road. Advance your career AND your mental and physical well-being at the same time…it is possible!

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