For the ones who spend a major chunk of their day sitting at the desk, getting good health and body isn't always a cake walk. However, the facts show that staying proactive about eating well and moving enough during the day can help you in keeping your weight, stress, and productivity in check.
Sitting all day long is one of the most terrible things for your health, as it augments the possibility of heart disease and weight gain — amongst other ills. We sit in the car, reach the office, sit down again to work, travel back home, and relax sitting on the couch watching our favourite shows.
We don't even realise how much we are keeping sitting through the day. How can you curb this problem? It's simple! Practice small changes here and there over a long period of time, and you can get your time back to better health and well-being. Here's a list of few easy-to-adopt ideas to get inspired and stay healthy even with a desk job-
1. Take Hourly Breaks
Every hour, get up from your desk and go for a quick walk around. It could be anywhere- to your furthest restroom, water cooler, copy machine, colleague's desk. Stand up and move!
2. Stretch or Move in Place
Don't have anywhere to go? Don't worry. Touch your toes firmly, stretch, walk/march in place for a few minutes, do a set of jumping jacks - who cares what your neighbour thinks after all!
3. Park and Walk
If you're not the one who wakes up early in the morning for a run or workout, then this trick is perfect for you! Just park your car a bit farther so that you have to walk a few minutes to reach your office. Use your morning walk to the office gate as a chance to move a bit extra — every step counts!
4. Be Old-Fashioned and Take the Stairs
Ever imagined what the world would be like without any escalators or elevators. Thankfully, our ancestors did it somehow, and therefore we can do it too! Unless you work is located at the top of a 40-story building, consider taking stairs rather than elevators, escalators, or walkways.
5. Walking Meetings
Have a brainstorm or meeting scheduled? Do it while you walk — not only it is good for fitness, but also helps manage stress and fires up the creativity!
6. Forget phone and email.
Skip the fleeting temptation to send a quick query by chat or email. Walking around the office to talk to your colleagues can get you over a mid-afternoon slump and, most likely, you'll have a more meaningful conversation. It's not always practical, but try to practice it every once in a while.
7. Don't Skip the Munchies
Too much gap between meal times can dip your energy levels, thereby making you less productive. If you're starving yourself, then you can end up over-eating at meal times. It is advisable to keep a ready stock of healthy munchies at your desk. A handful of dry fruits, nuts, baked snacks or fruits are perfect snack options.
8. Just say no!
Say, "No thanks," to all the tempting treats that get passed around the office: bagels, cakes, doughnuts, cookies. Avoiding these bites can be difficult, but it makes all the difference.
Staying healthy is not an option; it's a choice one should make for a healthier body and mind. Each of the points mentioned above may seem like a small step, but if you do them religiously, they collectively can make a huge difference. Apart from following a healthy lifestyle, you should secure your health with a comprehensive health insurance policy. A health insurance policy ensures you stay financially stable in the hours of need.
