Use these 3 tips above to create your own personal workplace wellness
If you happen to be one of the many Americans who spend their days working a 9-5 job at an office, you probably already know the importance of creating workplace wellness. Though a desk job is not considered to be physically demanding, it can certainly take a toll on your mind and body. Now for those of you who don’t work an office job, for instance, you work at a h
ospital, restaurant, retail shop, or are always on-the-go to different job sites, you might not realize how important it is to create workplace wellness. Some of you may spend 10 or 12 plus hours working during the day and if you don’t believe it is important to create a sense of peace and wellness during all those hours, maybe you will after reading the rest of this post.
Good health is good business!
Here are 3 easy ways to create your own personal workplace wellness no matter where your job may take you:
- Create an intentional workspace
You may or may not have much control over where your workspace is or how it is set up, but workplace wellness begins with an environment that allows you to focus and increase productivity. Close your eyes and think about the most ideal environment the allows you to be inspired and that limits stress. Now open them. What did you see? Do you need plenty of light or do you like it dimmed? Do you find peace in quiet spaces or do you prefer a little background noise? Do you see things that are cluttered or is everything in its own space neatly organized?
Take what you interpreted from your ideal work environment and do your best to recreate it in your workspace. Now, of course, some people might say it’s impossible to do this because it just isn’t allowed at my job. That’s okay. Do your best to work around your restrictions.
For instance, if you travel often for your job, try making the car your ideal wellness environment. Start with the smell, invest in a nice air freshener or even have portable oil diffusers for the car. You can drop a little bit of your favorite essential oils in the diffuser for a scent you desire. With that, you can literally stop and smell the roses at any point in your travels.
For my hospital nurses, your limitations are much more compared to most other professions. However, if time allows, spend just a few minutes at the start of the shift to tidy up your workspace. Whether that be your patient’s rooms or the computer space you plan on charting at, sanitize and organize for just a few short minutes before you get started. This can significantly increase your productivity and focus before starting a long 12-hour shift.
- Get up from your desk regularly
But how am I supposed to get up when my to-do list is never-ending and I’m running out of daylight? I know, I’m guilty of this too. When you’re busy, overworked, and rushing to meet the next deadline, it’s hard to walk away simply for the sake of your health. For your health alone, ideally, you should get up from your desk or workspace at least every 30 minutes. For some of you reading this, you might find it distracting or next to impossible, so I advise you to play around and figure out what works for you. Even if you get up and walk around the office or step outside for a couple of breaths of fresh air before returning to work, that’s movement and movement is good. Movement is healthy.
- Pack a healthy, nutritious lunch
Raise your hand if you’re guilty of packing that homemade lasagna from last night’s dinner for your lunch the next day? Now, of course, I can’t see who has raised their hands and who hasn’t, but I believe at least a few of your hands are up like mine. I’m certainly not here to talk negative about lasagna, it’s a favorite in the Damico household. What I am here to tell you is it might not be the best option for lunch when you are at work and have multiple hours of work to still complete after your meal. Plan ahead and pack light meals. Lighter meals won’t give you have after meal bloat or feeling of needing a nap. Spend a few minutes each week strategically planning out your lunches. It can truly make or break the second half of your day.
If you need help with meal prepping for ideas for light lunches that still keep you full, send me a message and I’d love to share some ideas with you.
Source: Amanda Damico is a health and wellness coach with Your Healthy-ish Life. You can find out more about her here.