Having to sit still for long periods as an office worker is never going to be the best for your health. You need to make sure that you are taking good care of your health as best as you can. Here are some of the best things that you can do to ensure that you are taking your health as seriously as possible. Little changes to your everyday routine at work can help you to feel a lot better, even if you are an office worker who spends all days behind your desk!
Get a Standing Desk
One of the first things that you might want to consider is a standing desk over one that you sit at. This standing desk is a great example of what you could afford. It might be the perfect alternative to a regular desk if you feel like you end up with strained back muscles after a long day of sitting down.
Don’t think that you have to spend all of your time standing up when at a standing desk. Many are adjustable so you can have them in either a seated or elevated standing position. There are also some that come with long seats that are more akin to a high stool. If you don’t want to spend all of your time standing behind your desk but want it as an option, this style could be right for you.
Get Up and Move
The issue with an office job is that you end up sitting still for hours on end without moving. You can end up hunched over the desk or sitting in an unnatural position. This is never going to be good. You need to make sure that you are sitting with the correct posture, no matter what. Try to get up and move as much as you can. Even just going for a walk to the water cooler can make all of the difference.
You should also try to stretch as much as you can. Your lower back muscles can come under a lot of strain as you sit at your desk, so you need to take good care of them. Getting a chair with good lumbar support is a start, but you should also make sure that you have a good stretch routine that you can do every evening. Seeing a qualified massage therapist to work out additional knots in your back can also work wonders. Back pain can be one of the biggest complaints that office workers face, so you need to make sure that you take care of yours.
Drink Enough
You need to make sure that you are drinking enough water. There is truly nothing better for our bodies, but it can be something that office workers forget to have as they are focused on their work. If they do decide to drink, it could be a beverage like coffee or tea. The caffeine in these can be used to help focus and keep the worker’s attention on their tasks.
However, there is no substitute for water. You need to make sure that you are drinking enough no matter what. Any other drinks you have, such as that mid-morning coffee, should count as a bonus drink and not part of your allowance for the day. Keep a water bottle on your desk and fill it up whenever it is empty. If you are struggling to drink that much water, consider adding fruit or herbs to change the flavour of it and potentially make it a bit more palatable.
Spend Time Away From Screens
An office worker will spend all day sitting and staring at a screen. Due to the modern world that we live in, the likelihood is that they will go home and spend their time staring at a screen at home too, whether that is a television, a laptop, or any other device.
This is not good for us, and can contribute to eye strain and difficulty sleeping. Office workers need to try to spend time away from screens when not at work if possible. Taking up hobbies such as reading can be a great way to do so. If not, you should at least try to get some screen-free time before bed to help you relax and chill out before you sleep.
Being an office worker is not a physically demanding job, but that does not mean that it does not come without some health problems. All office workers need to keep an eye on their back and their mood, as both can turn sour if not properly cared for. Take a few steps to look after your health, and ensure that you are hitting all of the basics like drinking enough water. It can really make a difference!
