With decades of your life spent there, your place of work ought to be one that supports your mental and physical wellbeing – and it can be with our top tips!
By Katherine Watt
On average, you’ll spend around 40 hours per week of your adult life at work, so whatever your profession, it pays to make sure the time not only compensates you financially but also doesn’t detract from your health in any way – after all, we work to live, not live to work. Thankfully, these days there are plenty of ways to keep your body, mind and even soul healthy and happy and ensure your workplace is as conducive as possible to maximum wellbeing.
Boost Your Body
Use your lunch hour: Any kind of lunchtime walk or exercise class is a good idea for long-term health but if you can’t get away from your desk, personal trainer James Stirling (londonfitnessguy.com) recommends ‘deskercise’. On average, those who did his 20-minute workout burned 115 calories. It comprises three sets each of 20 desk press-ups, 10 chair splits, 12 triceps dips, 20 calf raises, and three sets of 15 shoulder presses with water bottles in each hand.
Prime Your Mind
Increase Focus: ‘Your brain needs glucose but it can’t store it, so you need to give it a fresh supply every 3-4 hours,’ says nutritional therapist Dr Christy Fergusson. ‘If you get a focus dip in the afternoon, opt for low-glycaemic fruits such as berries (see what’s in season at seasonalberries.co.uk). The type of sugar in a bowl of fresh berries releases slowly into your bloodstream, which keeps your mind’s energy levels steady throughout the rest of the day.’ For more meal tips to stay healthy and happy turn to our Feelgood Food Plan on page 36 and the Food To Suit You feature on page 104.
Soothe Your Soul
Practice Kindness: Small acts of kindness throughout your day not only benefit the receiver and yourself but your whole organisation, according to a study by the University of California. Researchers asked workers from a range of departments in one business about their wellbeing, then repeated the questions four weeks later and discovered overall worker satisfaction had risen considerably. This was because 19 of the workers were secretly in cahoots with the researchers and had spent the four weeks doing little things such as making drinks, writing thank you notes, and listening more intently. Everyone was shown to have benefited with boosted morale, reduced tension and conflict, and stronger interpersonal relationships.
