In just about a month, news stories and social media posts from all around the world (at least it seems that way) will be buzzing about New Year resolutions. That’s right…it’s almost that time of year again when weight-loss promises will be made – and broken – faster than you can say “Gimme that donut!” Kidding aside, a very popular New Year resolution for Americans is to live a healthier life in the coming year. For many folks, it’s a bit daunting to take the first step.
If you’re resolving to live a healthier life in 2017, we recommend taking baby steps to help ensure that your New Year resolution doesn’t fizzle after a few short weeks. If you want to bring more healthy habits into your life, start at the office and see where it goes from there.
Here are 7 healthy work habits to try out in 2017. Good luck!
#1 – Sneak in Some Steps
Get more walking steps in and around the office. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park in a spot that requires you to walk further to your office, or even bike to work if that’s a feasible option. Take 2-minute walking breaks every hour. Research shows that short walks throughout the day can significantly improve your health.
#2 – Try a Standing Desk
More employers are giving workers the option of having a standing desk. If it’s an option at your place of work, try it out. Not only does it help improve posture and reduce back pain that can be caused by sitting for hours on end, but a standing desk can also help you focus more and be more productive.
#3 – Meditate
Another trend that’s gaining popularity in many workplaces is meditation. It can help lower your stress levels, and like the standing desk, meditation can help clear your mind and keep you focused. Many meditation experts say just 5-10 minutes a day can make a difference.
#4 – Host a Salad Party
Stay in for lunch and invite your colleagues to a salad-in-a-jar party. You can be the host with the most and supply all the food and other provisions. Or, everyone can contribute and bring something different to the party.
Everyone gets a mason jar or comparable container and fills it up with super-healthy salad items – greens (kale, arugula, romaine), veggies (tomatoes, corn, carrots, cucumbers), beans (chick peas, black beans), seeds and herbs (chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, basil) and a light salad dressing. It’s a fun, healthy activity that a lot of folks are doing these days. For more instructions, check out this blog post.
#5 – Adjust Your Screens
Shape.com says the #1 culprit for causing headaches and tired eyes at work is squinting at screen text that is too small. So fight eye fatigue and lingering headaches by increasing the size of your computer screen font.
#6 – Coordinate a Community Service Event
Coordinate a community service event with your co-workers. Pick an event that incorporates some type of physical activity – participate in a charity run or host a canned food drive and walk through neighborhoods collecting donations. Not only will you be getting healthy, you’ll be helping others.
#7 – Pinch Your Ear
This last tip isn’t as much about being ‘healthy’ as it is about being more alert on the job. Prevention Magazine reports that applying pressure to your ear can help invigorate and awaken your entire body, because your body’s energy pathways pass through your outer ear. Give your ears a little squeeze – pinch the rim of each ear between your thumb and index finger, and rub up and down for about 10-30 seconds. You should feel a spike in your energy level.
Hopefully some of these healthy work habits will work out for you in the new year. To help our team stay healthy, A.R. Mazzotta participates in the Fruit Basket of the Month Club, which is popular with many of our employees. We also love to get involved in various local community service activities.