Want a more comfortable and productive work day? Our office or work space tends to be the place most of us spend a large portion of the day, so let’s make it a positive addition to our well-being! After all, these tips carry forward to the rest of your day as well, which should naturally and quickly enhance your life. A person who is well will be more creative, more precise, more whatever it is you need to be to work your best.
Stay Active During the Day
This could mean scheduling walking meetings when permissible, turning lunch break into a brisk stroll outside, and/or incorporating some simple seated stretches you can do at your desk. Assuming that your current desk setup isn’t of the standing variety, it is paramount to get out of your seat during the day. Plenty of sources show that sitting for the majority of the day is doing multiple damages to the body, even if you hit the gym for an hour per day. According to Katy Bowman, author of Move Your DNA: Restore Your Health Through Natural Movement: “Actively sedentary is a new category of people who are fit for one hour but sitting around the rest of the day… You can’t offset 10 hours of stillness with one hour of exercise.” Our favorite solution is to set a timer for 30 minute intervals, standing up to do a few stretches, walk around the office, or go up and down the stairs a few times once the alarm sounds. It will give your body, mind, and your eyes (if you’re on the computer) a healthy break throughout the day, keeping you more on task.
Stay Hydrated
Try to stick to the recommended daily intake of water per day according to your weight, height, and physical expenditure. On average, men are recommended to drink about 3.7 liters per day, and women 2.7 liters per day.
We recommend buying yourself a reusable water bottle, which will help you in 2 ways. First, you will know just how much water you are drinking if you know your bottle’s capacity. Second, if you buy a bottle in your favorite color or an interesting design, you will be more inclined to reach for it and actually drink throughout the day!
Get More Natural Light
This could mean many things. While getting outside to soak up some rays is important, it also helps if you can place your desk by a window, or anywhere with direct view of the outside. Natural light improves feelings of well-being and boosts efficiency, and as such, many offices plan their floor space design accordingly. Along with natural light, is the need for indoor lighting. If you haven’t yet been able to convince your office to swap out all office lights to their full spectrum equivalent, then perhaps opt for a small full spectrum desk lamp, which will provide ample light for your work space, cut down on screen glare, and reduce eye strain. Since it’s full spectrum, it will cast a soothing, true-to-color light on your desk, making your work space instantly feel more inviting.
Check out our stylish comfort-vision desk lamp for a more inspiring and lit workplace! It makes all the difference in our offices at healthlighting, and it's on sale too!