Tag: work

5 Tips for a Happier, Healthier Job

February 5, 2017

Business Man Working At Office, Consultant Lawyer Concept

Working in an office? Do you find yourself having back and neck pain, gaining weight, getting sick more, feeling sluggish and fatigued throughout the day… or just feeling plain uninspired and dull? Well, you are not alone.

I know working in an office environment can be tough. It can be boring, sitting at a desk for hours at a time, sitting through meetings can be grueling, conference calls with clients are annoying… Oh, and computer work! Ugh! Don’t you just have days where you want to throw it right out the window?? (There probably would be very few computers left if we all acted on that impulse every time, right? 😛 )

But I have some good news for you! Are you ready for this? Listen closely. If you put your mind to it, you can make a big difference in the way you feel physically… and mentally?

How about a few tips on how to stay healthy in your office and make your work just a little more enjoyable? Sound good? Okay! Let’s go!!!

1. Keep Proper Form and Get EXERCISE!

With all the sitting we do (in the car, at our desk, in front of the TV, etc.) we tend to get lazy with our form and start slouching and craning our heads forward, wreaking havoc on our backs and neck. We have heavy heads, and the constant forward head posture we keep from day to day not only hurts our spine, but it could also cause some of those headaches you’ve been complaining about. Make sure your chair is the right height so that your feet are flat on the ground. Keep your back straight (I know it’s hard at first) and place your computer monitor at eye level.

It is also VERY important to get plenty of exercise. Get up from your desk and do some stretches or take a quick walk around the building. Even opting for a standing desk (if possible) can do wonders. If that is not an option you can always try sitting on an exercise ball instead of a chair. Have some fun while sitting at a desk! 😀

2. “You Are My Sunshine!”

A sunny day makes just about everyone feel happier, right? But I know that sometimes working in an office makes sunlight EXTREMELY limited.

During your lunch break, try getting a change of scenery. Eat lunch outside on pretty days (try even taking a walk!). Even if the day is grey (or rainy) getting out of the building and eating lunch in your car is a small way to get a relief from the everyday dreariness of indoors (and make you more productive)!

3. A Little GOOD Food Goes a Long Way

When we are sitting at a desk for many hours (and not very active) we tend to snack… A LOT. And it’s usually vending machine snacks that are full of sugar and artificial ingredients. When we fill up on these snacks we are harming our body more than we are actually feeding it. Because, let’s be honest, how many times are we snack and ACTUALLY hungry? I know I can tend to stress eat… or eat just because I am bored.

Eating a bunch of sugary snacks every day can take it’s toll on your body. Being inactive and a lot of unhealthy snacking causes unwanted fat (and weight). It can also make you susceptible to mood swings and irritability… and of course, make you feel just plain sick. 🙂

Instead of running to the vending machine or a fast food breakfast stop, opt for stocking your office area with some nuts, fruit and vegetables and, if you have a sweet tooth, try some organic chocolate. But still, you don’t need to snack all the time… even if it is good food. 🙂

4. Use Music to Chase Away Stress

There are few things worse for your long work day than starting out in a bad or stressed mood. If you have a long”ish” drive to work traffic can get pretty tiring and stressful. SO…. try listening to some uplifting music or an audio drama. They are great ways to inspire you and get your mind full of new ideas and positive thoughts (and away from the idiot drivers and long day ahead of you 😉 ). And if you are able, listen to music on your phone or iPod while you are working to keep up your spirit during the day.

5. Use Essential Oils

Lemon oil is a great uplifting smell to brighten your day and give you energy. Inhale a little bit throughout the course of the day or put a couple of drops on a cotton ball and place them in your car or around your desk.

For a little extra punch you can add Peppermint oil. 🙂

1 drop of peppermint and 2 drops of lemon to a cotton ball (adjusting amount to your preference).

 

God wants us to enjoy our work and be healthy in the process. I know that sometimes it is necessary to do some work that we don’t really want to and that may not be absolutely perfect for our health, but by making a few wise choices (and with a little determination), we can keep from being sick and miserable. 😀

To Stress or Not to Stress, That is the Question

October 2, 2016

Exhausted Man With Headache

 

Let me share a familiar picture with you.

You are sitting at your desk, trying to get work done. It keeps piling up. You have pressure on you to get it done… and be perfect in every way. On top of this, you have thoughts swirling through your mind about bills you have to pay this week, papers due the next morning for a really important class, and you and your friend’s relationship has so many changes happening, not all good changes. There is this big weight on your shoulders that you can’t seem to escape. At times you feel like you can’t breathe. You slowly go about your tasks each day, feeling low on energy, and rubbing your aching head while you grab some carb-filled, sugary treat.

I bet you can relate to at least one of these scenarios at some point. And I bet we could all name several more… where the outcome is STRESS.

Stress or Relax?

Choosing between stress or relaxation doesn’t seem like a hard decision. After all, who would want to be stressed and feeling horrible all the time, emotionally and physically? But it isn’t easy to dump stress. Something goes wrong at work or you have a tight deadline at school and it returns, begging you to take it back. It can be very persuasive. So hard to resist and even harder to keep away.

It takes energy to resist stress and not let it consume you. It hides in many corners, taking on several forms. It’s easier most times to just give in and not fight it. But at what cost?

We all deal with stress in our every day lives. Stress over school or work, finances, relationships. If we are not careful, it can control our lives and make us and those around us miserable. It also can have serious health effects.

Some are obvious: struggling with sleep, headaches, maybe sometimes you even have a loss of appetite. But some are below the surface and not as noticeable. Stress can increase cortisol and blood sugar levels, upsetting the body’s normal digestion and throwing our thyroid glands and hormones off kilter.

Unfortunately, we can’t live stress free in this world. But before you pull your hair out over worry about all your problems try some of these simple ways to relieve your daily stress.

stress therapy and management helps in relaxation reduce tension

1. Exercise 

Get your blood pumping! Exercise is one of the best stress relievers. It releases powerful chemicals in the brain that act as the body’s own painkillers and mood-lifter. Regular exercise regulates the body’s metabolic and psychological processes such as reinforcing moods, blood sugar levels and helping regulate sleep cycles.

2. Diet 

If your body doesn’t feel good, neither will your mind. Having a nutrient-dense diet can help your body deal with stress. Consume good foods that contain vitamin B, magnesium, protein and healthy fats. And avoid processed foods and sugars and too much caffeine that can overload your body and suck it of all that it needs to stay healthy.

3. Write 

Writing out your problems and thoughts (both positive and negative) and the events of the day on paper can help identify the cause of stress, even when we are unsure. It also helps us to look at it from a third person point of view and perhaps see our stress in ways we don’t normally.

4. Do Something You Enjoy

Distraction from the day’s problems can keep negative and burdening thoughts out of your mind. Give yourself (and your brain) a break, read a book or enjoy a game with some friends or family.

5. Essential Oils

There are certain oils that are capable of reducing inflammation, balancing hormones and improving immunity. They can also help to relax your body and clear your mind, making it easier to sleep (which is an essential in keeping stress under control).

6. Pay/ Read Scripture 

I am a big believer in prayer, talking to the One who created the body. It is always best to turn to the Creator. God knows how our bodies work and He knows just how to help us fix the problems. He just wants us to ask. It is also truth that getting the focus off of yourself and your problems and turning our gaze to God, or others, can help with stress. Sometimes we dwell too much on our problems and let them control our minds. Sometimes the best thing for our stress levels is change our perspective.