The world we live in can be fast-paced and stressful, as of 2022, almost half (46%) of workers are close to burnout, according to research conducted by Westfield Health. Making it so important for everyone to take care of their physical and mental health at work or working from home.
When people feel healthy, they are more productive, so when businesses invest in wellness support for their employees they are likely to see a good return on their investment.
We’ve explored 5 Top Tips to help you feel healthier and happier – and by following these tips, you’ll feel much better during your working day too!
1. Get enough sleep
When you’re well rested, you are more likely to be productive the next day and less likely to make mistakes. It has been estimated 200,000 working days are lost every year to insufficient sleep.
Better sleep is also the single biggest contributor to living better, so try to aim for 7-9 hours each night of zzz stacking.
2. Eat healthy foods
Eating healthy food gives you the energy you need to power through your day. Avoid reaching for processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive amounts of caffeine. A simple start is eating at least 5 fruit and vegetables a day.
Sounds easy but less than 30% of men and women in the UK are currently reaching this goal.
3. Exercise Regularly
Exercise releases endorphins – FACT. Endorphins help relieve pain, reduce stress and improve your sense of well-being.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise most days of the week. This could be a 30 min walk before or after work, or during your lunch break to make the most of those midday rays. 🌞
4. Take breaks throughout your day
Anyone who says they can concentrate for 7.5 hours a day every day is telling porkies.
You need to get up and move around roughly every 30 minutes to avoid sitting for long periods. Humans weren’t meant to be sat like a croissant all day… 🥐
Take a few moments to stretch, walk around and get some fresh air.
5. Manage stress
Easy for you to say huh?! Hold on – what we mean is find ways to manage the stress that suit you best. Stress takes a toll on your physical and mental health so it’s key to find ways to manage stress when it occurs so you are taking the best care of yourself.
For example, exercising, meditating, or spending time with loved ones or pets.
Another way to manage stress is simply to tackle one thing at a time. What’s the most important thing on your to-do list? Start with that and tackle each task in order of priority – one at a time.
If you do find yourself getting overwhelmed at work, speak to your line manager in the first instance to help you redirect your thoughts, and rearrange your work tasks in line with what needs to be done first.
If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, try talking to a friend or family member.
There are some truly wonderful organisations available out there, where you can find support too, and contact them to help you through your worries, to focus more clearly on what’s important:
Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Shout: https://giveusashout.org/
Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/stress/useful-contacts/
Lifeline: https://www.lifelinehelpline.info/
