How To Stay Healthy When Working A Desk Job

I work a 9 to 6 job. And let me tell you, I never thought I’d work retail again, much less corporate America.

You know what I told myself after I left my retail call center job over a decade ago? “I’m never going to work retail again!”

Yep, that’s exactly what I said. Yeah, seriously, don’t ever jinx yourself. Just don’t. Don’t even say the N-word. Leave quietly and move on.

Don’t ever say that kind of stuff because it’ll come back to bite you in the butt. I’m a shiny gold example!

I mean, years ago, when I watched Office Space, I thought, that could never be me. You know, the whole-burning-down-the-building thing as I left the education industry.

The funny thing is, with the exception of working at a dance company and my first retail job at Old Navy, I’ve had sit down jobs for the last 12 years. Ack! As nice as that sounds, sometimes I want to work a physical job just to stay on top of my health.

Today, I wanted to share with you some of my mistakes I’ve made when it comes to health at the workplace and how I’m turning those mistakes into tips for you!

I RELIED ON FOOD PROVIDED AT WORK AND DIDN’T PACK A HEALTHY LUNCH. 

Do: Pack a healthy lunch and eat away from your desk. Easier said than done right? I agree that meal prep takes a lot of time, but I’d rather take care of my health now rather than later. Here’s the deal: You can’t control what’s going to be on the menu in your cafeteria, but you can control what’s in your lunch bag. And that’s the truth!

I DIDN’T DRINK ENOUGH WATER. 

Do: Drink lots of water. Water is life, rids of toxins, hydrates your skin and gives you the energy you need. Sometimes, you feeling hungry can be mistaken for being dehydrated.

I’ve been guilty of working so much that my drink I prepared that morning is watered down or diluted by the time I get to it. By the end of the day during my college years, I was hungry and thirsty and reached for soda more times than I cared to admit. Next time you’re hungry, drink some water first. If it doesn’t go away, that means you’re really hungry.

I DID GET UP ENOUGH AT MY DESK JOB.

Do: Get up or get a standing desk or a ball. If your company’s budget doesn’t allow you to get a standing desk or one of those balls, get up every once in a while. Send your work to the printer down the hall, ask a co-worker if they’d like some coffee or tea and get it for them. Take a bathroom break. Use the stairs instead of the elevator unless you’re on the 20th floor or something, lol! In that case, take it to one floor below then take on a full set of stairs to get your heart rate going a little.

I’m guilty of not moving around much because I’d get sucked into my work that I’d forget. I gained so much weight this way. My advice? Move at least once an hour. This is something I’m still working on.

I DIDN’T BRING HEALTHY SNACKS. 

Do: Keep healthy snacks at work. If you can, stock them in the fridge or somewhere away from your desk to get those extra steps in! When I didn’t bring snacks, I would overeat at lunch and dinner leading to my weight gain.

For me, it’s better to eat six small meals a day to keep my energy levels steady than to crash up and down and be tired all the time.

NO ACTION. I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING TO IMPROVE.

Do: Set alarms as reminders. Whether it’s your phone or an email reminder, set alarms to keep yourself on track. Set reminders to drink your water, eat your snack or to get up and move around. If you know you’re not going to get your exercise in when you get home from work, workout before you get home.

If you hate working out, change into your fitkit before you leave work and get it over with so you can enjoy that much deserved evening when you get home! Don’t forget that progress is progress no matter how little your action step may be.

I hope these tips have helped you, especially if you’re a fellow cubicle or corporate America mate!

What tips do you have for staying healthy at the workplace? Let me know in the comments!

Image via Tumblr

Please note that this content should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or disease and serves as informational purposes only. Always consult your professional healthcare provider before beginning any new program with any questions you may have.