Most people would agree that improving their health is important to them. But when it comes to making big life changes to accommodate a healthier lifestyle, who has the time? While we may not always be able to spend an hour at the gym or prepare fresh wheatgrass juice in the morning, we can certainly muster two spare minutes now and then. Here are five easy ways to feel better by making small changes in your daily routine.
There are a hundred things a day that cause us stress – lack of sleep, traffic, deadlines – and few of these stressors can be removed entirely from our routine. Luckily, you already have the perfect tool to quell tension and improve your overall wellness at work – breathing.
"Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders." - Andrew Weil, M.D
At least once a day, take a two-minute break from what you’re working on to close your eyes and take deep breaths. Check out this great article on The Muse about the benefits of 2-minute breathing sessions.
Everyone has heard of carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive tasks, but few people realize that your eyes are similarly at risk. Working on a computer requires a lot of your eyes, so it’s important to give them a break. Try using the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds to look at something 20 feet away. Choose a distant object and let your gaze rest on it. Alternatively, just close your eyes now and then and count to twenty. This could also be a good opportunity to practice some stress-relieving breaths.
Sitting, or worse – slouching, at your desk all day can take a toll on your body and mind. Taking frequent breaks to stretch or practice a few desk exercises can energize your tired muscles and keep you from developing aches and pains. Instead of waiting for wrist cramps to remind you to stretch, take 2 minutes from every hour to stand up, take a short walk, or try out a quick “deskercise!” Healthline.com has some great suggestions.
Your messy desk could actually be making you sick. When was the last time you wiped down your keyboard and phone with disinfectant? Is that dust behind your computer? If there are papers everywhere, it’s no wonder you haven’t cleaned! Take 2 minutes a day to put your pens in the cup, papers in their trays, and throw away anything you don’t need. Every other day, wipe down every surface to keep it squeaky clean.
Have you ever gotten so wrapped up in a project that you forgot to eat? And then by the time you remember, you just grab a Snickers from the vending machine and regret it later? One of the easiest ways to ensure that you have healthy eating habits is to not let yourself get hungry. Instead, keep nutritious and filling foods in your desk, purse, or car and snack regularly. This will help keep your energy consistent while giving your body and brain the fuel it needs to perform at its best!
Here are five easy snack ideas:
Being healthy doesn’t mean you have to starve yourself or do 100 pushups a day. Be mindful of what you’re eating and move around a little more, and you’ll be healthy in no time.
