Tips for Staying Healthy at Work
Are you taking care at work? Keep reading for our tips on staying well at while working.
Use your vacation days and time off options
This year has brought many changes, one of them being how we view our vacation and holiday days. Saving up our holidays to jet off to a new destination has not been a possibility this year, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t use those vacation days to give ourselves the opportunity to re-charge.
According to Healthline, breaks from work provide benefits to both your physical and mental health. Taking time away helps with stress reduction, productivity, having better sleeps, and cardiovascular health.
Even in 2020, vacations at home can be fun! Plan out a few activities that are fun and exciting to you. Maybe there is a new hobby you have been meaning to take up? Is there something off your bucket list that you could check off?
Another way to make sure you get the most out of your vacation is to unplug while you are away. Take the necessary steps to be able to step away from your work and take the time away to truly rest and re-charge.
Avoid burnout
Unfortunately, most of us have experienced burnout in our lives. What is burnout? According to Healthline, Burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion that can zap the joy out of your career, friendships, and family interactions. Knowing the signs of burnout can help us to recognize if we are near our breaking point. Signs of burnout include:
- Exhaustion
- Isolation
- Escape fantasies
- Irritability
- Frequent Illness
Thankfully, there are steps we can take to help prevent reaching our breaking point and burning out. These include exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, practicing good sleep habits, and asking for help when we need it. Stress may be unavoidable, but burnout is preventable.
Stay connected to your teammates and co-workers even in a virtual setting
As our working environment has drastically changed this year, connecting with our co-workers and teammates looks a little different. Many of us may be missing the lunch time catch ups or quick hallway hellos. How has your team stayed connected to each other? Consider scheduling time for virtual lunch chats or coffee breaks throughout the day.
If your organization offers programs or initiatives to staying connected, take the time to participate! This is a great way to stay connected and in contact with those people we work with every day on a more personal level.
Make the time to take care of you throughout the day
Busy days and schedules can often make us feel like we can’t take even a few minutes for ourselves throughout the day. Making time to take care throughout the day is important to being a productive and motivated employee.
According to a survey summarized by Forbes, employees who take a lunch break on a daily basis feel more valued by their employer and 81% of employees who take a daily lunch break have a strong desire to be an active member in their company.
The study also revealed: employees gain focus and energy after stepping away from their desks, employees need time to re-charge throughout the day, taking breaks can help to boost creativity and facilitate a fresh perspective, and taking breaks also allows more time for healthy habits throughout the day.
Take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions. Are there any areas that you could improve on?
- What are small ways that you can incorporate joy into your work day?
- Are you taking the time to take breaks and refresh throughout the day?
- Do you drink enough water and eat nutritious food?
- Do you schedule a lunch break into your day?
- Do you often stretch or stand up throughout the day?
Wellness at work is an important component to maintaining a healthy and happy life. With many changes this past year, how we take care at work must also change as well.
Another way to eliminate stress from work is to make sure your health needs are covered. Talk to your employer about setting up a Group Benefits Plan. Coverage can include health practitioners such as massage therapists and chiropractors, and can also provide coverage for vision, dental and prescription drugs. Visit our website today to learn more about how Saskatchewan Blue Cross can help you take better care of yourself.