9-5 – A breadwinner or a silent killer?

Skipped your breakfast today because you were in a rush? Sipped cups after cups of Americano because you needed that ‘kick’ to pull some extra hours? We are sure the answer to at least one of these questions is ‘yes’. Such is the state of employees in our country!

The lives of corporate employees have become about meeting deadlines and achieving targets. However, amidst all this, health has taken a backseat. At this point, we don’t even need statistics to prove the increasing prevalence of chronic and lifestyle diseases among employees.

Maintaining a work-life balance has become more important than ever in this fast-moving world where ‘targets’ are the number one priority. You have to start looking out for yourself! Because if you won’t, no one else will! The recent incident is a great reminder of that! And we definitely don’t need more such reminders! Imagine how many more such cases might have happened or worse, might be happening as you read this post.

The sadder part is people have romanticized this so-called hustle. There is nothing to boast about the fact that you are functioning on only 2 hours of sleep! While there is nothing bad about grinding for your dreams, when health starts taking a backseat, there is a high chance the dreams might turn into nightmares.

The consequences of neglecting our health can be devastating. Corporate life and ignorance towards health when put together scream chronic and lifestyle diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, anxiety, PCOS, thyroid, stress, weight gain, hormonal imbalance- the list goes on and on.

While we should keep raising our voices ( more at actual workplaces than LinkedIn), there are a few healthy habits that employees can incorporate in their daily routines.

Inadequate hydration, heavy reliance on caffeine or other forms of stimulants, skipping meals, and mindless eating are a few things that can be worked on.

Here are a few practical tips for the 9-5 warriors-

• Drink 2-2.5 liters of water every day
• Include protein-rich snacking options like chana/ sprouts salad
• Minimize the intake of tea and coffee
• Never skip breakfast
• Download tools like Iris or f.lux designed to reduce eye strain by adjusting screen brightness and color temperature according to the time of day, promoting healthier screen usage.
• Replace white light bulbs with yellow lights especially if you work from home)
• Use a standing desk if possible
• Take breaks and avoid sitting in a place for too long
• Try taking the stairs whenever possible
• Get a blood test done every 6 months

It might seem overwhelming to incorporate everything at once. But, you can always start small.

Also, remind yourself again and again, that you are replaceable at work but irreplaceable for your family!

Tell us what measures you take to keep yourself healthy. Let’s discuss this in the comments.