Healthy Offices Matter
One of the most common topics that I cover with my Employer clients is how to keep the germs away during the various cycles of sickness throughout the year. Once school comes back in session, things get a bit more germy! I have a quick list that I pass along to my clients as a reminder of what they can do to help keep the germs away or at least at bay during this season.
Here are my top 5 ideas:
1. Work Outside
Grab your laptop, or an old-fashioned notebook, and get some work done (even if it’s just for a bit) at a park nearby, on a bench outside your office, or in an outdoor restaurant. It’ll reduce your stress, and give you a healthy dose of vitamin D. By simply changing your environment, you can reduce the amount of germs that you encounter.
2. Bring Your Own Lunch
When you make it, and the local sandwich shop doesn’t, you get to control what kinds of foods you choose to eat. You can determine what veggies are on the sandwich, or how much dressing you dress your salad with. The choice of bread also matters – go for the whole grain or the flatbread instead of the regular sliced bread.
3. Stand Up and Stretch Often
Even if it’s just to tackle some emails or short to-dos, spend 30 minutes a day standing at your desk. Oh, and if your office doesn’t have any place where you can work standing up, then just literally make sure you’re physically standing up and stretching at least once an hour. There’s also nothing worse than leaving work at the end of the day with a kink in your neck or sore muscles.
4. Take the Stairs
It’s a quick way to get your heart rate up when there’s no time for a workout. If you work on the 20th floor or higher like I do, maybe try taking the stairs halfway and catching an elevator when you’ve exhausted yourself. Some of my clients who are employers create challenges among the various departments! This healthy competition creates a lot of great benefits, besides just bragging rights!
5. Drink Lots of Water
It goes without saying, really. Water equals a happy body (and less mid-day headaches). My secret for success? A fun water bottle. Try out one with a straw, or a button, or a flippy lid. This one is HUGE for me! Some of my employer clients get logoed bottles created for their staff members. There are countless artists on Esty that can customize a water bottle for you as well.
This quick list is only the 5 that I share the most often. I have several more ideas that I share once my clients and are working together. Even my career coaching clients like to know what they can do to stay healthy during the various cold and flu seasons.