Being healthy at work is a lot easier said than done. The workplace is naturally a stressful environment, regardless of what industry you work in. While teaching yoga can (sometimes!) be one of the more relaxing jobs, there are still moments of stress even as a yoga teacher! After all, there are many hours spent at the desk looking at a computer screen while enhancing your online presence and dealing with admin, which obviously isn’t ideal for your well-being. Not only this, but your eating habits may deteriorate, as you grab quick snacks for a boost of energy or you forget to eat for hours because you are so engrossed in a task. How can you improve your health at work? Read on to discover tips that can be applied to all workplaces.

Drink an adequate amount of water – It’s important to drink between eight and ten glasses of water every day. This can be difficult while at work, so here are a few tips to help you out:

• Keep water nearby at all time
• Add fruit to your water and infuse it overnight to make it more exciting
• Track the amount of water you drink with an app
• Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to have a glass of water throughout the day
• Invest in a high-tech water bottle that does all of the hard work for you

Make sure your employer is fulfilling their duty – It is your employer’s duty to provide a safe and healthy work environment. If they are failing to do this, you should raise the issue. Perhaps your employer does not allow you to take regular breaks? Maybe you feel your chair and desk is giving you bad posture? Peninsula Group’s health and safety services reveal what businesses need to do in order to create a safe working environment. This will give you a good understanding of what your employer is and isn’t responsible for, arming you with the right information when you discuss the issue with them.

Take a power nap – There have been a number of studies that show people are more productive at work once they have taken a power nap. After all, a lack of sleep can be extremely detrimental to your health. Of course, your employer may not welcome the idea of napping in the workplace. It’s worth talking to them about it, mentioning health and safety and how a nap can boost productivity in the process. If you make yourself so valuable to the company that they won’t complain, your boss will surely allow a quick nap when needed.

Take a walk after lunch – Taking a walk once you have had your lunch will not only improve your digestion, but it will also increase your mental acuity and regulate your blood sugar. Plus, it means that you will get a break from sitting if you have been spending your day at the computer working on advancing your yoga business. Sitting is an inherently unnatural act for the human body to perform.

Breathe deeply – If you are feeling under stress while at work, it is a good idea to focus on your breathing. When stressed, people often take short gasps, instead of deep, long breaths. This becomes habitual over time, which results in you telling your body you are stressed, even if you aren’t. Consequently, you will keep calm if you breathe deeply. This also helps to make sure that your lungs and bloodstream are getting plenty of oxygen. This will get your brain working a lot more efficiently.

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Eat a big breakfast – You’re probably sick of hearing the phrase that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but you’re going to hear it again, because it really is. Eating a big breakfast is advisable because it will ensure you fuel up early so that you have enough energy to make it through the morning. This means that you will be less likely to require that extra boost of sugar mid-morning.

Take the stairs – If your office is on the top floor, taking the lift may be the easy option, but taking the stairs will do much more for your health. You may not burn tons and tons of calories by doing this, but you will ensure your heart is working harder. This will improve your circulation and your overall health as a consequence. Plus, don’t be tempted to take two steps at a time, as you will burn significantly more energy if you take one step at a time instead.

Eat responsible portions – As mentioned earlier, eating a big breakfast is advised. But this doesn’t mean you should go back for second helpings, nor does it mean you should follow breakfast with a big lunch and dinner. It is all about being responsible in regards to portion control. The amount of calories you consume should reflect how active you are being throughout that particular day.

Take care of your neck – Do you type a lot or spend a lot of your day on the phone? If so, you may end up suffering from tension neck syndrome (TNS). This can happen when your upper shoulders and neck are held in an awkward and fixed position for prolonged periods of time. This can result in tenderness, muscle tightness, and shoulder pain, which is why you need to take the necessary steps to protect your neck. For example, you should consider using a headset, shoulder cradle, or speakerphone while you are on the phone.

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Vacations are important – Let’s end with the best tip of them all; take a vacation now and again! Vacations will take your mind of work, reduce stress, and ensure you come back to work feeling revitalised.

It is important to take care of your health while at work, no matter what industry you work in or what your working environment is like. The stress of work is enough to result in your well-being taking the backseat, which is why you need to follow the tips above to make sure it doesn’t.

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