The COVID-19 emergency suddenly required companies to close their offices and adapt to having a fully remote workforce. But working from home has been a revealing experience for many.
Romantic notions about working from home quickly dissipated when people found out that their home was poorly equipped to replace their office. Chairs and sofas make for terrible options when you have to sit on them for 9 straight hours, everything seems to distract you, eating patterns were disrupted, and you feel like you are working longer, although probably less productive, hours.
So, returning to the office might seem like a blessing. And recent surveys have shown that workers want to go back to the office once things calm down.
As you slowly make your way back to the office, now is the ideal time to reassess all your pre-pandemic work habits (both good and bad), as well as those you might have picked up in the last few months, and adjust any that are standing in your way to better performance, and a better mood at work.
Here are a few tips that will help improve your wellbeing at work:
Stay hydrated
Drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water every single day is important to keep your body functioning the way it’s supposed to. There are many strategies that can help you accomplish the goal of staying hydrated, like bringing an extra-large water bottle (2 liters) to work or marking a regular sized water bottle with hourly hydration levels. Find out which strategy works for you best and make it a habit to constantly stay hydrated.
Move
Sitting down for extended periods of time is very unhealthy for your body, so it is very important for you to move every once in a while. Ideally you would take short breaks and perform some simple stretches to get your blood flowing.
Improve your diet
Not only does sitting down for extended periods affect your spine, it also causes your body to release less fat-burning enzymes, which is the reason why keeping an eye on your diet is crucial to staying healthy while at the office. Replace those salty, carb loaded, and sugar filled snacks with healthier options such as fruit and veggies. Another great idea is to reduce the portions you usually have and spread them around throughout the day.
Keep a good posture
Sitting at a desk is virtually unavoidable at the office, so it is important that you make sure that you are keeping a correct posture all day long. Investing in a good, ergonomic chair is the best way to ensure that you aren’t slouching or putting unnecessary tension on your neck and back.
Take short breaks
The average attention span for adults is around 25-30 minutes before their brain starts to get tired. Then what happens is that you start getting distracted more easily and you aren’t really 100% invested in the task at hand. The good news is that you can reboot your attention span by taking a short (5 minutes) break every 25 minutes. There are many apps you can use to help you track this habit, just look for the Pomodoro technique. This will not only help you avoid burnout, but it will also boost your productivity levels.
