5 unhealthy work habits and how to break them

Going to work at an office is unavoidable for most of us, but some of the unhealthy habits we develop there are not. Here are a few quick tips to make your workday and your overall health better.

Do not skip breakfast.

We get it. We’re all in a hurry as we try to squeeze in a morning workout or an extra few minutes of sleep, then send the kids off to school and rush out the door to the office. That said, skipping the most important meal of the day is not OK … and, no, coffee doesn’t count as breakfast. When you skip breakfast you hamper your ability to focus and are prone to weight gain because studies show that skipping the morning meal makes your body crave higher-calorie foods later. It may be difficult at first, but make time in the morning to eat a high-protein meal within the first two hours of being awake. Find healthy ideas here.

Stop mindless snacking.

Snacking throughout the day is a good plan, if you’re doing it right. Grabbing a bag of chips out of the vending machine or snagging some chocolate out of the office candy dish may be tasty, but if you do that, well, you’re doing it wrong. Instead, reach for nuts or fruit to keep your metabolism humming all day long and prevent you from feeling ravished by lunch or dinner.

Quit eating lunch at your desk.

Sometimes it may be inevitable that you need to work through lunch, but don’t make it a habit. Getting away from your desk for lunch is important because you’ll get a much-needed mental break and a chance for some important social interaction. Also, we hate to say this, but think of the germs that might be lurking at your desk in your keyboard and phone. Not exactly where you want your sandwich to be sitting, is it?

Clean up your messy work space.

Besides the germ factor just mentioned, having a messy desk also can cause stress. When you can’t find your stapler or an important file, you’re more likely to feel frazzled. Take time each afternoon before you head home to organize your desk and when you arrive the next morning you won’t be overwhelmed the moment you walk in the door.

Enough with the sitting all day.

Just like at lunch, getting away from your desk throughout the day is paramount. Sitting for prolonged periods of time ups your chance for back pain, weight gain, diabetes and heart disease. Make time every hour to step away from your computer and stick to it by setting an alarm or using a fitness band to remind you that it’s time to get up. Want bonus points? Head outside for a short walk. Soaking up the sunshine can boost serotonin to help balance your mood, while ultraviolet rays can help release feel-good endorphins.