If you spend most of your day at a desk, chances are you aren’t as active as you’d like to be. In addition to not being good for your health, being sedentary for 8 hours can do a number on your energy and productivity. Below are 5 tips to keep you energized throughout the day.
Walk. For every hour you are sitting, get up and take a little stroll around the floor for a few minutes. Standing up and walking gets your heart pumping and gives you a boost of energy. Taking the stairs up and down a few flights will also get your blood flowing and walking outside in fresh air is even better.
Get out of focus. Instead of plowing through your work, hour after hour, take a mini-break and don’t focus your attention on anything. Every hour or so, stop and let your mind wander away from your work for a few minutes. When you return your focus, you’ll be more productive because you’ve put some space between your tasks.
Stretch. If you can’t take any time to get up and walk around every hour, at least get up and stretch. This will help alleviate the stiffness and muscle tension that goes with sitting for a long time. Just a few small stretches at your desk will relax your eyes and your brain.
Drink water throughout the day. Have a glass of water on your desk and refill it often. This, along with a good stretch, is helpful at that 4pm slump time when you are tempted to make a beeline for the coffee pot or vending machines.
Chat with a co-worker every now and then. A quiet workplace is helpful when you’re on a deadline and need to concentrate, but balance the solitary time with some social interaction. Talk to a co-worker while you take a break, whether it’s work related or not. Just make sure you aren’t finding a colleague to complain with, which is a real energy zapper. Chat about something positive and uplifting and you’ll return to your desk feeling energized and motivated.
Try these simple and healthy tips for more energy throughout your day. They are quick and easy ways to feel better while you get the job done.
