(ThyBlackMan.com) We spend a third of our life at our place of work. Time spent in an environment where we have limited control over matters that can affect our health adds up. It pays to consider what the long-term impact of our work on our overall wellbeing is.
Here are the top 3 areas where our work lives can impact our total wellness, plus tips to keep you in good health.
1. Physical safety and its long-term health repercussions.
According to AICA orthopedics, chiropractors specializing in work injury in Atlanta, “Injuries may occur at any office, no matter how seemingly tame the environment. From strains and sprains to broken bones, work-related injuries are common and need attention as soon as possible to prevent further damage.”
They further list slips and falls as one of the most common causes of accidents and injury at work.
Other instances include poor posture, consistent repetitive movements that cause muscle disorders. Being hit by an object or electrical failure that results in injury is also a safety issue at work.
HealthFinder.gov recommends the following ways to steer clear of accidents at your workplace.
- Know the correct way to lift heavy objects.
- Create a workstation that prevents poor posture.
- Ask your HR for information to acquaint yourself with the hidden risks particular to your industry and field.
Workplace environment and its impact on your stress levels, moods, and emotions.
Over the last decade, studies have shown a correlation between our work environment and mood disorders.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of awareness, there is still progress to be made in ensuring companies minimize workplace stress.
Mental health professionals and management must work together to devise a low-stress workplace. In the meantime, there are steps that workers can take to manage their personal stress levels on a daily basis.
- Educate yourself on the basics of stress’s impact on your health and emotions.
- Understand that some stress related to work is normal. But excessive stress can impair mental and physical capacity for work.
- Know your personal stress triggers and take steps to curb such instances.
- Learn to recognize the physical symptoms of stress. If you find yourself consistently fatigued at the end of the day, or you turn to food, drink, or other substances to cope, these could be symptoms of stress.
Finally, find effective ways to unwind and relax. At the end of the day, do not take work home with you. If you do, you could find yourself unable to sleep, which can further influence how your energy levels the next day. Set up boundaries between your work life and your personal life that provide you with breathing room to unwind before bed. For example, refuse to check your work email once you are home. Take up meditation. Learn breathing exercises that can help calm you down.
The level of physical activity at work and your fitness levels.
Does your job have you sitting for hours at a time? When you get home are you too tired to head to the gym or put on your running shoes?
You are not alone in facing the health-related impact of work on how fit you are. Some companies realize the necessity of providing for their employees’ fitness needs. For example, one method they address this is through adding fitness facilities and clinics to their office location. But for those of us who have less progressive employers? What do we do?
Here are the most proven ways to sneak exercise into your day.
- Take all your breaks. Whenever you have a break, use that time to move your body. Keep weights in your office cubicle and do a quick 10-minute training session. If you don’t like lifting weights, head outside for a brisk stroll around the block. Or run up and down your stairs for a HIIT session.
- Start your day with an exercise session. What you put first in your day has the highest chance of getting done. If you really want to make sure you get in exercise, then make it the first thing you do.
- Add exercise to your TV viewing times. Place an exercise bike in front of the TV. Get a stepper or a treadmill. Use your TV viewing times to the max by using it as a queue to exercise.
- Remember it all adds up. Good news for everyone who has difficulty stringing together a stretch of uninterrupted exercise. The accumulated amount is just as good as an all-at-once session.
Staff Writer; Doug Brown