While your employer is required to provide a safe workplace and the proper training for your job, you still have a personal responsibility to do what you can to remain healthy, even if you work in office cubicles rather than on an oil rig. Here are three simple things you can do to stay healthy at work.
1. Get up and stretch periodically. Most of us work at desks in front of computers. Sitting in one position doing repetitive tasks is hard on posture, causes eye strain, and can lead to repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. Once an hour you should at least stand up and stretch for a moment. If you’ve been staring at a computer screen, focus on something farther away. Learn some simple stretching exercises for your neck, back, and legs, and you’ll be more refreshed and effective when you sit back down to work.
2. Have a healthy lunch away from your desk. Sometimes we have no choice but to work through lunch while mindlessly eating something from the vending machine. But if possible, you should eat somewhere away from your desk, whether it’s in the break room, outside on a bench, or at a coffee shop. Breaking up the day and having a healthy meal sets you up for a more productive afternoon.
3. Wash hands frequently. Everyone touches the copy machine, communal printers, door knobs, and elevator buttons. And this is how common respiratory bugs are spread. Washing hands after every trip to the restroom and before eating lunch or having a snack cuts down on your exposure to these germs. Generally, hard surfaces are more likely to carry germs than soft surfaces. And don’t worry if your office buys used cubicles and furniture: they’re thoroughly reconditioned and cleaned before they’re sold.