Most Americans work an eight-hour day, and some work even longer. When you spend most of your waking hours at work, it becomes vital to your wellbeing to practice healthy workplace habits.

Busy workdays can make it difficult to eat healthy or find time for exercise. However, implementing a few of these simple changes to your workplace habits can lead you to feel more energized over time.

Here are a few tips from the experts from SupportLinc, NFDA’s member assistance program: 

Pay attention to your posture.

Your posture makes a difference on the quality of your day. Having a less-than ideal posture affects your mood and reduces your lung functioning, which can lead to less oxygenated blood to the brain, GI issues and neck pain. Try stretching every few hours, wearing a posture corrector or changing what type of chair you use. This can not only help reduce aches and pains, but also help you feel more alert when working.

Pack your own lunch.

Fast food can seem like a quick and yummy way to refuel during a busy workday. But, this will leave you feeling more lethargic in the long-run. Packing a healthy lunch with diverse food groups will improve your overall wellbeing and help you sustain energy throughout the day without crashing.

Add positivity to your workspace.

When you’re feeling stressed by a work project or tired from the day, a little boost of positivity can help. Decorate your workspace with positive affirmations, use positive images where you can see them and practice reframing negative thoughts.

Avoid workplace drama.

Much like positivity boosts your emotions, negativity can harm them. Getting caught up in workplace gossip or interacting with unfriendly coworkers can adversely impact your mental health. While this might be unavoidable at times, try to limit negative situations while staying focused on being productive.

Implement short breaks.

Sometimes it's hard to step away from your work and decompress, but your body needs breaks to recharge. Try standing every 30 minutes, even if you're in the same area. Walk around, step outside or practice a quick meditation to calm your mind and return to your work invigorated.

Reflect on your day.

Finally, try making a habit of reflecting on your day. What went well? What could you do better tomorrow? Try writing a list of your successes. This can help motivate you from day to day as well as show progress over time. 

Successful professionals often attribute such success to healthy habits. While totally changing your routine might be difficult, even implementing one of these tips a day can make a difference in your mood and productivity.

About SupportLinc

NFDA has partnered with SupportLinc to offer a member assistance program. This confidential support service is available 24/7, 365 days per year at no charge to NFDA members and their immediate family members (e.g., spouse, children). All requests for information and assistance are confidential and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and include:  

• In-the-moment support and short-term counseling by phone, web, text or mobile app with a licensed clinician Members and their immediate family can also receive up to three in-person or video counseling sessions each year.
• Digital support group sessions hosted by licensed counselors 
• Legal consultation 
• Referrals for a variety of service providers (e.g., child or elder care, adoption, pet care, home repair, education, and housing needs)
• Financial consultation and planning 
• A website and app full of resources 
• And more

Learn more at www.nfda.org/SupportLinc.