Five Tips for Healthy Habits to Practice at Work
Practicing mindfulness and wellness at work doesn’t have to be hard–it all falls down to habit. It’s said that almost 40% of our actions each day are the results of habits rather than conscious decisions (The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg). By resetting unconscious habits to healthy ones, you automatically set yourself up for a more energized, mindful, and productive day. Here are FIVE healthy habits that you should practice at work today.
1. Drink More Water
Let’s be honest, how many glasses are you actually drinking through the day? I know it seems like a no-brainer, but sipping water throughout the day is the first healthy habit you should incorporate. Start your day off with a large glass of water and make sure that you’re drinking at least 5 throughout your work day (more if you’re chugging coffee or tea). Dehydration might be the cause of your workday moodiness, fatigue, problems focusing, hunger cravings, and random headaches.
Healthy Habit Tip: if normal water is boring for you, infuse it with some tasty fruits or herbs! For the summertime, we love the combo of cucumber and mint or strawberry and lemon. You can even infuse water on the go with this beautiful bottle!
2. Meditate
Incorporate mindful meditations throughout your day! A fantastic way to add meditation to your list of work habits is to do it during meal breaks. You can start your day with a simple coffee (or tea) meditation–focusing on the aromas, sensations, and tastes that a warm beverage can bring. Another idea is to do an easy lunch meditation, taking the time to savor your meal and bringing your attention to the different textures and tastes of each bite. For some other meditation tips to incorporate throughout your work day, check out our 3 Meditations to Ease Workday Tension blog post!
3. Get Moving
Who here has experienced neck tension because of work? Incorporating some movement throughout your day, whether it’s simple stretches (check out our yoga poses for self-care post) or taking a small stroll, can break up the routine and refresh your mind. Exercise gets the blood circulating so that your brain gets a fresh supply of oxygen and nutrients.
Healthy Habit Tip: Set a timer to go off every 50 minutes. Take a 10-minute break to walk around, do some stretches, or grab some more water, and when your break is up, reset the alarm.
4. Healthy Snacks
When grocery shopping for the week, make and effort to buy healthy fruits and nuts that serve as great snacks. Place these options within arms-reach so that when you get that snack craving during work, you’ll reach for the healthy choice instead of the usual cookies or candies. Snacking on fruits and nuts helps to regulate blood sugar levels throughout the day so that you don’t crash by your 2pm meeting.
Healthy Habit Tip: For those of you with a sweet tooth, try these Cacao Collagen Energy Balls or Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins for a nutrient-dense way to satisfy your cravings!
5. Practice Gratitude
Did you know that humans have a “negativity bias?” Naturally, we’re more likely to focus on things that are going wrong than things that are going well. Flip that mindset by practicing gratitude!
Start a gratitude journal. Begin your day by writing down one thing that you’re grateful for (extra points if you make it about work) and conclude your day by jotting another thing down. When you’re doing this exercise, really tap into feeling grateful and carry that with you as challenges arise throughout the day. At the end of the week, month, year, read back on all the little things that have brought you joy and celebrate your commitment to being a happier person.
