The 3 Things I Do Every Day at Work to Stay Healthy

As a fitness editor, it’s hard for me to sit at a desk for eight hours a day. I love being active and taking care of my body – and an office doesn’t necessarily lend itself to that. Personally, I try as much as possible to squeeze in at least one workout each day (sometimes two!), whether it’s an early a.m. run through the park, a yoga class at lunch, or a Spin session at my gym after work.

Realistically, though, not everyone has time (or energy) to get those workouts in. You still have to take care of yourself! Here are three things you can add to your day to bolster your health super seamlessly, with no effort.

Drink a LOT of Water

Not only does it keep you hydrated, but the side effect of massive water consumption is — you guessed it — several trips to the bathroom. While it may be a tad annoying at first, once you get used to it, said trips will actually force you to get up out of your chair and walk around, which is great for your spine, legs, and sanity. Keep a bottle on your desk to remind you to drink more H2O.

Protect Your Eyes

Staring at a computer screen for hours on end can destroy your vision. Set an alarm for every 20 minutes: blink your eyes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. I use the eyeCare Chrome extension, which pops up every 20 minutes and reminds me just how frequently I need to close my eyes to save my vision from deteriorating.
Every twenty minutes.

Stretch Every Day

Take a few minutes every day after work to stretch out. Pigeon pose is perfect for stretching and rolling out the hips after sitting in a chair all day. You can also use this time to meditate and take some deep breaths to let go of the stress from your day.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Thomas Beckner