As I sit here at my standing desk, I’m reminded of all the other “work healthy” tips and tricks we ought to be implementing into our busy professional lives. For the record, I do occasionally stand at the standing desk.
Whether you’re a young buck or a seasoned professional, the public relations, government affairs kind of work is not of the slow-paced variety and when most of us hear the popular buzz phrase, “work-life balance” it is often followed by eye-rolling and murmured cursed words.
“Does it even exist?“
The reality is, sometimes work is hectic. Sometimes life outside of work is hectic. It’s not a fight for balance; it’s a juggling act. So, while you’re working on your juggling act, use your time wisely and implement a few things to keep you healthy physically and mentally while you are on the clock.
So, here are 3 simple tricks I learned to get the best out of sitting at your desk:
Express gratitude.
What are you grateful for? Take some time each day to express gratitude for the things you have. This helps shift our mindset from unnecessary mental clutter and wildly unproductive stress. It’s so easy yet hugely impactful. If my 5-year-old can do it, so can you.
Get outside!
You have a lunch break each day, right? Use that time to get outside. Eat outside or if your favorite spot is within walking distance, consider actually walking there. Yes, it’s hot in July. Yes, walking requires effort. Unfortunately, your whining doesn’t burn calories! Boom.
Stretch it out – but don’t be weird about it.
Did you know some researches say that sitting is the new smoking? Now that seems a bit extreme to me, but if you don’t believe we originated from apes, you better believe we’re going to start resembling them now. Do your body, and your posture a favor and stretch! Pull your shoulders back, do toe touches, stretch your keyboard fingers. Seriously, look at them. They’re in a perpetual C shape. Finally, please, for the sake of everyone around you, do not get crazy with the yoga moves and intense desk squats.
The work-life dynamic is more than just a constant fight for equilibrium. There’s nothing equal about the combination of career and family priorities and there are a lot of balls in the air. Rather than frantically straining to balance them all, learn to juggle.
