Working in an office is, in some ways, the easiest way to ensure you’ll be able to get, or stay, and feeling fit. And in some ways, it’s the absolute worst thing that could happen to you. Whatever you are in control of which way it works out for you, so take a moment to be mindful of which aspects of office life affect your attempts to get fit, and to work out what you can do about it with just a little change of mind frame or better planning.
The Health Hurdles of Office Life
Sitting Around
The hours and hours of sitting down. This is the biggest issue with modern day life. Instead of doing a lot of manual labour, we sit down for a minimum of eight hours a day.
Often a lot more if you take in the time you’re commuting (let alone the time on the sofa in the evening – recovering from all the physical activity during the day…) If we’re not getting enough cardio exercise in, we aren’t going to be fit and healthy.
Upside down Routine
There are some people who manage to wake up early enough to fit in a full gym session prior to arriving clean and fresh at the office at 8.45. But these people are rare! For the rest of us, it’s a shame that from the moment we wake up in the morning, and get going, and are fresh and alert (or perhaps in many cases, become fresh and alert with the first coffee), the majority of our mental and physical energy is spent rushing on the commute and then sitting at a desk staring at a computer screen.
Temptations & Boredom
With so many people around you, all of whom may be trying to live healthily (or might not even be trying), there’s ample opportunity for one person to fall off the wagon meaning that everyone else around is forced in to ‘saving’ them from eating this particular naughty delight all by themselves.
With enough of you in the office, this can seem to become a daily occurrence. Boredom is almost certainly the main culprit of this weak willed submission; who doesn’t feel like a chocolate muffin or piece of cake will save them from certain death by boredom at 3.11 on a Tuesday afternoon!
Despite the issues we face working in an office, don’t let this make you feel you’re destined to fail. Because there are so many more reasons why you’re lucky to work in an office, and great benefits in terms of your ability to be healthy!
Make Your Office-Work Work for You!
Routine means you can Plan your Meals and Snacks
Unlike shift work, where you will end up working from 5pm, eating at 1am, and potentially getting up at lunch time the following day, office work gives you the opportunity to eat at regular times each day (not late at night), and gives you time each even.
