Whether you are working from home or you are in the office, it can sometimes be a struggle to maintain a healthy routine. It’s sometimes all too easy to reach for the energy drinks, the fast food, and the sugary snacks in the cupboard.
Good nutrition and sticking to a healthy diet enables you to stay energised and productive throughout the week. Veganuary is predicted to be big this year as many people have been inspired to overhaul their diets and try something new.
When maintaining a good diet and lifestyle, work can often be more productive as you find yourself with more energy and more motivation and productivity. While a healthy routine can be difficult to stick to, here are some easy ways that you can incorporate healthy habits into your work routine:
Try to snack healthily if you need to snack at all
While snacking should sometimes be avoided, there are many benefits of having healthy snacks in between your mealtime. Snacks can help to keep you full, therefore reducing the chances of overeating in the next meal you take. While sugary and high-calorie snacks are tasty, in the long run they won’t give you the energy you need for the working day.
If you’re looking for new ways to jazz up your lunchbox, there are also many healthy snack ideas that are perfect for work that you can try out this year. Overnight oats and energy balls are just some snacks that you could add to your work day. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts, are also some of the top healthy snacks to keep at your desk throughout the week. When working from home it can be all too tempting to reach for the chocolate, but stocking up the cupboards with healthy alternatives can curb your cravings.
Consider meal prepping for the week ahead
When you’re low on time, it’s all too easy and quick to reach the nearest food that’s available. When working at the office, this can often be fast food and unhealthy snacks. Preparing meals in advance is a great way to keep your nutrition goals in check and save time on preparing/buying lunch.
While meal prepping on a weekend for the week ahead might take some time, you will have all your meals ready and prepared for the working week. Meal prepping is a great way for you to avoid any other food temptations as there is already something ready for you to eat.
Reap the health benefits of a cup of coffee
While caffeine is not good for you in large quantities, having one or two cups of coffee a day has many health benefits. In the right amount, caffeine can be a great adrenaline booster and performance enhancer for both your physical and mental health. If you are slow to start the day, or cannot seem to stay awake for your work meetings, a cup of coffee can help boost your alert levels.
In moderation, some of the health benefits of coffee include boosting serotonin and dopamine levels, aiding in fat loss, and improving your reaction times, memory, and mental function. This can positively aid work performance and can help employees be more productive and get more work done. While too much caffeine can have negative effects, just the right amount of coffee can be beneficial for everyday life.
Remember to always stay hydrated throughout the day
Staying hydrated is a vital factor that is essential for your physical health. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can curb any cravings, help keep your body temperature in check, and reduce the chance of dehydration. It’s important especially if you’re drinking cups of coffee as this can dehydrate you. When you’re dehydrated at work it can often impact your work performance, your concentration, and lead to tiredness and headaches.
Other drinks such as fruit juices and tea are also great ways to get your recommended amount of water per day. Especially when you are using technology 9-5, like staring at your computer or phone all day, it’s important to take a break away from your desk and hydrate.