Readers Review Con

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Are you sitting at a desk all day at work? That’s not good. According to an analysis of 13 studies by the Mayo Clinic, sitting for a collective eight hours or more every day is just as bad for you as smoking or obesity. Some deskbound workers opt to use a standing desk, but if that’s not a comfortable way for you to work, you could simply set an alarm to go off every half-hour as a reminder you need to get up and move around. Take a brisk walk around your building or parking lot to stretch your legs and get your blood flowing.

POOR POSTURE Along the same lines as sitting too long is the problem of poor posture. While hours of sitting can cause a problem, there are other culprits that drive you to hunch over. Your computer screen and keyboard might be too low, forcing you to lean down. Change up your workspace by raising your screen or the surface where your keyboard rests. You should be staring straight ahead at your screen and your keyboard should be even with your forearms when your elbows are bent at a 45-degree angle.

MENTAL FATIGUE When you worked remotely throughout the pandemic, you might have had the flexibility of setting your schedule and breaking up your hours when you’re most productive. When you’re working in an office, it’s very likely you have no option but to work the 9-to-5 business hours. These long periods of concentration can be a drain on you mentally, particularly if it’s exacerbated by stress, sensory distractions, or workplace drama. If you can, take frequent breaks, even if it’s only for five minutes. Disengage from work when you leave the office and get plenty of sleep at night so you can approach each day feeling refreshed.

NUTRITION Unless you take the time to pack your lunch every day, your options for food are usually limited to takeout from the nearest restaurant or deli. Depending on what you order, you could end up with a meal that has double the calories, fat, and sugar of something you would bring from home. If you’re looking to improve your diet when you’re at the office, the best thing you can do is take 10 minutes to pack a lunch every day (leftovers from last night’s dinner work great). If that’s not an option, at least keep your desk stocked with plenty of healthy snacks like nuts, fruit, and whole-grain crackers.