In today's business world, employees are logging more time than ever in the office. America is one of the few countries that does not limit the maximum number of work hours allowed in a work week. 85.8 percent of males and 66.5 percent of females work more than 40 hours per week. All these hours can add to significant health issues for you and your family, But we have six tips to help you when business keeps you away from home.
- Long Hours: Long hours, especially at a desk, can wreak havoc on your spine, joints, and circulatory system. Getting up and moving around throughout the day or doing in-office stretches can help increase comfort and decrease the long-term effects of maintaining the same position. Also, occasional walks during lunch or after work can help blood flow and reduce stress levels.
- Eating: When work keeps you away from home for long hours, it is easy to fall back on quick and easy eating habits. We rely on fast food in a fast-paced business culture to keep up. There are now more healthy quick meal options. However, they frequently carry a more significant portion of salt, fat, and calories than you would find in homemade food. Instead, buy your produce and other snacks at the beginning of the week. Get them in their original form (like a block of cheese) and spend an hour or two prepping meals into individual containers. This makes eating on the go healthier and cheaper.
- Take a Break: The mental toll of too many working hours can be devastating in the long run. This often leads to insomnia, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart attack, among other issues. If cutting back hours is not an option, focus on regular breaks from work. That can mean taking 10 minutes to sit in the car. Or you can walk around the block, read a chapter in a book, or make a personal phone call home. It is anything to briefly get out of the work environment mentally.
- Prioritize Family. When a business keeps you away from home, you must be more proactive about setting aside time to spend with family. Ask for an anniversary day off or ensure no one schedules a meeting during the first-grade music performance. Letting the office know that certain family events are non-negotiable is okay. It will improve family dynamics by making family members feel valued. It will also decrease stress levels by acknowledging that there is life outside of work.
- Stop Multitasking: Seriously, stop this immediately. Multitasking is a misconception; it is not physically possible to do two things well at the same time, so all you are doing is bouncing between things. Studies have proven that this can be one of the biggest contributors to work stress. Slowing down and focusing on one or two tasks or projects can increase productivity and decrease stress.
- Be available for friends. This may seem like strange advice when it feels like there is barely enough time to go around for immediate family. But, building a community is crucial to an individual's health and well-being. Belonging to a community decreases stress, not just from the camaraderie it affords. It also provides insulation in the event of a crisis. For example, being part of a community can help ease a burden if a family member is sick, a job is lost, or some other difficulty affects your family. Ultimately, people who feel secure in their communities lead happier and healthier lives.
Remembering these six tips, you can improve your health, decrease stress, and make your family happy, even if you cannot leave the office. When you manage your stress, you are best for your clients. To become a better resource for your clients and their HR team, check out our free e-book below!
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