Trying to maintain that work-life balance is hard as it is. How do you keep up with friends and family, catch that movie you've been dying to watch, go shopping for your partner's birthday and do the myriad other things on your list whilst also keeping up with the pressure of a job that requires you to be present (at least mentally) all the time? Just reading all those things together in a go can leave you feeling breathless. Actually executing a plan that involves ticking off all those tasks off your list, can prove to be a nightmare. Throw in the additional pressure of also keeping yourself in good shape and maintaining a healthy body weight. Phew! Life just feels so much harder, and not to mention, exhausting. We understand.
If you're someone with a 9 to 9 job, doing all the other things that you want to do can prove to be harder for you than it is for the average person. But here's the thing, whether or not you can make time for that movie, you need to make time for your health. Staying in shape doesn't merely mean fitting into a size small at your favorite store; it means that you don't find yourself huffing and puffing after walking up a flight of stairs to reach your desk. It means actually being able to do some of the physical activities that you enjoy, without developing strange aches and pains in places you've never even thought about.
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Also Read: 3 Signs You Need To Be Working Less And Working Out More
Staying fit and healthy is essential, both for your physical and mental well being. Here are a few ways in which you can facilitate the making of a healthier you, even if you spend long hours at work.
1. Carry your own lunch
It's easy to eat anything that comes your way when you're in a high-stress environment. But the probability of you doing that goes even higher when you haven't eaten a wholesome meal. Making the effort to prepare and carry your own lunch to work is one of the easiest ways to ensure that you do not end up eating unhealthy foods that are laden with fat. When you order in or say yes to getting a quick meal with your colleagues, your options are seldom going to be healthy. So pack your own lunch and save yourself from consuming those extra calories.
2. Keep a gym bag in your car
Not just a bag, but one that contains your workout shoes and clothes. Going back home after a tiring day at work is almost like entering a black hole - there's no getting out. So instead of heading home and thinking you might hit the gym after a quick snack and a short nap, head to the gym straight from office. The thought will feel dreadful at first, owing to how tired you might be feeling; but once you get to the gym and start working out, you will feel refreshed.
If you take public transport to office, you can still carry a small bag with you and keep it at your desk. No excuses when it comes to your health.
3. Stand as much as you sit
Studies have found that those who sit for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity face risks that are similar to the risks posed by obesity and smoking. While working at your job is essential, balancing the hours of sitting with enough physical activity is even more important.
Make sure to keep standing up, stretching, taking short walks (even if just to the water cooler), through the day. Remember, if you're not in good health, little else will matter in the time to come.
