In a world where 94% of working professionals work over 50 hours weekly, the need to strike a balance between work and lifestyle is very important, now more than ever. With this amount of workload, every professional, whether self-employed or working in a corporate environment should be concerned about improving their work-life balance and take steps to ensure they do this by any and all means possible.
Below are a few tips for adopting a staying healthy as a busy professional.
1. Food is the Fuel
Undoubtedly, the type of food we eat affects our total performance. Eat right to live right. It is not uncommon to follow an eating plan, but a healthy eating plan can only be effective if it is followed religiously and your schedule may not offer you the luxury of being able to do this.
So, what can you do to improve your food-life balance? Try these helpful tips:
● Make breakfast a priority every day: it can be a very light meal but should contain high amounts of fibre and some protein which energises the body.
● Stick to homemade food so that the temptation of having to eat unhealthy snacks at the workplace is avoided.
● Eat healthy foods which contain micronutrients and release glucose slowly to the body. Some examples are potatoes, beans, lentils and salads.
● Bring fruits with you to work: as the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Fruits keep you healthy and strong and should be included as a staple part of your diet.
● Drink lots of water to keep your system hydrated at all times. Avoid too much soda, alcohol and caffeine as too much of it can affect your health.
2. Physical Fitness
Regular physical activities improve every aspect of our health. Exercising has an endless array of benefits. Unfortunately for most professionals, long workdays and extra responsibilities do not leave any time for regular physical activities. To make this work, you should know that:
● You do not need to go to the gym to exercise, any activity counts. The aim is to avoid sitting for an extended period of time. There are different activities which can be beneficial. You can choose to use the stairs or walk across the room to have a chat; it all counts.
● Keep track of your activities. With advancements in technology, you can use a wearable step counter to monitor your activity. There are also applications that can help you count your steps, making it more fun to monitor your activity.
3. Keep on top of your mental health
Your mental health is very important. When we are mentally well, we are more productive and more able to focus. Ensure you maintain inner peace and avoid being overwhelmed by emotions and stress. Practice taking a few minutes of the day to stay silent and clear your mind. Short, 5-minute meditations are very helpful.
4. Check-in with your doctor
If something is causing you pain or distress, do not put off having it seen to simply because you are busy. Instead, look for alternate ways to see your GP such as by virtual appointment via phone or video as these can be scheduled at a time that suits you.
If something is causing you pain, then you are wise to get it checked out asap, whether you are busy or not. After all, if left to worsen this is going to affect your working life much more than it already may be.
5. Rest
Finally, no matter how busy your day has been, it is necessary that you allow yourself a decent amount of sleep. Resting makes you feel much better and is equally as important as exercising in the building of your body’s muscles, strength and endurance. A good 7 to 9 hours’ sleep is essential for your health.
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