At one time or another, we’ve all tried to find the secret to being happier at work. Even the most upbeat employees are going to have those times when they just don’t feel the same level of energy and passion about coming into the office each day.
Last year, in an effort to boost the health of my staff at BNI’s headquarters in Upland, Calif., I stumbled across one of these secrets. I found that the secret to being happier at work is actually being healthier at work.
Here are five ways to not only be healthier at the office, but to be happier too.
Drink water
It is easy in an office to reach for readily available hot coffee, tea, cocoa or soft drinks, but what your body needs in order to both work effectively and release fat stores is plain, pure water. Plastic bottled water usually contains BPAs. Instead, drink filtered water or glass-bottled mineral water.
Many people experience chronic, low-level headaches, which can often make you unproductive at work. When we are dehydrated, one of the signals our body gives is that low-grade headache. Try drinking half your body weight in ounces in purified, preferably alkaline (mineral) water for headache relief.
Find reasons to walk
When you have to move from your office to another office, take the stairs or walk the long way around. Another way to increase your physical exertion is to park further from the door at work.
Use your break time to take a longer walk or spend part of your lunch walking. Some offices have started walking clubs, where several staff members walk together in the morning before work or on their lunch break.
Simply walking 20 to 30 minutes per day can increase your body’s release of feel-good hormones, such as oxytocin, norepinephrine and serotonin. It can also help your fat-burning systems melt away excess body fat.
Bring your lunch
Such a simple change has the ability to make a huge difference in how healthy you are overall. Pack a power lunch made of fresh, organic vegetables and whole grains, such as brown rice, steamed quinoa and fresh fruit. This enables you to avoid the temptation of easily accessible fast food, fried foods and foods high in sugars.
Find an accountability partner in the office
Anytime you are trying to make major shifts in health habits, it is powerful to have someone to help you with the changes. Pick someone who has similar goals to your own and who you know can be positive and supportive. Plan regular times to check in with each other, use various methods of contact (email, text, phone calls, as well as face to face), and, most of all, be honest!
Find your positive attitude
There are many studies that substantiate how much your attitude affects both your health and your level of happiness in life. When people consistently take the negative view on things, their immune systems become depressed, their overall outlook on life dims and they can become negative and unhappy about everything.
Being happy is always a choice. Learning how to choose to be positive goes a long way in creating health and happiness. ●
Ivan Misner, Ph.D., called the “Father of Modern Networking” by CNN, is considered one of the world’s leading experts on business networking. Dr. Misner has written eleven books including the three New York Times Bestsellers, two #1 Amazon.com Bestsellers and a Wall Street Journal Bestseller. He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior.
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