6 Tips To Create A Healthier Workspace
Your workspace is your personal oasis in a place where you spend a significant amount of time each week so it is important to create a healthier workspace. Whether you’re working from home or on-site in an office, the way you set up your workspace has the potential to improve productivity, boost mood, increase job satisfaction, and actually support your health too!
My name is Nia and I’m a Holistic Nutritionist and Contributor here at Jesse Lane Wellness! Before I started my own business helping people with autoimmune thyroid disease live well and thrive, I worked remotely for The Walt Disney Company, scaling and supporting an internal screening service. Working for a major corporation can be stressful. There are deadlines, a team counting on you, pressure to perform, and generally A LOT of self-development and skill-building to help you grow in your position (or into another one). The pressures can be real, but so can the success!
One of the ways I found success was by setting myself up for it! One of the easiest ways to do that? By trying these tips to create a healthier workspace. They will keep you feeling like your most productive self, without sacrificing your health or happiness. I’ve created a list of 6 Tips To Create A Healthier Workspace to help you feel your best at work! Feeling better in your workspace can help you perform better, feel happier, increase energy and enthusiasm, and have you walking away at the end of the day with a smile on your face! Let’s dive in, shall we!
6 Tips To Create A Healthier Workspace
1. Declutter
Tip number one is the most important because it sets the tone for everything else! Is your desk covered in paperwork, pens, trinkets, and more? Then this tip is especially for you! Decluttering and organizing the space around you has been shown to reduce stress and create a sense of accomplishment. A clutter-free workspace means you start each day with less stress, already feeling like you’ve won. That comfortable confidence will carry into your work and interactions with colleagues for a more positive workday. Knowing where everything is in your space will also help you feel less stressed and more in control of your day.
2. Get Ergonomic
Ergonomics refers to various things like desk height, chair position, posture, and more. Some corporations will have an HR person whose job it is to confirm you’re working at an ergonomic station. Ask your company if they have resources dedicated to this, and how they can help you create an ergonomic environment in the office or at home. Poor ergonomics can lead to a sore, strained body.
If you’re feeling any pain points after work, notice where they are and consider making some adjustments. Sore back? Maybe you need a new or adjusted chair. Sore legs? Maybe you need a standing desk. For me, I found my wrists were the problem. My mouse and keyboard were angled in a way that didn’t feel nice by 5 pm. I asked for some mouse and keyboard rests for my wrists and poof! The pain was gone! A simple fix like that has the potential to seriously improve your job satisfaction, health, and productivity!
3. Improve Air Quality
Another tip to create a healthier workspace is to consider the air that you’re breathing all day, every day. Are you at home stuck in a tiny, unventilated room? Or are you in an office with dry air constantly circulating? Either way, improving the quality of air in your workspace can have awesome benefits! If you’re working in a small space, stale air can make you feel like you’re suffocating. Air circulation is important for feeling well, as deep breathing of fresh air has the potential to reduce stress.
Investing in an air purifier will remove odours, and clean, and circulate the air for you. Although air purifiers for improved long-term lung health are somewhat controversial, having clean, fresh air in a small space makes a difference for your mental clarity and overall satisfaction. I would recommend a HEPA filter for the best results as they seem to be the most effective. Humidifiers are also an excellent choice for dry air environments. If you leave your workday with a dry mouth, throat, or cough, a humidifier might be right for you. Humidifiers will emit water vapours into the air which can lubricate the airways. Leaving work feeling well is important because it allows you to enjoy your downtime more fully. Knowing that you can finish out the workday without any ailments will increase job satisfaction and boost productivity too!
4. Use Eye Protection
This might sound like a strange one if you work in an office, but eye protection is a must for people working on computers! The blue light emitted from computers has the potential to cause a plethora of health problems, you might not expect! These include dry eyes, cataract onset, macular degeneration, and overstimulation in the brain. This last one is particularly problematic because blue light has the potential to disrupt melatonin and increase adrenocortical hormone production. This triggers our stress response to imbalance our hormones and causes sleep disorders.
If you’re wired after work or have dry, tired eyes, blue light glasses or screen protection might be something to look into. These are meant to block the blue light rays from hitting your retinas, reducing the risk of developing health effects. Another strategy to keep your eyes healthy is to periodically close and cover them either with your hands or an eye mask. This helps to reduce stress and give your eyes a much-needed screen break.
5. Find Functional Desk Decorations
Although we want to reduce clutter, having functional desk decorations can actually help boost our mood and keep us healthy! Having something like a stress ball can reduce stress by squeezing it, and strengthen our hands after typing! A photo of your family can boost serotonin and bring you joy. Plants can help ground us by providing a visual of nature, making us feel closer to it even when we’re stuck indoors. Adding special decorative items to our desks has the potential to make us happier and more energetic at work. However, make sure when you’re choosing your items that they don’t create excess clutter, that they do have a function, and that they bring you joy! Thanks Marie Kondo!
6. Stock Healthy Snacks & Filtered Water
Having healthy snacks and filtered water on hand can make more of a difference than you think. We’ve all heard the term hangry right? The last place you want to be feeling the hangry pangs is in a professional environment. Keep healthy snacks nearby that contain both protein and fats to help you get through the day with more energy and balanced blood sugar. Dehydration can also cause us to not feel our best. Always reach for some water first as dehydration can sometimes be masked as hunger. Filtered water is best to reduce stress on our liver, and provide us with that perfect thirst-quenching feel! I like to have a big bottle of pre-filtered water on my desk at all times so I can quickly hydrate when I need it!
Looking for more healthy snacking tips?
Jesse is offering an awesome Health Based Lunch & Learn all about Healthy Snacking!
Have you wondered if snacking contributes to weight gain? Or does it speed up your metabolism? Is it healthy to snack before bed? High-fat snacks are bad right? During Jesse’s Healthy Snacking Lunch & Learn, she’ll be playing myth-busters! She busts snacking myths, teaches you what a healthy snack looks like, and shares lots of sweet and savoury snack ideas! These are great ways to make create a healthier workspace.
She’ll talk about when to snack, what to snack on, why you should (or shouldn’t) snack, and so much more! Email info@jesselanewellness.com for details and pricing!
Office Approved Healthy Snacking Recipe Roundup
Anti-inflammatory Carrot Muffins
Anti-inflammatory Carrot Muffins get their anti-inflammatory boost from turmeric. Turmeric gives these muffins a beautiful vibrant colour and subtle flavour. They have protein from almond flour and tahini, and fat from coconut, making them the perfect energy-boosting snack! Try them with extra tahini on the side and a cup of tea!
Moringa Snack Bars
Moringa Snack Bars are perfect for a quick bite in a pinch at the office! Each bar has one serving of moringa which will give you a nutrient-dense energy boost. They get a chewy sweetness from dates and a satisfying crunch from raw cacao nibs. They have protein from seeds and fat from coconut and nut butter. Watch Jesse make them step by step at the link!
Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie
Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie is like having dessert for breakfast, but it is actually healthy! You can enjoy it guilt-free knowing that you are starting your day with tons of nutrients your body craves. There’s protein powder for that protein kick and hemp seeds for both protein and fat! Make a batch ahead of time and store it in the fridge at work.
Healthy Homemade Sesame Snaps
Healthy homemade sesame snaps are the perfect treat or snack for anyone who lived through the 90s. Sesame seeds are one of the best plant-based sources of calcium for healthy bones, teeth, and muscle function!
Salt & Vinegar Crispy Chickpeas
Ditch the chips and instead opt for these Salt & Vinegar Crispy Chickpeas! They have tons of protein to keep you feeling full and satisfied, and also contain healthy fats from oil. These are a great snack to have on your desk to graze on when you need a boost of energy. Best of all they only take five minutes of prep! Happy crunching!
Meet Nia
Nia is a Holistic Nutritionist and the Founder of Good Vibrations Rock Shop in Stratford, Ontario Canada. Nia is an expert in the healing powers of crystals, rocks, and gems. She sources the highest quality pieces from across the globe and specializes in finding rare and one-of-a-kind gems and fossils.
She is an advocate for low-stress holistic living, allergies, autoimmunity, and the mind-body connection.
Nia is all about spreading her vibrant, sunny energy everywhere she goes! She and the shop are pillars in the community, carrying local artisan goods, and creating deep connections and nourishing experiences through high-vibe events and 1:1 services with skilled practitioners.
Nia is also the creator of an online crystal course catalogue to help empower you on your wellness journey! If you’re curious about crystals or want to learn how to get the most value and connection from your stones, you definitely want this! The best part? You can learn right from the comfort of your home and watch again and again!
Visit Good Vibrations Rock Shop where the vibes are immaculate, the stones are stunning, and everyone is welcomed with open arms and open hearts. You can also connect with Nia online via Instagram, Facebook, her website, or email!
Office photo by Slava Keyzman on Unsplash