Is work affecting your health?

• 

Work affecting your health should not be the case but it’s the reality for many people. 

I work with people in high pressure and stressful jobs where time is in constant shortage and often under a lot of stress that can wear you down. 

Prioritising your health It’s not that easy when work traditions and expectations are very much integrated.

Therefore businesses have a big responsibility to promote and help people prioritise their health. If you are working for yourself it can be equally hard to manage expectations of clients.

Not letting work affect your health can be done. Many businesses that have dedicated work hours to help their employees be more active have seen positive impact. 

Barriers that gets in the way are often 

• Long work hours
• Emergencies that need to be dealt with often take you over 40,50.60 + hours a week.
• Tight deadlines and expectations for things to be done yesterday.
• Exhaustion from all of the above.

How barriers from work affects your health 

Time and delivery expectations are two of the main points that are keeping people from living a healthier life. Long hours and high pressure/stress lead to lack of energy and time to engage in physical activity. Often we resort to foods that will give us a quick pick me up. We also tend to be less active during the day with non exercise activities like walking, quick movement breaks and fresh air. Lack of movement leads to injuries and niggles in the body that might prevent us from being physically active. It circles back to us being more stressed when physical activity has shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and mild depression. It has shown to increase focus, stress management, healthier bodies that keeps us physically active. 

Strategies that have a positive effect on your health

This might sound obvious and easy. And yes in theory it is, however changes need support and the strategy needs to be suitable to you and a business. If there is no adherence the strategy needs to be revised. Is work affecting your health these are a few tips to take you and you in the right direction.  

• Manage expectations at work
• Allocated break times. 
• Allow 30 min of work time for a walk. 
• Do walk meetings, can you be outdoors?
• Dont work after a certain time (non negotiable)
• Take the stairs instead of elevator
• Take the long way to the tube station
• Adjustable desk so you can alternate between sitting and standing.
• Seek out professional expertise