Are you developing the dreaded “Desk Belly”? Since graduating many years ago I have worked in office environments. Working in London in demanding property and recruitment roles has meant spending many hours sat behind desks, on the phone, working on computers.
In the first 6 months of working in London I put on at least a stone in weight!!! Over the following year I had put on even more…. So why is this?
Well it’s simple:
- Lack of sleep
- Poor eating habits
- No exercise
- Sitting at desks
- Not taking breaks
- Excessive social drinking
- Stress – work and life balance
I got to a point where I realised I needed to make changes, eat healthier, lose a bit of weight and feel better about myself.
So 2 years into working in London I decided to try and strike a balance between working hard and looking after myself.
So these are the things I did to keep healthy at work:
- Get 7 hours sleep every night
- Go to the gym 3 times a week (I chose to do 2 mornings and 2 evenings per week)
- Take time out the office for lunch, fresh air!
- Make healthy food the night before and take it into work – no junk food on the run!!
- Always use stairs and walk where possible – don’t take lifts when in work, on the tubes etc
- Drink alcohol no more than twice per week!! Yes it’s possible!
- Eat fruit, nuts, yogurts as snacks instead of crisps, chocolate etc..
- Take part in running events (marathon etc.)
- Sports – playing sport again for the first time since University..
But more than anything I developed a set routine, I found time for all these things and I didn’t change this unless there were special circumstances.
This new routine gave me boundaries and after a few weeks I started to notice the difference, I felt healthier, less stressed, felt like I had more time AND started over exceeding at work. I earned more and got promoted at work!! I ended up losing over 3 stone and became a lot fitter too. I still worked 50-60 hours a week and still do but I follow this routine and that’s the biggest tip I can give anyone struggling with a high pressure job, long hours and demanding targets.
Routine and structure is not only key to managing your personal life and health but also plays a major part in your success at work, so master this and you will feel and perform at your best in everything you do..
If you are currently in a very stressful role, where you are feeling overworked and undervalued call in for a chat with me or one of the CPP team and we can give you some advice and talk you through options!
You are the most important person, so take time to look after yourself!
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