We’ve all been there: It’s 2 o’clock and you’re ready for a nap. You can grab some green tea, but even that sometimes isn’t enough to steer you away from Sleepy Town. We’ve scoured the internet to find five tips to get you moving during the day!
1. Walk it off
It’s easy to stay put when your job requires you to be at your desk most of the day, but walking a cumulative amount of 30 minutes a day can have seriously positive effects on your overall health. Try to park a little farther from your office each day or take a walk around the building during your lunch break. Recruit some co-workers and start a walking club—you can share gossip, talk about your favorite shows or just get to know each other as you stroll around the block!
2. Stretch it out
Sitting in the same position for long periods of time can cause a buildup of lactic acid in your system, which, over time, can cause deterioration in your muscles. Make sure you stand up and do some simple stretches every few hours so your limbs stay loose and limber! This will also help reduce soreness at the end of the day.
Check out this awesome list of easy stretches you can do at your desk.
3. Snack smart
We all get a little peckish as the day goes on, so make sure your desk is stocked with healthy (and tasty) snacks. We recommend low-carb options like peanut or nut butter, almonds, dark chocolate, trail mix and more! For a more complete list of happy and healthy snacks, check out this article from Eating Well.
4. Water, water everywhere
You’ve heard that you need to drink water over and over, and you hear it for a reason: It’s true! Dehydration is no laughing matter, and drinks like coffee and soda contain chemicals and salts that can actually sap your body of water, making you thirstier.
If you’re not a fan of plain water, there are easy ways to add flavor naturally! Pineapple, orange, lemon and cucumber are just some of the things you can add to your water to make it infinitely more sippable as you go through your day. Check out Prevention’s article here for some great infused-water recipes!
5. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
If you’re chronically running out of the door without breakfast, make sure you always have some low-carb snack and breakfast options at the office. Livestrong has a great list (including the kid-friendly Ants on a Log!) that you can prepare quickly or just have on hand!