Work as a virtual assistant can be as busy as work done in a bustling corporate office. VAs usually work on multiple tasks on a deadline, and that would mean that they need to focus on their task and work on it until the day is done. This, naturally, involves a lot of sitting in front of a computer screen, the negative effects of which are predictable, and indeed have shown in many cases in the past.
Sitting in front of a computer or the desk for your entire day can hurt more than just your back. It can tire your eyes and make you idle enough to gather some fat at the end of the day, and those are but two of the many ways working as a VA can be detrimental to your health. As such, while we need to focus at work, we should also learn to watch over our health as we work.
Today, we will be sharing a few tips that you can use to keep yourself healthy even if your work does not allow you to leave your desk.
- Exercise before you go to work. Do simple workouts before you start your work day. Day people, however, will be required to get up early for this matter, but the benefits are all worth it: for one, you will feel a lot more energized after your exercise session, and combined with a healthy diet, can help you burn fat fast. Understandably, though, there are people—particularly those who work in an office away from home—who don\’t have enough time to spend at home or in their office before they start working. In such cases, the best workout that they can do is to start off early, ditch vehicular commute, and just walk their way to work.
- Take a breather from time to time. It\’s never a bad thing to take unofficial breaks, especially if it does not take long enough to make you go idle. Stress can build up rather quickly in a busy work environment, regardless if you work at home or in the office. While complete dedication to work is admirable, you should always remember to take some time to clear the junk off your head. Sit back and relax after every so often, and you\’ll be amazed at what a refreshed mind can do to your mood and productivity.
- Eat healthy snacks. Stop bringing junk food to work. Motivate yourself or simply keep your mouth busy with more nutritious snacks like fruit and salads. Eating healthy at work can easily reduce the risk of obesity, especially when combined with exercise before or after your day at the office.
- Eat a healthy lunch. Pick your meal carefully, and we don\’t mean pondering what to choose at the local McDonald\’s overhead counter menu. Have some fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and other nutrient-packed dishes. It also helps that you take time to cook your meal using fresh, nutritious ingredients before you go to work, or during lunch break in the case of people working from home.
- Dare to get off your desk even for just a bit. As we have mentioned earlier, it\’s not bad to take a break once in a while. During breaks, though, why not get off your desk and find a cozy, airy spot where you can relax and clear your mind for a bit? You don\’t need to get out and go somewhere far for that matter. Taking a short while to get a whiff from the window or reclining on your sofa is good enough.
- Stand up and do stretchings every now and then. In this line of work, you will need to sit a lot within eight hours. Sometimes, work can be so demanding that you won\’t even find yourself getting off your chair at all! Now, a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that sitting for long periods of time increases the risk of an early death. While the study focused on older women, it is indication that sitting for long stretches can be unhealthy to the body. As such, it helps that you make it a habit to stand up and stretch every now and then; this should get your blood flowing naturally while you spend a bit of calories.
- Keep your desk clean. A clean desk not only leaves a good first impression; cleaning your work area regularly is also a great way to prevent disease and keep disease-laden vermin away.