As employees, we spend the bulk of our day at work. So, it’s important to incorporate a healthy lifestyle at our workplace as well as at home. On average, people spend 9.3 hours every day in the seated position. Whether in the car, at a desk or on the couch watching TV, the majority of us sit for longer periods of time throughout the day than we do sleeping. In a study from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers report that people who spend more hours of the day sitting have up to a 66 percent higher risk of developing certain types of cancer than those who aren’t as inactive. We also have a tendency to stay busy with work, to the point that convenience foods with higher amounts of fat, sugar and salt become the norm. The average American is only consuming about 5-15 grams of fiber per day, when we should be having anywhere from 25-40 grams of fiber daily. Changing some of our current unhealthy behaviors to focus on better health and wellness will help us be better for ourselves, at home and at work.
Ready to make a change? May is National Employee Health and Fitness Month and it's the perfect time to get started. I put together this calendar for you, with each day reflecting a different health challenge.
What are some of the small changes you've made to incorporate a healthy lifestyle at work? Share your tips with us by leaving a comment below. If you enjoyed this blog, be sure to check out these posts below. You can also subscribe to get MIBluesPerspectives workplace wellness content delivered to your inbox.
- Wellness in the workplace: simple "desk-ercises" for you and your employees
- In May, spotlight falls on workplace wellness and avoiding the 3pm slump
- Trend alert: Workplace wellness incentives that actually work
Photo credit: A Healthier Michigan
