5 Ways to Stay Healthy While Working a 9 to 5

A few nights ago I started reading “Creating Your Best Life”  again.  I bought it back in the summer but never finished it.  The good thing about this book is that you can start reading at one point, put it down, and pick it up again at a later date.  Some books you might have to go back and re-read some key concepts to understand the rest of the book.  This one is different and I like that.  This book reminds me every time I pick it up to set goals for myself and to start working on improving today, not tomorrow.

I’m not perfect.  No one is.  However, here are the 5 ways I stay healthy while working a 9 to 5.

1. Get up early to work out.  Lately, I’ve been loving waking up early and walking over to the gym.  At 6 a.m., not many people are there and I have enough time to get a good run in before getting ready for work.  Now that it’s brighter out in the early morning, I (usually) don’t have a problem getting out of bed.  Sometimes, I even wear the t-shirt and shorts that I will wear to the gym the next morning to bed the night before.  This way all I have to do is brush my teeth and put on my sports bra, socks, and sneakers.  I love feeling like I accomplished a lot by 8 a.m.
2. Pack your own food.  There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to eat healthy and having an office full of unhealthy sweets and junk food.  At my work, there are always bowls of chocolate laying around, bagels in the conference room, and homemade baked goods in the kitchen.  It takes a lot of willpower to say “no” and walk away.  I find it easier if I load up on healthy options during the day.  My favorites at the moment are sea salt almonds, baby carrots, celery sticks, and Sharkies fruit snacks.
3. Try a new group fitness class.  Working 9 to 5 can become very routine and boring.  I get up, go to the gym, go to work, come home, eat dinner, blog, shower, sleep, repeat.  Lately, I’ve been trying to find new group fitness classes to try (recently I tried Zumba)!  If group fitness classes aren’t your thing, try to switch up your cardio or weight training routine.  Do you run a lot?  How about trying swimming or biking?  There are many options to choose from.
4. Take time to walk around the office.  You may have a desk job (like I do), but if you ask anyone in my office they will tell you that I am constantly running around the office; whether I’m packing for a trade show, faxing a pack of documents to a vendor, or checking up on the data team, I walk around super fast.  I’m not telling you to jog around your office building skipping in and out of conference rooms.  However, do make sure to take a break every once and a while, walk away from your computer screen and go for a quick walk.  This actually helps with productivity!
5. Make time for yourself after work.  I know not everyone can completely shut themselves off from their emails and cell phones after hours, but dedicating time at night to yourself is important.  I’m guilty of constantly checking my emails after work, but I do make time for other important parts of my life:  blogging, dinner and TV time with Bry, reading, and just quietly thinking.

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