Health & Wellness Tips

Read these 23 Health & Wellness Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Office tips and hundreds of other topics.

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How do I avoid eye strain?

Relieving Eye Strain

Look away from the computer screen regularly (stare out the window!) to exercise long-distance muscles of the eyes. Sit directly in front of your computer. When answering the phone, push the keyboard away and “swivel” your chair.

   
How do I prevent carpral tunnel syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition that can debilitate the wrists and hands of anyone who does a great deal of keyboarding or other repetitive motions. One key to prevention: take a 10-minute break away from the keyboard every hour.

   
How should I set up my keyboard to prevent injuries?

Keyboarding Setup

Make sure your keyboarding setup is a good fit for you. When seated in your chair, with your feet flat on the floor, do your elbows and knees form right angles? If not, you are inviting discomfort - and possibly debilitating injuries to your back, arms and legs.

   
What do I do if I´m having the worst day of my life?

Unwinding at Work

Every worker should have a private location where they can escape to unwind and relax. Whether it's the break room, lounge, lobby or a picnic table outside your building, use that area to unwind particularly when your daily stress hits hardest. Even your automobile will do when you need a few moments to de-compress. Caution: be sure you do not abuse break privileges as defined by your employer.

   
How can I relieve stress at work?

Benefits of Meditation

According to recent research, meditation does more than relieve stress. It can contribute to a healthier heart, provide chronic pain relief, lessen severe psoriasis and result in fewer bouts of insomnia. What qualifies as meditation? Fifteen minutes twice a day of sitting quietly and clearing the mind of negative thoughts. Focus your attention until you achieve a state of calm.

   
How can I eat better during the work day?

Trade in That Bran Muffin

Most coffee stand muffins are gigantic and pack a suprising amount of calories and fat. For 1/4 of the calories, choose a cup of bran flakes instead of that bran muffin. If there's no time to eat cereal before you leave for work, put the cereal into a container and take it with you. Mix it with a cup of low- or non-fat yogurt for a healthy breakfast that's not too messy to eat at your desk.

   
What is the best position for my computer screen?

Check Posture at Work Station

Does your chin just forward when you are working at the computer? This puts pressure on joints in the back of your neck. Check that your screen is 30 to 60 centimeters from your eyes and assess your posture.

   
What can I do when I feel stressed out?

Deep Breathing to Relieve Stress

Psychologists have developed a number of relaxation techniques that can help reduce stress on the job. Here's one: take a breather from stress by sitting in a comfortable position. Close your eyes. Deeply relax all your muscles and keep them relaxed. Breathe through your nose. Become aware of your breathing and as you breathe out, repeat a word (such as “one”) silently to yourself. Focus on one item or a pleasurable place or event.

   
How do I avoid burnout?

Leave the Office at the Office

Treat your weekends and evenings as “mini-vacations” from work, and avoid bringing your job home with you. Setting limits to your work schedule will help you keep your feelings toward your job positive. Do things you really enjoy on your time off.

   
How can I avoid repetitive motion keyboard injuries?

Proper Wrist Position While Typing

When typing, it is best to keep your wrists in a neutral position. In this position, the wrist is bent neither forward, backward, inward, or outward. Extremes in any of these positions can put strain on the joints in the wrist and put pressure on the tendons, blood vessels, and nerves passing through the wrists. These abnormal positions also place strain on the forearm muscles and the upper arms and shoulders which anchor to the upper body and neck.

   
Why does my back hurt so much?

Stretch Breaks

If you are working in front of a computer station, try taking breaks every half-hour to relieve neck and back strain. Try these (3 times on each side, holding for 15 seconds); tilt ear to shoulder; gently push chin straight back; pull elbow across chest.

   
What do I do if I´m having the worst day of my life?

When There's Just Too Much To Do

If you're feeling overwhelmed and unappreciated, it may be time to meet with your supervisor and reassess your job or workload. In a calm and professional manner, discuss your situation. Without making accusations, let your manager know what's on your plate. Then, ask your supervisor to help redefine priorities and objectives.

   
What is the best position for working at a computer?

Proper Alignment

For maximum comfort and to avoid injury, adjust your computer and chair properly. The bottom of your chin should align with the middle of your monitor. When keying, ensure a 75 to 90 degree angle at elbows and a straight line from elbows to tips of fingers. Angle seat pan back slightly to the left curve of lower back into back support, or roll up a towel to protect the curve of your spine. Make sure your hips and knees are bent at 90 degrees.

   
Why does my back hurt so much?

Preventing Spine Stress

Prolonged sitting at a work station is hard on your back. In fact, herniated disks are often linked with sedentary occupation and sitting position. To avoid back trouble, try to remember to shift your sitting position regularly (about every 15 minutes or so).

   
What can I do when I feel stressed out?

Take a Break from Stress with Visualization

You would be surprised by what the mind can do for you. Escape from your stressful workday with a mental vacation. A short, 10-minute mental breather can leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and ready to once again conquer your daily assignments. This tension-reducing technique will work best for you when you keep distracting thoughts from entering your mind.

   
Should I go to work if I´m sick?

Calling in Sick

It's best to stay away from the office when you're very sick, for two very good reasons. First, you need to recover so you can be back to doing your job. Secondly, when you bring germs to work, you risk spreading your illness to others and causing additional employee down time for your employer.

   
What can I do when I feel stressed out?

Changing Your Attitude Can Relieve Stress

One way to manage the amount of stress experienced at work is by changing your attitude and how you think about certain events and actions. For example: if you have too much to do, delegate some tasks (be sure you have the authority to do this). Or, try breaking projects up into smaller segments allowing you to complete a portion every day. Another help is to try to see how your work fits into the bigger picture at your company

   
How can we minimize illness in the office?

Plants in an Office

You may already know that adding plants to your office environment has aesthetic benefits. But did you know that it can have a positive affect on the health of your office? Research shows that indoor plants are very effective in removing many of the toxins associated with modern products, especially plastics.

   
How do I avoid eye strain?

Stagnant Air

Poor air circulation in some offices can lead to eye irritation, congestion and headaches. Bring a small fan to work or pop outside for a breather when you can.

   
How can I beat the blues?

Combat the Winter Blues

The Winter Blues (aka Seasonal Affective Disorder [SAD]) is a syndrome that can reduce our productivity. Combat those winter doldrums by making sure your office is well lit and keeping it as bright as possible. This is especially important for home office workers who may be working in a dark area of their home such as a basement or den with no windows. First thing each morning, turn on the lights and open the curtains.

   
What can I do when I feel stressed out?

Support Networks Help During Stressful Times

Look to friends, family, social groups and co-workers to help you at times when you must deal with stressful events. They can work as an outlet for talking out negative feelings, and re-energizing your attitude.

   
Why should I exercise?

Excercising

Regular physical exercise can help reduce muscle tension and promote a sense of well-being. When you worry, you build up physical tension that must be alleviated. (Never start a heavy exercising program without consulting a doctor).

   
How can I be more healthy?

Online Help for Weight Loss

Researchers from Brown Medical School have found that online diet help is very successful. Over six months, those with access to diet and exercise information from the Internet, lost an average of 3 pounds. Further, those who had interactive mentoring (e-mail) lost as much as 9 pounds.

   
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