Everyone has unhealthy habits…everyone. Even perfect Instagram fitness influencers who have washboard abs…yes even they like a biscuit or two.
Are you ever sat in the office around 3pm and start feeling a little more tired than you were an hour ago as well as get that finishing work feeling? Usually, we find ourselves reaching for that sweet treat or another cup of coffee. We are all guilty of this.
It’s not just reaching for those sweet treats that’s a problem, the ‘sit at your desk and eat’ culture doesn’t help that crash either. We all want to get as much work done as we can in a day and some industries are very intense and require us to be near our computer/phone all day. So, you either bring your packed lunch into work or ask another colleague to get you something from the shop, which allows you to stay at your workstation and yes…work.
How to stop that crash
Eating a good healthy and balanced diet improves energy levels, productivity and creativity outputs. It is proven that eating healthy food such as fruit and veg reduces tiredness and improves concentration when completing tasks.
Eating fruit is the easiest way to prevent that mid-afternoon slump, enjoying an apple or a banana instead of a bourbon will increase your energy levels, as well as your concentration.
Another easy way to prevent the slump is to make sure you’re keeping yourself hydrated by drinking water. At least 2L of water through the working day can stop dehydration which courses tiredness and lack of concentration. For every coffee you have, you should also have a glass of water as well as coffee dehydrates you.
A result of a healthy diet is that it also improves mood by releasing higher serotonin levels, as you aren’t filling yourself up with lots of artificial sugars, saturated fats and caffeine.
Making these simple but effective changes can improve your sleeping pattern so that you will come into work refreshed and ready for the working day.
Go for a walk, it won’t hurt you or your work
One of the reasons you feel tired at 3pm so often is because the majority of the workforce spend most of the day in front of a computer screen.
In 2014 Nielsen reported adults spend collectively 11 hours a day in front of a screen, the effects of this is as follows:
“Looking at a screen for extended periods of time can cause “computer vision syndrome. The symptoms: strained, dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches”
This overindulgence in screen time causes lack of productivity and concentration due to these effects.
The easy way to avoid this and to help save your eyes later on in life is to go on a walk at lunchtime. 15 – 30 mins is plenty and try and not take your phone with you either.
Taking time away from work, talking to a colleague or just taking in self thoughts will benefit your mind and your work.
What can your employer do to help?
Knowing what we know now, that having a healthy diet and reducing that screen time will benefit productivity, here are a few small modifications an employer can make to help the workforce become healthier and more productive:
- Provide healthy food substitutes rather than the traditional biscuits or chocolate
- A constant fruit bowl
- Introduce a chilled water tap or a plumbed in water dispenser, chilled and filtered water is much nicer than usual tap water
- Expand your canteen area and give people a nice open space to prepare food if brought from home
- Add additional fridges, microwaves and other food prep items to encourage bringing food from home
- Reward staff for eating healthy
- Encourage walking meetings, screen time break later in the afternoon
- Ban eating at desks
These are just a couple of tips on how to help. If you require more information please get in touch and we would be happy to help.