​The Workplace and Balanced Wellness

Welcome back empowered readers,

For this weeks empowered journal I wanted to discuss the notion of sustainable work-life balance. The workplace can be a fast-paced, stressful environment that can result in physical and mental health consequences. Here are two examples:

1) Inducing Sedentary Behavior: One of the first effects that come to mind is the long-term impact of sitting at a desk during most of the day. This can lead to increased risk of obesity, dry eye and eye strain, and associated diseases like diabetes.  

Ways to Combat: Your job should allow you to take short breaks throughout the day to move around. Even a 5-10 minute walk on an hourly basis can help counter these damaging effects.  
 
2) Having Work Interfere with your Personal Life: During a study, researchers found that developing the mere expectation of having to keep checking work-related emails during non-office hours could contribute to higher levels of stress and anxiety.  

Ways to Combat: Practice ways to establish healthy limits and boundaries. I have to admit, this is easier said than done, I even struggle with setting limits from work to personal time myself. But it can be done, make a conscious plan and stick to it. Even if you slip, just give yourself a gentle reminder about the limits that you set. Your friends and family will thank you for it.

Relieving stress at work can help make things a little more manageable and can help keep your stress in check. I have included some more practices below:

     - Put on some music: this can help reduce anxiety
     - Take a few deep breaths: extra oxygen can help reduce tension and relieve built-up stress
     - Eat a healthy snack: this will help keep you energized
   - Stretch: simple stretching exercises can be done at your chair or away from the desk, this will help  invigorate your body and you will feel refreshed

To your empowered living,
Exchiela, MA
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You will never feel truly satisfied by work until you are satisfied by life – Heather Schuck