How To Create A Healthy Office Environment

As with most businesses today, employees spend the majority of their day sitting behind a desk and staring at a computer. As a matter of fact if you are reading this post, you are most likely amidst your workday taking a break perusing the Internet at your desk.  With studies showing that sitting for 6 hours can lead to obesity and early death, creating a healthy office environment should be a priority on every company’s to do list.

At Wpromote, a handful of passionate health nuts formed a committee to help tackle this office endeavor. Here are a few things they have implemented to start creating a healthier office environment.

Yoga

Every Tuesday following work, Wpromote has a Yoga instructor come to our office to hold a vinyasa yoga class. The health benefits of Yoga are endless, including improved flexibility, strength and posture. The stretching aspect of Yoga helps release built up lactic acid in your muscles, which can cause stiffness, pain and fatigue.

Not only does Yoga promote great physical activity, it provides stress relief. Meditation and breathing techniques lessen the feeling of stress by lowering levels of hormone neurotransmitters, and bring on a feeling of calm.

Massages

This past year Wpromote started “Therapy Thursdays”, which has become one of the most beloved days of the week. Not only is massage beneficial for back pain and stiffness, but it also helps reduce blood pressure, anxiety and depression by lowering levels of cortisol in the body.

To further help with back pain and stiffness caused by sitting at a desk all day, the committee also posted a series of recommended Desk Stretches throughout the office. Taking even just a few minutes to stretch everyday can have tremendous effects helping prevent and relieve back pain.

Healthy Snacks

An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Well it’s worth a shot! Something new you will find while walking around the Wpromote office is fruit bowls. Not only do they make you feel more at home, but when 3 o’clock comes around and you are needing a snack, having a healthy option like fruit available can prevent a trip to the fatty, high calorie snack filled vending machine.

Plants

This is something that Wpromote has been doing for awhile, but it carries benefits twofold. One, the office looks homier and plants can give you a comforting feeling when inside all day.  Two, plants increase oxygen production. Air quality in offices is often an overlooked issue, and a study by the EPA found that 6 out of 10 buildings are not up to standards.  Plants in the office help improve overall air quality, and a boost in oxygen levels is speculated to reduce stress, as well as increase energy and alertness.

Nutritionist

Education is key.  Earlier this year, Wpromote had a nutritionist come in to host a lunch-and-learn. The nutritionist educated employees on diet and exercise, and de-bunked common nutrition myths. Often times you can get a local nutritionist to visit your office for free.

These are just a few ways to start creating a healthier office environment. Have any other recommendations?