The good news: You don’t have to quit your day job in order to save your health, according to a bunch of new studies. Here, six ways to have your happiest, healthiest workday ever. (Your coworkers—and the proverbial dog you go home and kick—will thank you.)
- Slip in a little yoga. You don’t even have to get up for this: 15 minutes of chair-based yoga can calm you down and help you feel better, finds a new study in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Study participants did several yoga poses—side bend, forward bend, and back bend—holding each one six full breaths. The results? Significantly reduced stress and lower blood pressure. (Wondering what else yoga can fix? See 10 Yoga Poses For Health Problems.)
- Pack healthier snacks. Ignoring the siren song of your office’s snack machine can be difficult, but here’s something to consider the next time you hear it calling: A new study in the journal Population Health Management shows that unhealthy eats can up the chances you’ll be less productive by 66%. To the rescue: Our 22 delicious low-calorie snack ideas that’ll rev your metabolism, while keeping you full.
- Go green. Staving off an afternoon slump can be as easy as flexing your green thumb. Texas A&M researchers found that people who kept a vase of vibrant flowers on their desks, along with green plants elsewhere in their office, generated more creative ideas than those in a vegetation-free setting. (For even more tips on how to energize your office, see 5 Ways To Feng Shui Your Life.)
- Take a nap. George Costanza was onto something when he built a bed into his desk on that famous Seinfeld episode. Northwestern University researchers found that taking a short nap after learning something new can help you absorb and retain that information. Plus, experts at Johns Hopkins Hospital Sleep Disorders Center say a brief nap can provide greater alertness for several hours, and can also improve concentration, accuracy, and productivity. (For tips on how to sneak a snooze at work, see How to Nap At Work.)
- Swap your lampshade. While compact-fluorescent (CFL) blubs are clearly better for the environment, new research suggests the bulbs could up your chances for skin cancer. State University of New York, Stony Brook researchers found that CFLs emit significant levels of UVC and UVA rays, and that skin can react to them the same way it does when standing in direct sunlight. The fix: Trade your cloth lampshade for a glass one to keep UV rays from getting through. Also make sure to keep your desk lamp an arm length away, as the rays don’t extend much further than that.
- Limit chair time. Sitting all day can take years off your life by upping your risk for a slew of diseases, such as cancer and type-2 diabetes. The best solution for desk jockeys? A standing desk. If it’s a little too pricey for you, check out our easy instructions on how to make your own standing desk. More from Prevention.com: 7 Ways To Work Out At The Office
