Smiley stress balls. Who needs 'em

Yesterday, I was at my desk for 10 hours straight. The day sped past in a blur of activity albeit one that required little movement at all. I know how I should be working to be healthy and generally I do, but sometimes it’s easy to forget when you have a mountain of work. I’ve picked up some great tips  over the years from a variety of health professionals and my mum, so I thought I would share them with you here.

Keep hydrated. Drinking vatfuls of coffee is not going to do you any good. Always keep a glass of water on your desk. Keeping hydrated will help your concentration and focus while maintaining energy levels. My acupuncturist told me to drink 2 litres a day, that’s about 4 pint glasses.

Tidy desk, tidy mind (thanks mum). I’ve mentioned this one before and it reverberates in my head along with my other favourite mantra ‘never assume’.  Seems silly maybe, but this seriously makes a difference to your state of mind. Keep your workspace clear of unnecessary clutter including that smiley face stress ball sent to you by the guy who printed your stationery. Does anyone ever use those things anyway??

Take a break. For every 90 minutes of work you do, take a 15 minute break. That means get away from your desk and do something less boring instead. Get the blood flowing, focus your eyes on distant objects, stretch out those muscles. As my physiotherapist once told me, ‘You have a body – use it!’

Posture perfect. Having suffered with back problems I understand the importance of correct desk posture to prevent strains and tight muscles. Ideally, your knees should be at a 90 degree angle with feet flat on the floor or a foot rest, and your eyes level with the top of your computer screen directly in front of you. Support your forearms and wrists on your desk to prevent wrist strain.

Don’t just sit there. If you spend most of your working week at your computer that’s an average of 40 hours of sitting. Add that to the 56 hours a week you are asleep, and additional hours spent watching TV, eating, reading, driving and commuting – it could amount to more than 2/3 of your 168 hour week! A little daily exercise is great for your energy levels, and taking yourself away from the office can help clear the mind and get those thoughts flowing. If you work from home, walking round the block at the end of the day can be a great way to wind down while making a clear divide between your work and home life – think of it as your daily commute without the train cancellations and traffic jams.