Treat Your Body Right: Bring your A-game to work with these 5 tips

Does your physicality affect your job? Chances are, unless you’re a pro athlete, landscaper or manual labourer, you answered “no.” But surprise: even the most desk-bound office worker relies on their body (a lot!) to power through the day.

If your body feels sore or tight, it’ll be hard to concentrate at your computer. If you’re hungry — or worse yet, hangry — you won’t have the mental energy to give that report the eagle eye it requires. And if you’re feeling jittery, you could have difficulty slowing your speech, in order to express yourself as articulately as you’d like.

The good news is, there are strategies you can use to help your body help your mind. Here are 5 ways to boost your productivity at work.

1.    Ergonomics 101

Put yourself in the right frame of mind for work by sitting in comfort. Start with an ergonomic chair. Stuck with an inherited office chair from 2010… or earlier? You can improve your set-up with a back support pad, lumbar cushion, and foot rest.

2.    Get Up, Stand Up

Regardless of how sweet your ergonomic chair is, sitting at a desk all day is less than ideal — and at 2 p.m., it can lead to grogginess and low energy.

Standing desks are fantastic for letting you work while balancing on one foot, stretching or even marching on the spot, but if you can’t access one, there are other ways to be active.

• Take the stairs rather than the elevator

• Stand when talking on the phone

• Make your next meeting a walking meeting

• Try office yoga or desk stretches

Squeeze in some physical activity every hour for an instant pick-me-up.

3.    Caffeine — Friend or Foe

Caffeine is a stimulant that boosts alertness and performance. It can be a morning MVP, but more is not necessarily better. Overindulging at the office coffee machine can potentially lead to side effects like anxiety and stress.

How much is too much? That varies — a second or third latte may make one person bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and another a jittery wreck. Be aware of how you feel after each caffeinated beverage and adjust your intake accordingly.

4.    Avoid Hangry! Plan for Snacks

Find your attention lagging? Your blood sugar might be running low. Feed your body to fuel your brain. The best snacks are healthy, whole foods. Pack brain food like fruits, veggies and nuts, so you can graze whenever the mood strikes.

5.     Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can cause fatigue, dizziness and headaches — not ideal when you want to be crushing those sales goals. Stay hydrated to stay on point. While the old “drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day” rule isn’t set in stone, it’s not a bad benchmark. Hint: This 16-oz insulated glass bottle is office-ready!