Tag Archives: work out

Wellness In the Workplace

The end of summer is quickly approaching, kids are getting ready to go back to school, and you may be starting to evaluate your summer fitness progress (or lack there of). Eight hours at a desk five days a week can really take a toll, but at least over the summer, many people have highly active nights and weekends. As we all start to get ready to spend more time indoors, you may be wondering how you can make your workplace a healthy space to aid in your health goals. Read on to learn about our top three tips on how to have a guilt free workday.

Avoid the candy jar. We all know where the candy jar is located at work, and after a long morning, it can be difficult to avoid. A couple M&Ms may seem like no big deal, but they can add hundreds of unnecessary calories to your diet every day if you are not careful. If you are hungry or absolutely cannot go without that 3pm pick me up, try keeping natural sweets on your desk. Grapes, Cherries, or Apples work wonderfully!

Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated is good for pretty much everything. It provides energy, promotes weight loss, helps your skin, prevents headaches, and boosts your immune system, just to name a few benefits. Bring a water bottle to work, and make it your goal to fill it up three, four, or even five times throughout the day. You can also set an alarm if you need that extra reminder.

Walk and Stretch. Walking throughout the day is a great way to promote health and fitness in the workplace. Take a walk during breaks, long conference calls (if you have a headset), or even just every couple hours to reward yourself for finishing a task. It may seem like no big deal, but getting up and moving around can make a huge difference in staying energized. If you are unable to get up regularly, try stretching at your desk multiple times per day to get moving and get a mental break from work.

How have you had success staying healthy at work? Comment below!

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

Five Hobbies That Make You Smarter

We all have hobbies. Some are fun, some are relaxing, and some are just habit.  Our brains are designed to develop new connections and pathways during stimulating activities and these connections can actually increase our intelligence. Here are five hobbies that are great catalysts for doing just that.

  1. Reading. Anything, anywhere, anytime. Study after study has shown that reading is one of the best things you can do for your brain on a daily basis. It reduces stress, increases creativity, and increases problem solving ability. If you are reading this, you are off to a great start!
  2. Writing. This is a great hobby because it engages cognitive, optical, and motor skills, especially when you are writing by hand. Writing is also a great way to find an emotional equilibrium and reduce stress.
  3. Playing an Instrument. Playing any type of instrument has been proven to actually increase your IQ. It boosts creativity, self-expression, and provides an outlet for all the pressure of everyday life.
  4. Puzzles. Sudoku, solitaire, thoughtful board games, and crossword puzzles just to name a few. These activates are relaxing, stimulating, and amazing for your brain. They all increase neuroplasticity, which can help in problem solving, understanding, and looking at problems from multiple viewpoints. It also helps us to recognize patterns and can even help prevent depression and anxiety.
  5. Working out. Regular exercise is crucial for not only your physical health, but your mental health. Regular workouts cause our cells to become flooded with BDNF, a protein that has been proven to help with memory, learning, focus, concentration and understanding.

What hobbies do think make you smarter? Send us your comments!

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen