Work/Life/Balance: On the Job Hustle

By Selena Fragassi

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The clock keeps moving at work, but are you? If you stay at your desk most of the day, it’s important to find ways to still remain active for your overall health and well-being. Here are four simple things you can start doing the workweek.

1. Bike to work. Not only will you be stepping up your physical activity, you will also be saving gas money, helping the environment and noticing your commute is much more peaceful than when sitting in traffic. Before you gear up, plan your route—look for back roads or streets with dedicated bike lines for your safety. Also make sure your work has racks or a secure place to lock up your bike. Then pack a bag with work clothes, toiletries to clean up when you get to the office and a water bottle, and be on your way.

2. Start a lunchtime walking group. Taking a walk at lunch has proven to ward off afternoon slumps, and it’s one of the easiest ways you can enhance your daily schedule with more activity. Pack your lunch and take it with you, and look for a park where you can stop and have a picnic before heading back to the office. You don’t have to do it alone, either—start a group with colleagues and advertise membership in internal newsletters.

3. Modify your work area. Push the chairs aside. Today’s modern workstations are all about incorporating physical activity. For example, sitting on an exercise ball will strengthen your core muscles and lead to improved balance and flexibility while you check e-mails. The FitDesk 2.0 (available at Walmart and Sharper Image) is another good option: This exercise bike has a sliding desk platform for your laptop so you can get a workout while you work; it also includes upper body resistance bands for when you are hands-free, such as watching videos. Or you can forego sitting altogether and get a standing workstation.

4. Tour different floors. Here’s your chance to travel every day. Every time you need to use the washroom, make copies in a printing area or grab a coffee in the break room, use a different floor from your own. So if you work on level four, head up to level ten—and of course, always use the stairs. This will give you some aerobic exercise several times a day.