Back to work: workplace wellness

Lockdown is easing and some degree of normality is returning. For many, that means returning to the office, entirely or more regularly than before. With that comes anxiety and a greater appreciation for our physical and mental wellbeing. So, while we all need to adhere to both government guidelines as well as those laid out by our individual offices and workplaces, what other things can we do to help take care of ourselves when it comes to workplace wellness?

Use aromatherapy for workplace wellness

Scent can be extremely powerful for altering your mood and affecting our sense of wellbeing. Naturally you’re not going to set up a diffuser in the middle of the office but you can still benefit from aromatherapy at work. You can roll it onto your wrist or even find the right essential oil in a good hand cream for easy use. For example, to help alleviate anxiety, use ylang ylang.

Eating to improve your mood

Nutrition can also be used to improve your mood, by making small changes to your lunch and bringing healthy snacks into the office. It won’t come as a surprise that a healthy breakfast, like porridge, release energy slowly throughout the day, meaning that blood sugar stays more stable, and so does your mood. Bright purple foods and berries may help clear our minds, walnuts are rich in omega 3 and the lipids they contain are great for brain function and mushrooms can even help with mood swings.

Target your exercise to improve posture

The importance of good posture when you are standing or sitting most of the day cannot be underestimated. Sitting in the same chair, at the same desk, day in, day out can encourage a slouched posture. If this is adopted in the long term your body will start to adapt to this position, leading to a rounded upper back and shoulders, and a backwards tilt in the pelvis. This can cause back pain and other physical discomfort, but it can also contribute to low self-esteem, negative body image and lack of confidence. Poor posture is extremely common in office workers who are at the computer all day, but even if you’ve been suffering from this problem for many years there’s nothing to worry about. You just have to start re-training the muscles in your back to hold your spine and hips in position.