By Amanda Garrity
It’s plain and simple: You can’t do what’s best for your company if you’re not at your best. Without clocking in the right amount of sleep, getting your body moving, or even scheduling time for self-care in your day-to-day life, you’ll get burnt out. Seriously. But the solution may actually be in your hands. If you’re on the hunt for a new job — or heading to a meeting with some higher ups — consider these benefits to ensure that your workplace is actually a healthy place to be.
Catch some zzz’s
Nothing beats a 3 p.m. snooze. In a creative rut? Take a power nap. Overwhelmed before your big meeting with the execs? De-stress with a snooze. You get the idea.
Some workplaces, including startup Casper, allow employees to take a cat-nap in the middle of the workday — no questions asked. If your company isn’t totally on board and you’re based in New York City, take an “extended lunch” at The Dreamery by Casper. Reserve a 45-minute nap session in one of The Dreamery’s pods for a magical sleep experience — and then head back to the office well-rested.
DIY your desk
Instead of slouching in your desk chair all day long, opt for a treadmill desk or balance ball chair (your company’s approval pending). To up your daily steps, use a treadmill desk. To increase core strength and balance, use a balance ball chair. But if these seem like unrealistic options — for now, at least — try switching your regular meetings to walking meetings or simply use the stairs instead of the elevator. Any change is better than none!
Take a break
In this day and age, it seems like fewer and fewer people actually take a lunch break. That means away from the computer, email, to-do lists, you name it. If that’s the case, then start using your lunch breaks (we all earn ‘em!) for extra TLC. ClassPass partners with a variety of wellness spots where you can get a massage, facial, blowout, or manicure during lunch hours. And hey, no one will ever know! (Unless you come back with a rocking ‘do.)
Take a deep breath
We all know that some days are more stressful than others. When you’re in the thick of things, take a minute (seriously, just one minute) to decompress, meditate and regroup before tackling the next item on your agenda. If you can’t skip out of the office to go to a meditation class, then use an app like CALM, Headspace, or Inscape to do a quick and simple guided meditation in a matter of minutes. This will help you prioritize your tasks, focus on what’s important and own your next meeting.
See? Your answer to a less stressful, more enjoyable moment starts with you. Now, you just have to talk to your employer.
This post was written by Amanda Garrity, a commerce editor and content producer living in New York City. She finds every excuse to go on an adventure, whether it's in her own backyard or across the country. She enjoys hiking, pretending she's a prima ballerina and drinking an abundant amount of coffee. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
