If you’re like us, you’re still crying at your desk about the end of summer.
Not only are you leaving home in the dark, only to arrive home from work in the dark, but now you have to maintain that healthy lifestyle you adopted in the hotter months while surviving your 9 to 5 grind.
It may seem impossible – summertime is so much easier to get exercise when you can hike, bike, or swim every day, but now that it’s hibernation season, it’s even easier to give up that active routine for a sedentary life.
Here are 3 easy-but-effective ways to conquer the post-summer slump & maintain that healthy lifestyle – even if you’re holed up in a cubicle for 8 hours.
Give yourself something to look forward to in the A.M.
Whether it’s the comfort of your six blankets or the fear of snow, getting out of bed when it’s winter is extra difficult. But having a delicious, healthy breakfast waiting on deck could be enough motivation to get you moving in the morning.
We recommend either a fully-balanced breakfast, but if you don’t have time, pre-portioned smoothies are all the rage right now. Built on organic fruits and veggies, the produce is frozen at their peak nutritional value, providing boosts of energy and flavour.
Related: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Healthiest Morning Routine, Recommended by Experts
Stand up.
A recent study suggests sitting for eight hours or more a day can increase your risks of diabetes and/or heart disease. So if your job requires a lot of sitting around, be sure to mix and vary it up throughout the day.
Opt for a standing desk, and you’ll be surprised how such a little change can make a big impact on your health and well-being.
Stay social.
You may be done with those summer block parties and family BBQs now, but heading back into the office during winter typically means more alone time and solitude. That’s not good, as social interactions are vital to your mental health.
The Mayo Clinic reports that friends and relationships can actually reduce risks of depression, high blood pressure, and an unhealthy body mass index (BMI). So, make plans with co-workers for lunch, or continue those after-work activities with friends. Always remember that staying social is the easiest and best form of self-care!
Photo Credit: Liderina/Shutterstock.com; Jacob Lund/Shutterstock.com
