Everybody wants to be healthy, but sometimes work can get in the way

We’re a pretty busy bunch and we spend way too many hours sitting down. Our busy lifestyles and stress can lead to unhealthy choices such as too much alcohol, fast food, smoking and depression.

And generally this choices don’t make healthy people.

Obesity and overweight are Mexico’s top public health issue. We shamefully hold first place worldwide in children with obesity and second in adults.

We drink coke and we eat junk food everyday.

Healthy workers are two times more productive than unhealthy workers, healthy workers are happier, healthy workers are less absent, healthy workers spend less in doctors, healthy workers are actually working.

We’re spending 2/3 of the day at work. So, the importance of supporting healthy behavior in the workplace is loud and clear. The savings of providing a healthy workplace environment can be measured against absenteeism among employees, reduced overtime to cover absent employees, and costs to train replacement employees. We need a lifestyle change and we need it now.

That’s why I’m sharing the following tips with you:

Tips to support healthy behavior in the workplace:
(According to the World Health Organization)

Provide healthy food choices

Provide healthy cafeteria food, healthy snacks, share a list of the non fast food restaurants around the office…

Provide fitness facilities, classes or equipment for workers

Organize fitness activities such as an office race, outdoor activities,

Put no-smoking policies in place

Provide smoking cessation assistance.

Provide information about alcohol and drugs, and employee assistance counseling

As an employer and as a worker you can remove barriers and start lifestyle changes to provide a better life for your coworkers, your business and yourself. The sooner you change your unhealthy habits, the better.