Maintaining a healthy work environment isn’t just about the daily food choices you make in the office. Staying healthy at work is a careful balance of incorporating movement, reducing stress and listening to your body. In the second part of our Staying Healthy on the Clock series, we have a few tips to take your office well-being to the next level.

• Tension neck syndrome (TNS) can occur when the neck and upper shoulders are held in a fixed, awkward position for long periods of time causing neck and shoulder pain, muscle tightness and tenderness. To avoid these effects, use a speakerphone, a shoulder cradle or use a headset at work when you’re on the phone.
  
  
• Eyestrain is another problem that can be encountered in front of a computer. It can cause headaches, difficulty focusing and increased sensitivity to light. To prevent eyestrain, the distance to the screen from your eyes should be about an arm’s length away. You should also be able to comfortably read what’s on your screen at that distance.
  
  
• Long term stress can have many negative effects on the body, and in many cases it can increase your risk of illness by impairing the immune system. Fortunately, vacations are just the way to minimize stress by helping you recharge and getting your mind off of work.
  
  
• Avoid long stretches of long days. Occasionally, people focus on the task at-hand and getting a project done, and they aren’t aware of the impact it’s having on their health. Burnout can also impair a person’s immune system, as well as interfere with sleep and the ability to concentrate.
  
  
• Your keyboard, mouse and phone can harbor thousands of germs that are just waiting to make you sick. So get out the disinfectant.
  
  
• The most important way to stay healthy at work starts with self-awareness. Know yourself and know your limits - and do the best you can to stay within those limits. Take frequent breaks and get plenty of exercise. This will help you physically and mentally both at work and at home.

Decrease the negative impact of your office time on your health by following just a few of the tips above. Do you have a favorite way to stay healthy on the clock? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!