Back To Work: Helpful Tips To Staying Healthy Even While Making Big Work Transitions

If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that life is full of changes. Some are unexpected – like a global pandemic – and others, like going back to work, are a little more predictable. 

Either way, transitioning back to working in the office after a year of WFH can seem like an enormous undertaking, especially if you’ve been working on improving your healthy habits. 

Meal prepping is one of the best things you can do to make this transition as seamless as possible, but there are also some other things you should be aware of. Here are some tips and tricks for eating healthy, no matter what your work schedule looks like these days.

1. Prep healthy snacks to keep on hand. 

When you were working from home, you might have had unlimited access to your entire kitchen. At your office, you might not have that luxury – or worse, you might have access to unhealthy foods if your company keeps its kitchen stocked. 

Meal prepping can go beyond making and portioning out your lunches to be reheated during your work break. You can also pack up individual portions of healthy snacks like fruit, popcorn, and yogurt, so that you always have something nutritious on hand to grab when the craving strikes. Whatever your favorite workday snack may be, just make sure that you have enough to keep you satisfied and energized! 

2. Reevaluate your sleep schedule. 

If you’ve been working from home lately, you might have gotten used to the luxury of being able to roll out of bed and get straight to working on your laptop. Unfortunately, this type of casual schedule doesn’t always work when you factor getting ready and commuting into play – and this can unfortunately lead to less time to dedicate to healthy habits. 

So you may need to readjust your schedule as you return back to the office. Try getting to bed at a consistent time every night, setting an alarm early enough to get everything done in the morning, and have a prepped meal ready the night before to make your morning rush a little less hectic.  

3. Use your breaks wisely. 

Those ten-minute breaktimes during a normal workday are crucial. Not only do they give you time to grab a snack, stretch, and move around, but they’re also a great way to give yourself a mental break from those pressing work duties. 

Make sure to use those breaks wisely – step away from your desk, take a deep breath, and recenter. You may find that you’re a more productive and more mindful employee because of it.  

4. Stay hydrated. 

Another healthy habit to watch as you’re going back to your regular work schedule is to make sure you’re getting plenty of water throughout the day. 

If your workplace has a hydration station, utilize is often. If it doesn’t, plan ahead and bring enough water to last you through the entire workday. If you find it hard to remember to drink your water throughout the day, this might be a good opportunity to set little alarms for yourself to keep you aware.  

5. Watch the stress cravings. 

Going back to work might be stressful for some of us, and that can unfortunately lead to stress-eating. 

If you find yourself craving something salty, sweet, or otherwise unhealthy during a particularly stressful day, find other healthy ways to cope. For example, giving yourself a five-minute meditation break or taking a quick walk around the block can give you a different outlet for your stress that will help your health goals, not hinder them. 

6. Social hours 

One of the things that we can look forward to as we transition to working in the “real world” is the opportunity to socialize once again. Unfortunately, socializing can often get in the way of our health goals. 

Make an effort to be mindful of these challenges, so that you know how (if at all) they affect your healthy habits. Stay mindful while you’re eating your work lunches and snacks so that you don’t go overboard, and keep an eye out for those happy hours and work dinners with your coworkers when you clock out. 

One thing’s for sure: no matter what big schedule changes you’re going through, your health should still be priority number one. With the right combination of meal prep, planning ahead, and thoughtful scheduling, you’ll be able to make that transition easier on both your body and your mind.