3 Steps to a Healthier Work Space

The place where you daily sit and work could be affecting your weight. Here's how to set up a healthier work space in 3 easy steps.

Are you at your computer right now? If you are, I want you to look to your right and to your left and see what's around you.

Go ahead, do it. 

Now pull open a few drawers or move things around on the table.

What do you see?

Look down the hall or out your door.

Anything stand out?

Besides the papers, phones, pens, notepads, whiteboards, laundry, pets or people, do you see any food?

• If so, what it is?
• What kind of container is it in?
• How far do you have to travel to get some?

Besides feeling like my toddler asking you 20 questions, I have a point.

The foods you see around your work area could be encouraging or discouraging how much you snack.

Mmm hmmm. Even though snacking is a very healthy habit, it's easy to snack out of control in the midst of a busy or stressful day. Whether you work in an office, your car, or at home, it's time for a little healthy, 5-minute work space check-up. Ready?

Step #1: Change your proximity to snacks

Research has shown that the closer you are to a snack, the more of it (and more often) you will eat it. So what food is in arm reach or in site as you walk around your office or home? If it's candy, your probably partaking, or at least thinking about partaking, a lot more than you should.

I know this from experience... I love chocolate -- seriously love chocolate. And if chocolate is out at the reception desk of my University office (of which I walk by multiple times a day), I am either grabbing a piece or talking myself out of grabbing a piece. Sometimes that's OK, but dealing with this conundrum 10 times a day is annoying and mentally taxing.

So, moral of the story is - MOVE IT. Move the temptations away from your personal work space and your walking route. Even having to go slightly "out of the way" will naturally reduce the amount of times you actually eat.

Step #2 - Change the containers food is displayed in

Studies have also discovered that you will eat more of what is open and out on a counter or displayed in clear containers and less  of what it is in opaque containers. So store any treats in dark containers so you can see what it is. Put healthy snacks like fresh fruit or protein bars in an open bowl. Use clear containers, like these great OXO ones that I LOVE, for other options like raw nuts or whole grain crackers.

Step #3 - Adopt some snacking 'principles'

It just doesn't work to say 'never again' to foods that we like to eat or events we like to be a part of (i.e. office parties). So instead of a black and white rule, I like using what I call 'eating principles'. When it comes to your work space snacking, here's some suggestions for principles that could be game-changers:

Treats* are for Fridays. (Friday is arbitrary)

I'll enjoy a treat if it's something I really like.

Stupid** snacks are not worth it.

On days I exercise, I'll enjoy a treat.

{*I define treat as anything that has high calories or high flavor but little to no nutritional value. Truly, it's like a luxury. **I use the word stupid because that's just the word that resonates in my head about food that's not worth it. Maybe a different words resonates with you better.}

With eating principles you now have a flexible strategy that can be adapted to a situation instead of a nasty rule that is most often used to as a grading system. (Boooo grading systems.) It helps you prioritize the eating decision before you.

So go ahead and make a few changes in your work space RIGHT NOW. It's Friday, so you're probably not really wanting to focus on work all day anyways.

Leave me a comment and let me know if you've made any of these simple changes or if you have another great idea to share.

Make Healthy Easy today!

Jenna

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