Winter Survival Tips For The Office

“Winter is here in full swing. As the UK has been battered and bruised by countless storms of late it can become easy to get down and begin to struggle with winter blues. You may begin to feel more tired than normal, less productive or less motivated than you may normally feel. Therefore it’s important to take the necessary steps to try and combat these feelings, not just for productivity’s sake but also for your own mental health.
Thankfully, we have listed some of the very best winter workplace safety tips to help you get over the struggle of working this winter.

Keep active
Most of us tend to tuck ourselves away during the winter because of the bleak weather and shorter days. However, one of the best ways to combat winter blues and any lethargic feelings is actually to get up and move about. Whether this is something you do before, after, or even during your work day, making sure you stay active is essential for combating joint problems, health issues as well as obesity and diabetes, not to mention the endorphins released from exercising is brilliant for helping your mood. As much as we might dread cold, early morning runs, the benefits cannot be denied.

Keep Your Office Warm
During the winter months it’s important that you feel comfortable at your workstation. Days can easily become very cold and let’s face it, no one enjoys the cold as much as Wim Hof tries to convince us. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your office is kept at a comfortable warmth – whether that’s with a small heater, blanket over your legs or by turning up the thermostat. You might even be surprised at the transformation in your mood without the shivers!

Maintain a Good Diet
It’s easy to give in to comfort foods when the weather outside is frightful, but the reality is that they will often leave you feeling more tired and sluggish than normal after the initial burst of energy. Despite this, in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and good balance during the winter months it’s important to find a balanced diet. This can be different for everyone, but most of all it means moderation. Don’t starve yourself of any treats, but don’t fall into the trap of always reaching for sugar for short boosts in morale. Next time you feel like you need to pick me up or something to warm you up, put aside the fizzy drink and try a nice green tea instead.

Take Breaks
It’s important to take regular breaks throughout your work day, particularly when you may not be feeling your best self during the winter months. Try to work in smaller and productive bursts, as opposed to long, hard stints of trying to force yourself to focus.
Away from the day-to-day life at work, taking more sustained breaks could help re-energise you – maybe try and take some annual leave, be it by taking a weekend away every now and then or maybe just a day out with some friends. Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery and it can really make a massive difference to your whole attitude, mentality and focus.

Keep Social
Maintaining a social life is a big part of being able to handle any winter blues you may be struggling with. Whether you are working within the office or from home, there are ways that you can share a presence with other employees, be it Zoom calls, in-house meetings, or days out working in shared workspaces, amongst other things. It is essential that you do not tuck yourself away, even in the cold and dreary winter months, but instead continue to go and socialise with colleagues, at the end of the day people need people.”