Your Office Could be Killing You

Being an office worker means spending dozens of hours a week at the workplace — seated at your desk for most of that time. Unfortunately, everything from bad office chairs to indoor pollution can make that time you spend working a disaster for your body. Here are a few ways your office may be slowly destroying your health and what you can do about it.

Office Air Quality

Your office may be protected from car pollution, but the stale air of a closed workplace can be just as dangerous. According to Career Digital, indoor air pollution is responsible for 4 million premature deaths each year. To help curb the effects of office air pollution, office workers can ask for permission to take short breaks every hour to get outside and breathe some fresh air.

Your Office Chair

Career Digital states that the average full-time office worker sits at a desk for 1,300 hours a year, which can have serious effects on your health, such as possibly contributing to a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease. While you can't eliminate desk work, you can always purchase an ergonomic office chair, change positions every 10 minutes and maintain good posture for a healthier work environment.

Your Overall Work Environment

Physical factors can be damaging to your health, but psychological ones are no less dangerous, leading to higher stress levels. Whether the problem is an overbearing manager or unfriendly co-workers, there are a few things you can do to mitigate the situation. First, don't get flustered; instead, focus on brainstorming resolutions and calming yourself. Next, learn your employee rights and speak with the manager or office workers causing the problem. If nothing else, you can always find a new job to protect yourself from years of needless stress.

Your Office Equipment

While office equipment is necessary, it can also cause your body harm. Photocopiers may produce dangerous ozone, which can lead to symptoms such as chest pain, and laser printers can emit tiny toner particles that might enter your bloodstream and lungs. Your computer monitor can also cause problems as staring at a screen for hours a day can strain your vision and lead to headaches or migraines, according to Business Insider.

Unhealthy Eating at Work

Whether eating out often, skipping meals or snacking on unhealthy food throughout the day, office workers can have a tough time keeping up healthy eating habits on the job. Try to prepare your own meals at home, perhaps even for the whole week, and bring your own healthy snacks such as fruits and baby carrots.

Various factors can turn your workplace into a toxic environment. Luckily, with a few modifications such as ergonomic office furniture and frequent breaks, office workers can minimize these damaging effects.

Photo courtesy of Marcolm at FreeDigitalPhotos.net