A toxic or unhealthy work environment can breed poor health, low productivity and increase in absences. It gets even worse when it’s not given enough attention and not provided with solutions. So, to survive in an unhealthy environment, one has to protect oneself from it.

There are many ways to protect oneself from stress and other factors that lead to poor health. Below are some examples on how you can help, not only yourself, but others in your workplace as well:

1. Be optimistic.

Being optimistic is always finding the positive side of things. Nothing happens if you dwell on the difficulties and problems that arise in the workplace.

To reduce the stress that these problems may cause, remember to always be happy and be grateful, for these problems are not meant to break you but to make you stronger.

2. Use your body carefully.

Always use your body carefully and protect it from any injury. This is especially important when lifting heavy objects.

The proper body mechanics should be practiced to avoid misuse and strain on your muscles. Some examples are to never twist your spine, instead keep it straight.

Another is to use the stomach muscles and legs when pushing up an object rather than using your lower back. Also, try to keep heavy objects at body height level and get close to an object if you want it moved.

3. Prevent lower back pain.

One of the reasons for lower back pain is carrying heavy objects incorrectly, that may result in tearing, twisting and injury to ligaments and other muscles. Poor posture is also one of the culprits for such a condition.

So, before this kind of pain worsens, try to strengthen your core muscles through walking. It improves circulation in the spine and in turn nourishes and hydrates it.

4. Protect yourself from too much sun.

If your job demands you to be out in the sun all day, make sure that you protect yourself from the damage it brings. Skin cancer can happen to you, as well as sunburn and other skin diseases, without adequate protection.

So, make sure you use sunscreen with a high SPF on your face, neck, ears and lips.

Get your body covered as much as you can when out in the sun by wearing long-sleeved clothes, and pants.

Use sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays too. Wide-brimmed hats can also be worn to provide adequate shade and effectively protect you from the harmful UV rays.

5. Protect yourself from unhealthy air.

Never allow anyone to smoke inside office premises.

Second-hand smoke has been found to be one of the major reasons for lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses too. So, before things get worse, demand a “No Smoking” policy in your office to protect yourself and the other employees.

6. Increase your self-awareness.

Having an idea of who you are and the things that you can do, your work ethics and values, can help you overcome any problems in the workplace. Also, a positive reaction to stress is important as the office has its daily dose.

A reassessment of yourself and your capabilities will help you overcome whatever may block your path towards success.

Work can be very demanding of your time and your health. But despite the hectic schedule, you have to look out for yourself.

Avoiding different stressors and eating healthy are some ways to keep up. To get your nutritional needs, you might want to heed the aid of a nutrition inspector, to give you details on the kinds of food necessary to keep you strong and healthy.

About The Author

This is a guest post by Sunny Popli – an expert writer who writes on different categories like diet, nutrition, fitness, personal trainers and many more.