I attended a discussion/talk at a conference about self-care for people who spend their days in front of a computer screen, like me. I have incorporated many aspects of self-care into my daily schedule since I have a 9-5 desk job and studies show that sitting all day is highly detrimental to ones health. These are some of the things that I do on a regular basis to take care of myself during the day.
Get up! I get up from my desk at work once an hour to take a quick walk, whether it be outside to have a quick vape break, down to the main office to talk to co-workers, and occasionally I just take a quick walk around the building and campus. I don't have to set a reminder or alarm for myself, my body tells me when its time to move and I listen!
For days when my energy is low due to sleep issues or seasonal changes, I use my essential oils diffuser at work and diffuse Orange and Peppermint. The uplifting scent helps me power through the worst of the late afternoon walls that I hit regularly. It is certainly better than eating a candy bar or having yet another coffee.
It is always good to stretch and since I love yoga I incorporate some stretches into my daily life. Whether it is rising from my chair and stretching, or doing thigh stretches here and there -- every little bit helps. You don't have to be an advanced yogi to work a couple poses throughout your work day.
If possible, I occasionally incorporate some light meditation into my work day, though I usually do it before bedtime every night. Luckily, I work at a place that offers regular self-care programs like weekly meditation and mindfulness, yoga, and other wellness programs. Meditation doesn't have to be a lengthy process, you can just take a few minutes to regulate your breathing while counting each breath.
I start suffering from some of the effects of the change in seasons during the fall and winter, so I keep my light therapy box on my desk and use it for one hour a day in the morning. You shouldn't use it too late in the day because it can mess up your sleep patterns. I also take Vitamin D during the fall/winter months as well.
I've learned to pepper my work environment with images of family and friends and animals since I have done a lot of animal photography over the years. When I stare off into space, having a visual point of reference of something that triggers happiness is very important.
Let's face it, work can be stressful sometimes and leave us moody. I find diffusing various help to alleviate negative feelings.
Take care of yourself folks! Hopefully, these suggestions will help you too! PS. Drink water, a lot of it too!