--- title: 5 Tips for Staying Grounded at Work description:

Combat unhealthy workplace norms by getting your mind right. Remember – you own your day. You have the capacity to switch things up, form new health habits and do the little things th image: https://blog.sifted.co/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/How-to-Stay-Grounded-At-Work-1.jpg --- [< back](https://blog.sifted.co) # 5 Tips for Staying Grounded at Work September 19, 2016 ![](https://blog.sifted.co/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/How-to-Stay-Grounded-At-Work-1.jpg) We all love to call BS on workplace martyrs. Sitting at your desk for 8+ hours straight, rushing lunch and keeping your head down aren’t the measures of productivity – and we know that. But, while we trash talk the “old, rigid” norms, we too find ourselves staring at a screen all day + eating lunch at our desks. Without pressure to do so, we create our own unproductive habits. Combat unhealthy workplace norms by getting your mind right. Remember – *you own your day*. You have the capacity to switch things up, form new health habits and do the little things that can help you grow personally at work. **The pressure to perform is off. Growth begins with small, simple changes like these:** **Move with a friend ** We’ve visited so many awesome office sites with nature walks + bridges (think Yik Yak). We’re also a fan of mid-city work environments where a 15 minute stroll is bustling, noisy and energizing (hello Warby Paker). Short walks with colleagues are a great time to talk through ideas and stay motivated together. Even if you only have 10 minutes, that small amount of time has been shown to [increase concentration](http://www.wisebread.com/10-surprising-benefits-of-a-10-minute-walk) and BDNF, a key protein in brain elasticity. **Take a note from a plant ** Plant’s live and die off of sunlight. We do too. The coolest thing about Vitamin D is that our bodies can produce the vitamin after absorbing natural light. Maybe take that snack outside or make that phone call on the patio. Yes, you’ll feel happier afterwords – that’s that serotonin kicking in. **Make water a game ** The amount of water a human is *supposed* to intake a day can feel like you’re trying to drink an ocean, so turn it into a challenge. Make it a goal to drink 8 glasses of water at work and write it on your whiteboard or get this awesome [notepad](https://www.etsy.com/listing/93517354/daily-page-notepad-2-pack) to help you keep track. **Respect the lunch hour ** The lunch hour is the built-in recharge time, but few take advantage of it. It’s the one hour of day you should feel no guilt taking a step back. If you do maximize the lunch hour, you’re giving your mind and body the time to refuel, allowing yourself to de-stress and take on the afternoon. Evaluate what you’re eating. Are you someone that works better after a lighter lunch or heavier meal? What foods keep you energized to work in the afternoon? Are you exchanging processed foods for whole fruits and vegetables? **Get back to the basics ** Eyestrain is real. Headaches are real. Paper is your friend. Computer screens are too small for your ideas, and sometimes you just need a white blank page. Brainstorm your projects off of the computer by writing, drawing, sketching, editing and most importantly – doodling. Yes, [doodling](http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-power-of-the-doodle-improve-your-focus-and-memory-1406675744) is good for memory, focus and exploring new concepts. Our office walls speak for themselves. They are covered in post-its because it’s our system for charting our growth and formulating new ideas. Find what works for you – and give your brain a break from the computer. What are your ideas for getting your mind right at work? ©2019 Sifted, LLC [hi@sifted.co](mailto:hi@sifted.co) | PO Box 52596, Atlanta, GA 30355 | Phone: 678.459.4845 | [Cookie Policy ](https://www.sifted.co/cookie-policy)| [Privacy Policy](https://www.sifted.co/privacy-policy) | [Terms of Use](https://www.sifted.co/terms-of-use) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=4135633&fmt=gif)