Working during pregnancy is a necessity for many women and even empowering for some. I actually have enjoyed working through my pregnancy. It has helped me to not focus on every little anxiety when it comes to pregnancy and make these last few months go by faster. However, working in the office everyday is not always the best environment for my physical and mental health. From doughnuts in the break room to three hour meetings, it can be challenging to focus on staying active, eating healthy and being stress-free.Some days are easier than others to take lunch-break walks and ignore the donuts, but having a reminder of items to keep me in check during my pregnancy has been helpful. Here are some simple tips to help you make the workplace pregnancy months more healthy and less stressful!
Get Up Every Hour & Take a Lap
There's no doubt that you can get into the zone at work and realize that you've been sitting there for more than three hours, so set hourly reminders on your calendar to get up and take a lap around the office. If you don't feel comfortable taking a lap around the office every hour, just stand up and move around. Your body is changing so much and relaxing due to your hormones, that keeping it active as much as possible and not staying in the same position for eight hours will help your overall health and pregnancy aches.
Invest in a Office Chair Cushion
This may seem like a strange one, but let me tell you from experience, my office chair cushion has been a life saver! I started having pain in my tailbone and lower back from sitting in my office chair, so I tried sitting on an exercise ball and a normal cushion but I still felt the pain. I searched on Amazon and found this affordable,
memory foam cushion for back and tailbone pain and relief and it's amazing! I also have a convertible desk that goes from sitting to standing which helps me change positions as well. Just find something that works for you and provides you relief!
Bring Healthy Snacks and Lunch from Home
When working in an office setting, it's easy to get sucked into all the treats that are left in the break room or scarf down lunch from a fast-food restaurant when you've been in meetings all morning and are starving. You can overcome this by bringing ready-to-eat, healthy snacks at your desk to keep you satisfied in between meals and less tempted to eat too many treats in the break room or too much at lunch. The worst I feel at work is after I eat a huge, unhealthy lunch so packing a healthy lunch and lots of snacks is key for me to have energy and get through the day.
Keep Water with You
This, of course, is something everyone should do, but pregnancy makes the need for proper hydration even more important.
Carry around a refillable water bottle with you at all times, so you stay properly hydrated throughout the day! Set goals to drink a certain amount of water bottles per day for yourself so you keep yourself on track! Quick tip - add some lemon or lime to it, so you have a little taste to your water. Keep Caffeine at a Minimum
Being in an office with a coffee maker is hard to try and resist going for cups two and three when you're starting to feel that afternoon slump, but The Office of Women’s Health recommends that pregnant women limit themselves to no more than 12 ounces of coffee per day, so about 1.5 cups. If you want to make your coffee feel like it lasts a little longer for a morning and afternoon cup, water it down to not overdo it. Cherish that one cup of joe, girl!
Allow Yourself a Daily Treat
Ok, let's face it, dealing with pregnancy while working deserves a treat. Now, there's no need to eat the entire box of doughnuts sitting in the break room but there's no need to deprive yourself all together either! Moderation is key to a happy and balanced diet!
Create a Relaxing Environment at Your Desk
Creating a stress-free environment all together at the office can be difficult. From pressing timelines to crunching budgets, there's always going to be some stress; however, you can create a relaxing environment in your actual work space. Declutter your desk so it's organized and you can find things easily. Add some fresh flowers and decor to brighten and liven up your area. Write down or frame your favorite inspirational quote to help you stay positive. Lastly, frame a picture of your ultrasound and family as a motivating reminder why you work so hard each day!
What are some tips that you have to survive the office each day while pregnant?
Thanks to my sweet friend
Aria for this great post!
