Eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep work. Do you feel that this is the pattern of your daily life and that you are on the treadmill? Welcome to the real world.

Nevertheless, there are things you could do every day that would make you feel healthier and make you cope better with your routine.

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• Get up ten minutes earlier than you need to, as it takes the edge off the morning rush. If you arrive at work feeling as if you have just run a marathon, it does not bode well for the rest of the day.
• Guard against getting into the hamburger and chips routine from the canteen every day. If there is no healthier alternative, get into a habit of packing lunch the night before. It will also be cheaper.
• If you work on a computer all day, make a habit of looking up from your screen at least once every ten minutes. Focus on something a few metres away. This will prevent your eyes from getting very tired.
• Getting involved in staff politics is bad for your blood pressure. If something is grossly unfair, say so to someone who can do something about it. Discussing it with everyone from the messenger to the receptionist, wastes time and energy.
• Go to the toilet when you need to. It isn't good for you to postpone this until things have reached a crisis point.
• Try to switch off from personal problems at work. Agonising all day about the fight you had with your wife in the morning will not improve the situation.
• Make sure you are appropriately dressed for work. Standing all day in high heels or being too hot or too cold can spoil an entire working day. It isn't a bad idea to keep a jersey or a cotton shirt or comfortable shoes at work in case you have made an error of judgement with regard to your choice of clothing.
• Wear regulation protective gear if you are supposed to. Hard hats, protective goggles, masks or ear plugs are recommended in certain working situations for a reason.
• It isn't a bad idea to keep a few basic medical supplies in your drawer. An antacid, or a headache tablet could really make your day a lot less complicated if you were suddenly to need them.

- (Susan Erasmus, Health24, updated November 2008)

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