5 Tips to Improve Your Productivity

Heart disease is still the number one killer of both men and women in the United States, beating out all cancers combined, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Heart disease and stroke cost American nearly $1 billion a day in lost productivity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although health is more important than money, it is still essential to live a healthier lifestyle to improve your risk of cardiovascular disease and reduce this massive amount of spending in America.

Below are some tips and tricks on how you can increase productivity while maintaining a healthy stress free lifestyle.

1. Never underestimate a simply walking
   • Simply walking can cut your risk of cardiovascular disease by 31% and your risk of death by 32% in both men and women, according to Harvard Health. Improvement in cardio health can be significant for people who walk long distances at a slow pace and shorter distances at a fast pace. Try taking a quick 10-minute walk during your break to get a boost of energy.
2. Meditate
   • Stress can increase your heart disease risk by making you more vulnerable to risk factors, such as high blood pressure. Research has shown that meditation is a great tool to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and reduce mortality risk of heart disease, according to the American College of Cardiology.
3. Drink Water
   • The recommended water intake is about 10 glasses a day, but you can also eat foods such as grapes, watermelon, apples and more to stay hydrated. Sometimes the 3 pm drag at the end of the day can be due to dehydration so make sure to drink lots of water to stay productive.
4. Eating a Healthy Lunch
   • Eating a healthy lunch can give you an extra boost of energy and keep you productive throughout the day. It is also important to remember not to over eat, even if it is healthy foods.
5. Take a Vacation
   • Vacations are actually a very important part of staying healthy and productive at work. A long vacation can actually make you more productive at work and keep you heart healthy because it reduces your stress levels, according to Cleveland Heart Lab. It is also important to always maintain a healthy work-life balance to avoid burnout. In fact, in 2017 52% of Americans did not use all of their paid time off, according a study from the U.S. Travel Association’s Project Time Off.