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“How to Live Healthier, Even When You’re Super Busy”

[ Source Credit: Victor Garcia ]

A Straits Times article in 2019 has shown that Singapore ranked second highest for work intensity, which considers factors such as vacation days taken, paid maternal and parental leave, and the share of full-time employees working more than 48 hours per working week. While it’s no secret that many in Singapore work long hours, the bigger question is if we’re able to achieve better work-life balance on our own.

Studies worldwide have shown that having work-life balance can not only help a company increase productivity but also employee happiness as well! Just think about the number of times you’ve consumed caffeine, drank enough water, or lacked sleep in the last month. And we often wonder why we feel tired, heavy, sluggish, and dehydrated! Did you know that the symptoms of burnout include feelings of constant exhaustion, negativity, dread, and pessimism? That’s because we’re not giving our body enough of the rest, nutrition and exercise it needs!

Good news is, the power to break out of this cycle lies in your hands. Yes, you! We’ve put together a list of tips on how you can, little by little – embark on a healthier lifestyle here at Square 2, even when work and life gets busy.

1) Breakfast is a priority

[ Source Credit: Mr Bean ]

Breakfast is often described as the most important meal of the day as it provides you with sustenance and a boost of energy for the day ahead – especially if you pick up options that are wholesome and nutritious! As said by famous nutritionist, Adelle Davis: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.”

Here at Square 2, numerous breakfast options that are healthy and tasty await. For starters, you can find a variety of soya bean drinks, snacks, and pancakes from Mr Bean (#01-21) or grab a nutritious rice roll or wholemeal sandwich from QQ Rice (#01-19). Both stores are open from as early as 7am – which will be helpful for those who have an earlier start to their day.

2) Make time for a light lunch

[ Source Credit: Stuff’d ]

As noon approaches and you begin thinking of lunch, it can be tempting to opt for instant meals to wolf down quickly, or meals that are overly rich that might land you in a food coma right after. How about striking a balance between both? Remember, food is what gives you energy. The question is the type of energy you’re getting from what you consume – which can be healthy, or not so healthy.

If you’re looking for light lunches in Square 2, read on for our recommendations. First up, Caveman Food (#B1-130), who is known for their Caveman Diet, otherwise known as the paleo diet – which includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Sounds healthy? That’s because it is! Plus, Caveman Food has no artificial flavourings, gravy, sugars, and MSG. Another nourishing option to check out is Stuff’d (#B1-117). Go for their Daily Bowls, Kebabs or whip up your own concoction of a healthy meal by choosing from their numerous ingredient options. Fret not! Stuff’d has a wide variety of healthy options to cater to most of your dietary needs.

3) Stay hydrated throughout the day

[ Source Credit: Absolute Acai ]

Our body is composed of 60% water, which is what aids digestion, absorption, circulation, the maintenance of our body temperature and more. Needless to say, there are many benefits to drinking water. In fact, you shouldn’t wait until you’re low on fluids or dehydrated before you start replenishing. Actively remind yourself every 30 to 40 minutes to drink a glass of water.

Or take this opportunity to grab a refreshing cup of juice from Little Fruit Farm (#04-02E). Their extensive selection of juices are 100% natural and blended with no added sugar or water, so you get all the fibre and richness that your body needs. Craving for something a little more dessert-like? Give the smoothies at Absolute Acai Superfood Bar (#B1-131) a shot. Acai berries are said to have a high concentration of antioxidants, drinking them down can help fight free radicals in your body and make it less prone to disease and ageing!

4) Invest in shoes that are good for your feet

[ Source Credit: The Balance Company ]

It’s time to show some love to our feet. After all, we’re working them all day long, so why not put on some ergonomic shoes to assist you in getting better posture? If your feet or back has been aching, give The Balance Company (#02-74) a visit. They offer walking and running shoes that have stable arch support and insoles with acupressure massage points to alleviate any muscle strain you might have from walking or standing all day. Plus, their shoes are lightweight, comfortable, and stylish enough to go with your outfits. Sounds like comfort you need? Head on down to try them now!

5) Portion your snacks to avoid overeating

[ Source Credit: The Smart Local ]

Ever reached for a box of cookies or chocolate to have one or two pieces but end up finishing the entire thing? This shows that figuring out what to eat is just as important as how much to eat! To help portion control your snacks, pack them into smaller snack boxes and carry them around with you. Keep a small box in your office bag, one in your gym bag, and another on your office table so you can snack whenever the craving strikes – but try not to go overboard!

Head on down to DON DON DONKI (#B1-01) to pick up some Japanese sweets, biscuits, or savoury snacks. Then, check out Japan Home (#04-09) or the famous $2 mega store, Daiso Japan (#02-24), for functional yet aesthetic snack organisers of all shapes and sizes.

6) Workout with your colleagues

[ Source Credit: Geert Pieters ]

Another great way to start living healthy is to inject some exercise into your life of course! But with work taking up so much time, where do you even begin? We suggest getting your colleagues in on this regime so you can be fitness accountability partners to each other. This way, it’d be easier to keep each other on track, check-in when work is done, and urge each other to change into your workout attire for some after-work adrenaline rush!

Convinced your office buddies to become workout kakis? Great! Now head on over to Sports Elements (#01-76) to pick out the sports gear you’ll need. From yoga mats to boxing equipment and more, here’s a place that will have most of your fitness wear and accessories.

7) Prep your own meals every alternate week

[ Source Credit: Ella Olsson ]

The thought of cooking your dinner at home every day can sometimes feel impossible when all you want to do is eat, relax, and sleep. To help you with that, why not try to meal prep every alternate week? Short for meal preparation, ‘meal prep’ is to plan, prepare and package your meals in advance so you can simply take them out of the fridge and heat them up!

Meal prepping also means deciding ahead of time what you’ll be eating for the week, which would make grocery shopping easier. Once you have your list, pop by FairPrice (#04-46) or Solmart (#03-06) to stock up on your items! Then head back and prep away.

Some say health is wealth, and we cannot agree more. While work is important and essential in sustaining our lives and lifestyles, you should never place the priority of your health beneath it. Because ultimately, we only have one life. What use would it be if we’re not in good shape or have a healthy state of mind to enjoy all the beautiful things life has in-store for us?

Now that you’re up to date with these tips, we hope that you feel inspired to live healthier the next time you swing by Square 2. If you’ve enjoyed these ideas, be sure to share them with your family, friends and colleagues and tag your next healthy meal or activity at Square 2 on Instagram at @square2sg so we can share the love and motivate others.