6 Tips to Stay Healthy When Working in a Office

Does your job require you to work in a office? If so, you should take some basic precautions to protect yourself from illness. Statistics show that the average adult will catch two to four colds in a typical year. Because of the enclosed, confined nature of offices, workers here are highly susceptible to the cold, flu and other infectious illnesses. You can lower your risk of infection, however, by following some simple steps.

#1) Hand Sanitizer

Place several bottles of hand sanitizer throughout your office workstation. Typically made of alcohol, it's designed to kill germs on contact, oftentimes with a 99% or higher success rate. Before touching any surface that other workers may have touched, use a small amount of hand sanitizer.

#2) Beware of Dirty Places

Certain places in the office are dirtier than others, and you should limit your contact with these places to reduce your risk of illness. According to a study cited by TIME, the dirtiest places in the office include bathroom sink handles, microwaves, keyboards, refrigerator doors and water foundations.

#3) Drink Water

How much water do you drink when working? Most medical professionals agree that adults should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Unfortunately, most people fall well short of this amount, resulting in chronic dehydration that leaves them susceptible to illness. To support a healthy immune system, drink plenty of water -- preferably at least 64 ounces -- throughout your work day.

#4) Eat Fruits and Vegetables

Rather than getting a bag of potato chips from the office vending machine, bring fruits and vegetables to snack on while you work. Produce such as this is loaded in antioxidants that fight illness-causing germs while supporting a healthy immune system in the process.

#5) Manage Stress

Stress plays a role in your body's ability to fight off infection. When you are stressed, your immune system is weakened, thereby increasing the risk of illness. So, try to keep your stress in check by exercising, getting plenty of sleep and engaging in deep breathing exercises.

#6) Stay Home When Sick

This won't necessarily prevent you from getting sick, but it's still important to stay home if you are ill nonetheless. Going to work will only expose other workers to your illness, thereby creating a chain reaction that spreads throughout the company for which you work. If you believe you are sick with an infectious illness, err on the side of caution by staying home.