Nowadays, receiving disturbing news about people suffering due to poverty or disasters has become a common phenomenon. It’s, therefore, not a wonder to see people sacrificing their time to work for nonprofit organizations in a bid to help underprivileged individuals. Although they’re not rewarded with monetary benefits, nonprofit workers are driven by a strong sense of moral urgency that makes it difficult for them to set a limit on their work. From seeking funding to organizing gifts and putting together school fundraisers, it’s no surprise to find that self-care isn’t a priority for most nonprofit workers. However, in order to efficiently help others, these people need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The following are surefire tricks that can help such individuals stay healthy in the midst of helping other people.
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Getting Enough Sleep
Most nonprofit workers run on caffeine and determination. While that’s what they need to serve the needs of other people, they also require to get enough sleep. Every person needs about 7-9 hours of sleep every twenty-four hours. Sacrificing sleep for a nonprofit job is shortsighted, self-destructive and could easily lead to bad moods, health deterioration, and unproductiveness. As such, every nonprofit worker who’s looking to be successful in performing their duties while also prolonging their lifespan will want to sleep for eight consecutive hours every day.
Using a Standing Desk
While maintaining an upright posture at work might appear to be uncomfortable, studies reveal that standing desks are a viable alternative to the conventional desk and for a good reason. People who use these desks have a lower risk of becoming obese or contracting Type 2 diabetes. Standing desks have also been shown to improve blood flow to the brain. While looking for a good desk, it would be prudent for a nonprofit worker to check out a treadmill desk that has also been shown to reduce stress and increase productivity at work.
Exercising Regularly
Exercising is an important aspect of staying healthy as a nonprofit worker. Apart from keeping the body fit, exercises are also a great way of eliminating stress. Nonprofit workers may also find that their mood improves significantly when they do cardio exercises. Furthermore, regular exercises help people to sleep better thus they wake up feeling happy, relaxed and full of energy. It’s, therefore, imperative to maintain a regular workout schedule, which will help nonprofit workers to stay more focused and engaged at work thus rendering them more productive.
However, as much as regular exercises are very beneficial, a nonprofit worker doesn’t have to run a marathon or cycle for tens of kilometers. Instead, they should consider jogging, lifting some weight or performing yoga for about 30 minutes each day. They may also walk to work instead of driving or take the stairs rather than the elevator. Other simple activities to help them stay active include pacing while talking on the phone and making presentations while standing.
Eating Healthy
Avoiding junk food is probably the most difficult endeavor while working for a nonprofit cause. Between enticing sponsors to increase their funding, organizing fundraiser meetings and managing contributions, it is quite difficult for a nonprofit worker to find time to fix a healthy meal. While junk food is readily available and can ward off the constant feeling of hunger, they are low on nutrients and ridden with calories. To avoid the desire to eat junk food and be more health conscious, a nonprofit worker should carry to work a carefully prepared dish from home or ensure that they eat a breakfast full of proteins, fiber, and carbohydrates. And to do this they should use kitchen appliances like slow cooker which saves much needed time while cooking.
They may also carry fruits such as apples, grapes, and strawberries and use them as a quick at-work snack. In addition to eating healthy, a nonprofit worker should ensure that they drink plenty of water throughout the day. Not only does water quench thirst, but it also keeps the body hydrated and aid in the removal of harmful toxins from the body.
Maintaining a Social Relationship
In most cases, nonprofit workers work during ungodly hours and sometimes throughout the weekends. It, therefore, becomes extremely difficult for them to maintain a social life. As a result, they may find themselves stressed and stuck in dysfunctional relationships, thus become depressed and lose focus on their work. Therefore, a nonprofit worker should ensure that they find a few hours to talk with their friends and family or dedicate their weekends for social events. They may also encourage their family members and friends to get involved in their work so that they may spend more time together.
Working for nonprofits organizations is probably the greatest cause for helping the underprivileged. The job, however, requires full dedication, focus, and organizational skill, but that doesn’t give anyone an excuse to forfeit their health. The nonprofit sector needs workers to maintain a healthy lifestyle not just for their own good but for that of their families and the people they are looking to help.