That's Fit

The health of our planet is interconnected with our own personal health, so whether we like it or not, committing ourselves to a healthier, fitter lifestyle also means committing ourselves to a healthier, greener lifestyle. And although the whole "green thing" is starting to catch on in people's homes, it doesn't seem to have the same steam when it comes to workplaces. It's not clear whether it's because people think environmentally-friendly efforts at the office are someone else's problems or because they are simply discouraged by their employers lack of commitment, but whatever the reason, the environmental gap between home and office is shockingly large.

In a poll, 85% of people said that when they're at home, they turn their computer off when they're not using it as an effort to conserve energy but on the flip side, only 53% of those same people shut their office computers down at the end of each day. And that's just one small area -- the numbers are just as bad (or worse) for things like shutting off lights in empty rooms and avoiding excess waste when it comes to coffee and donuts.

So what gives? The average person working full time spends just over 1/3 of their waking hours at work, which makes the health of that work environment really important to the overall health of the person. Breathing cleaner air, using healthier products, and generally looking out for our good old Mother Earth is an effort none of us will ever regret -- global warming or not.

• Reduce Don't print out emails or other materials that can just as easily be read, edited, and stored online, on your computer, or on your company network. Paper is precious! There are plenty of ways to backup and secure data electronically.
• Reuse Bring your own mug and water glass to work instead of using the paper, plastic, or (gasp!) styrofoam cups your office provides.
• Reduce Use less energy by shortening your computer's sleep timer. Don't worry, you can always wake it up!
• Recycle Actually use those big ugly recycling bins your office provides or, if not provided, talk to your boss about getting them (and offer to do the leg work to make it happen).
• Reduce Bring your own lunch. Eating at the cafeteria or running out for fast food has a tendency to create a lot of extra waste in the way of drink cartons, paper plates, plastic spoons, and food wrappers. Bringing your lunch from home, on the other hand, means reusable containers, real reusable silverware (so much nicer to eat with anyway!), and of course, healthier food.
• Recycle Green up your desk with a plant or two. They not only look attractive and can help reduce stress but they also clean toxins out of the air.
• Reduce Carpool at least a day or two a week and commit to taking public transportation three times in the next year.
• Recycle Spread the word by talking about your green efforts with friends and coworkers!