5 work habits that may be harmful to your health
Learn how some things people do each day can take a toll, what you can do instead.
Jan, 2026
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Slide 1
In the U.S., adults spend about 1,750 hours a year at work. That’s a lot, and it means that what they do in the office or out in the field can affect their health. From what people eat for lunch to how they sit (and for how long), unhealthy habits at work have the potential to contribute to a range of issues, such as anxiety, insomnia, back pain, weight gain, and even chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Learn more about some potentially unhealthy behaviors and get tips to help you protect your well-being.
Written byBeth Ward.
Medically reviewed byMark Arredondo, MD.
Sources: International Labour Organization (ILO). Working Time and Work-Life Balance Around the World. Page last updated January 6 + 7
- International Labour Organization (ILO). Working Time and Work-Life Balance Around the World. Page last updated January 6, 2023.
- American Heart Association. Can Processed Foods Be Part of a Healthy Diet? Page last reviewed July 31, 2024.
- Tedone AM. Keeping Up With Work Email After Hours and Employee Wellbeing: Examining Relationships During and Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Occup Health Sci. 2022;6(1):51-72.
- Buffer. State of Remote Work 2023. Page accessed September 17, 2024.
- Cleveland Clinic. Is Your Desk Messy or Tidy? Find Out What It Says About You. Page last updated June 3, 2024.
- Mayo Clinic. Adult health: Office ergonomics: Your how-to guide. Page last updated May 25, 2023.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Long-Term Stress Harms Everyone in the Workplace. PDF accessed September 17, 2024.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Workplace Stress. Page accessed September 17, 2024.
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