How to stay healthy when working from home
Technology has allowed us to be more flexible about where we work allowing us to have a more nomad lifestyle. When your boss says you can work from home some people jump for joy, the delight of being able to sit on your sofa in your PJ’s all day and take calls from your bed seems fantastic. It is also great as you get less distractions from colleagues taking up your time, increased efficiency and no commute. But how does working from home affect our wellbeing?
I write this blog as a reaction to Coronovirus and the likelihood that most of the UK is going to be disrupted by this virus, for some the worst that we will experience is a disruption to our routine and our social life.
Working from home has an impact on our health. There is a lack of interaction with the wider world. Work offers us a way of being connected. When you are not leaving the house to commute to the office and don’t bump into colleagues at work, you have to work harder to feel connected. isolation can lead to loneliness, maybe you are thinking my gym won’t be open, how will I exercise. but what about out mental health. As social creatures we like to have the ability to have a community around us and during these times it will be.
Some common disadvantages and negative impacts: mental health suffered (anxiety, stress, depression), isolation was rife (not being in a team), and it was hard to have self-discipline (proximity of the fridge and biscuit tin; not enough exercise; difficulty in setting boundaries between work and life).
Here are my tips for staying healthy while working from home
Set a schedule
It can be difficult to establish a routine when you're working from home, because, you can just keep working if you need to. Try planning your day like you would at work, set your office hours. Choose a start time, lunch break and finish time that you stick to as closely as possible so you can maintain a healthy work-life balance. Be disciplined about when you log off, set limits and don’t bleed into your personal time and don’t work with the blue light until late into the night.
Plan your day in terms of calls and work that you want to get through to keep you motivated.
Get out of your PJ’s.
It is so tempting to wake up, grab a coffee and get back into your bed with your laptop, I know, I have been there when its midday before you know it and you haven’t moved. But this isn’t great for productivity, get up, get showered, put on something comfortable and you will start the day feeling fresh, ready and more productive.
Get up and move.
Every hour remember to get up and stretch your body. Every so often, it's good to get up and stretch your body between periods of sitting. Stand up and move around during phone calls or take a break occasionally to move around the house, do a few stretches or lift some light hand weights. If you need to, set a timer like Pomodora to help you stay disciplined.
Every weekday at 11:15am on Youtube live I will be offering a 10 min yoga stretches
Stock up on healthy snacks
It is so tempting to eat unhealthy convenient snacks but resist the temptation as they will only may you feel sluggish. Keep your kitchen full of yummy healthy snacks, fruit, nuts, drink herbal tea and fresh water.
Stay Fit and Workout
The good thing about working from home is that your schedule is a bit more flexible, so you can choose when to work out. Whether it's before work, on your lunch break or after work. Get your blood pumping and fill yourself with good endorphins. Online yoga is an excellent way to keep fit everyday. Everyday I have different online yoga classes that you can sign up to here. All you need is a yoga mat and internet connection. You can pay per class or sign up to unlimited weekly sessions.
Give your eyes a break
It's not healthy for your eyes to be glued to a computer screen all day. Make time during every hour spent on your computer to close your eyes for a few minutes or look at something else to make sure you're not straining them.
Create a relaxing environment
Unlike the office when you are working from home you are able to control your environment. A clear clean space will help you to feel less stressed. Create a relaxing surroundings with candles, set your desk by natural light if you can or by inspirational pictures/artwork. Create a nice mood-board to keep you motivated.
Community
It can get a little lonely working from home without the normal interaction of people. Make sure that you schedule catch up with people you work with. Human beings are social creatures, having healthy relationships satisfies our brain and that helps us to do our best work. Online yoga is another way to maintain a community during this time of isolation.