More people are working remotely than ever before. Whether you’re self-employed, or your company has moved to a remote setup, it can have hugely beneficial benefits for financial, physical and mental health.
However, this isn’t always the case. Working from home can lead you into some bad habits when it comes to your health. With a little planning and commitment, you can turn these around and create a healthy work-life balance for you that puts your health first.
How Can Homeworking Affect Your Health
If you’ve spent your career to date working in an office or other workspace, then suddenly being home-based can be a huge culture shift. You might find yourself moving less throughout the day, spending long hours in front of your screen and snacking on unhealthy foods as you’re close to your own cupboards and refrigerator. Add to this the long days as constant connectivity blurs the line between work life and home life and you could find yourself becoming burned out and unhealthy relatively quickly.
Of course, this doesn't happen to everyone. Many remote workers use their additional flexibility and time to create an exercise habit, but for the rest of us, it may be a little trial and error.
Exercise While You Work
Most of us spend the day hunched over a keyboard, which is terrible for our health, not to mention posture. There are a number of ways to move while you work. This can include using a standing desk, placing a foot pedal exerciser underneath or even buying a desk treadmill.
‘Commute’ To Work
You may only have to walk a few feet to your laptop now, but there is something to be said for the morning commute. Get up a little earlier and take a walk before starting work. Use it to clear your head and get your body moving for the day. It’s a great habit to get into.
Schedule In Exercise
Exercise is important to feel good and stay healthy. An exercise program that incorporates strength training, cardio, stretching and relaxation is the perfect way to improve your health. Whether you want to join a gym or exercise at home, it’s easy to keep pushing it back for a number of reasons.
Put exercise into your schedule every week and treat it like you would a meeting. The additional energy you have, increased focus and fewer sick days mean that your work will benefit as well as the rest of your life.
Plan Your Food
If you find yourself hitting the snacks or ordering takeout to be delivered a little too often, it’s time to remove the temptation. The easiest way to do this is to prepare meals in advance so that you always have something to hand when you’re in a rush. Have plenty of healthy snacks and water available too.
Takeaways
Remote working can be hugely beneficial but does take some discipline, especially if you’ve fallen into some bad habits. However, you can always make it work for you by prioritizing your health first.
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