5 Healthy Habits for When You Are Working from Home
Working from home sounds like the ideal situation doesn’t it? You don’t have to get up early to shower, dress up, and commute. You can just freshen up and start working. You are at home so you can spend more time with your family or partner. You can take breaks when you want to and you can be relaxed.
This situation sounds idyllic and wonderful but as most of the world has realized in the last six months, it is not as great as it sounds to be. Working from home comes with its own challenges and complications. People have found it very difficult to transition to remote working. They have noticed signs of burn out, depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, and a constant state of fear. That’s why its extremely important to have certain habits that make working from home healthy and happy for everyone involved.
No Screen Time- About 46% of Americans check their phones even before getting out of the bed. That is a terrible way to start your day. Using your cell phone first thing will also hamper your ability to wake up early and feel fresh. Working from home means your day will be dominated by screens and content. Starting your day with scrolling through your mobile phone will just make the day worse. Instead, get up slowly, take few breaths, stretch, and soak in the morning sun. Focus on you and your self for now.
Drink a Glass of Water- Many of us are accustomed to reach for coffee or tea first thing in the morning. Drinking a glass of cold or warm water before that is really good and recommended for most adults. You can set your coffee to brew and sip the water slowly, letting yourself relax before the day and its chores overtake your mind. Drinking more water is beneficial for several adults as dehydration is a common cause of fatigue and dullness. You can set out a bottle of water or glass next to your nightstand if you wish. Studies have also shown that drinking cold water early in the morning can burn a few extra calories as you digest it since your body must work harder to maintain core temperature. Or you can drink warm water with lemon to cleanse your system and support digestion.
Plan Your Day- Working from home can exacerbate your problems if you don’t plan your day efficiently. Outline your tasks, schedule calls, fix a to-do list and stick to the schedule as much as you can. Be firm about setting a specific time for work calls and emails to your colleagues. Many employees find it difficult to say no or set boundaries when working from home. This can affect quality time that you should be spending with your family. I find writing my schedule or posting it on sticky notes makes me remain committed. You can also set reminders to take breaks or an alarm at specific intervals. Keep time for lunch, coffee, or tea breaks and remember to drink water.
Journal- Journaling is often recommended by some of the most successful and experienced professionals in the world. Writing your thoughts, ideas, and feelings in a journal when you wake up can make you feel relaxed, calm, and motivated to start the day. It is a great exercise to cleanse yourself of the last day’s stress, worry, and anxiety. Journaling allows you to connect with yourself, get comfortable with your solitude, and give you direction. Writing in a journal daily will improve your writing skills immensely and make you a better manager and employee. Find 10-15 minutes to write your thoughts in a diary. There is no right or wrong way of doing this. Just jot down your stream of consciousness, random ideas, thoughts, and emotions for your self. It can also be a superb resource for writers who usually find their best ideas when doodling or scribbling.
Get Moving- Cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress and keeping you awake and alert reaches its peak at 8 am. Exercising in the morning improves attention, visual learning, and decision making. Morning exercises are also better suited for hormonal fluctuations and de-stressing your mind. Working from home gives you the benefit of saving time on an office commute. You should definitely take advantage of the 20-50 minutes most of us spend on an average daily commuting to work. Light yoga, breathing, stretching, or even walking can help prepare you for the day and relax you. Working out in the morning also ensures you stay committed to exercise and don’t delay it for later in the day or cancel it. You can join a gym, studio, or watch Youtube for several home workouts that are available at all levels.
These healthy habits once ingrained will ensure you can work from home seamlessly. As the situation adapts globally, remote working is going to be more common than ever. Tailor these ideas to your style and preferences to get the best results personally.
