4 Ways to Stay Healthy As You Work From Home

The COVID-19 pandemic turned homes into offices overnight. People have adjusted to the new normal but did so with some challenges—less motivation, compromised postures, and unhealthy snacking, to name a few.

It may take a while before offices completely open their doors again. If you're one of those with a work-from-home arrangement, make sure your job doesn’t get in the way of your work-life balance with these must-do habits:

1. Set a routine—and stick to it. Your bed may be too comfortable to get out of, but following your pre-pandemic schedule helps maintain your productivity. Wake up at the same hour, take a shower, and get dressed like you’re actually going to the office.
   
   Set an alarm every two hours to get out of your workspace for some stretching, particularly your back and hips. Walk around your block even for a few minutes for some fresh air and sunshine.
   
   Setting a schedule means setting boundaries, too. Track the time you spend on work daily. Avoid letting work overlap with your personal time, and vice versa. Stop checking your email once your shift ends, and don’t work on your days-off.
   
   
2. Designate your workspace. Set up a desk to separate professional tasks from personal activities. Invest in an ergonomic chair that keeps your posture upright, preventing you from experiencing back pains.
   
   Limit your bed to sleeping, your couch for lounging, and your kitchen for eating. Attending virtual meetings in your bedroom could eventually disrupt your ability to relax even after work hours, and answering emails on the couch with the TV on can distract you from working efficiently.
   
   
3. Prep your meals. It’s easily tempting to raid your kitchen knowing it’s filled with junk food and sweets. Don’t let cravings sabotage your healthy eating habits by stocking up on fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, and fiber-rich grains. When snacking, go for raw, roasted, or lightly salted nuts and seeds in moderate portions.
   
   Allot a few hours on the weekends to prep meals for the coming week, saving you not only from extra calories but expenses as well.
   
   
4. Move and meditate. Look for health and fitness classes you can attend online. You only need a yoga mat if you’re going for bodyweight exercises. Switch it up with a pair of dumbbells for squats, shoulder presses, and bicep curls. Pressed for time? High-intensity interval training only takes 10 minutes.
   
   Don’t forget your mental health. Give yourself at least 15 minutes of quiet, device-free time in the morning to clear your mind and set your intentions for the day.
   
   These activities release endorphins that can help fight stress, boosting your productivity and efficiency throughout the week.

Creating healthy habits despite working from home—and in the midst of a pandemic—is really about managing stress caused by worrying about the future. Instead of focusing on what could go wrong, why not take steps to secure your years ahead?

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