Over the last few years, the way that many people work has changed dramatically. While before, most people would have left the house to go to work each day, many now work from home – office jobs no longer have to be done in an external office.
There are many positives to this, including a better work-life balance and many cost savings for employers. However, there can be downsides, too, including feelings of isolation and general unhealthy behaviour. With this in mind, here are some tips on how to stay healthy when working from home.
Establish a routine
When you are working from home, it’s easy to let your working hours blend into your personal time, meaning that in the end, you’re working a lot more than you normally would (and probably not even getting paid for that extra time). This can lead to stress and anxiety, and it can also mean that you have less time for taking care of yourself – you might not have time to exercise or cook a healthy meal from scratch, for example.
This is why it’s crucial to set up a routine to follow. This will give you set hours for working and should ensure that you don’t even look at your work emails if you’re not technically working. This can be hard at first, but it will soon become a positive habit.
Stay active
Exercise has already been briefly mentioned above, and it is a very important part of staying healthy when you’re working from home. Sitting at a desk for many hours at a time will take its toll on anyone, and it can cause problems with your weight, posture, muscle strength, and circulation. It’s vital that you make time in your schedule for some exercise.
You don’t have to go to the gym or complete a difficult workout; you can just go for a brisk walk at lunchtime or after work or perhaps take some time to go swimming or play some sports. You’ll find that taking a break from work to exercise will improve your focus as well, allowing you to get more done.
Try hypnotherapy
When you’re stressed, it can be hard to relax, even when you know you should for the sake of your health. Sometimes trying to relax can make you feel worse because it means you’re suddenly concentrating on trying to clear your mind, bringing everything you’re worrying about into focus all at once.
This is why working with someone who does hypnotherapy in London or online can be helpful. When you make an appointment with a hypnotherapist, you can relax comfortably and safely. You’ll often find that your sleep improves, and you feel more able to work because you’re less stressed. When you can focus on your work and be more productive, you’ll have a better work-life balance, and this will help you in many ways.
Have a healthy diet
It can be tempting to eat poorly when you’re working from home. You’re busy, for one thing, so eating a healthy meal made from scratch sometimes feels impossible. Instead, you might get takeout or snack unhealthily throughout the day.
The best thing to do is to plan your meals in advance and prepare as much as possible – you might even try batch cooking. In this way, you’ll always know what to do, you’ll have the right ingredients, and you won’t be tempted to order unhealthy food.
Adam Mulligan, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.