Working from home, whether by choice or because of the pandemic, certainly has its benefits, but it often leads to a blur between work and life, causing quite the imbalance. And because of this, you just might find yourself sitting more, and moving less. But, with a few small tweaks, you can stay active and stay productive while working remotely. Here are nine tips how:
Schedule it. You shouldn’t just schedule your meetings. Create an appointment for yourself, using a digital alarm or old-fashioned pen—not pencil—and paper, and block time for a 30 minute walk.
Use your breaks. You deserve a few minutes off to stretch your legs and refresh your mind, so make sure you’re taking the time to step away and go for a short five-minute walk, or maybe throw a dance party in your house with your furry friend!
Stand up. There’s no rule that you must sit while you work, so make it a point to stand for at least 15 minutes a day while you work. You may have to move your computer to a higher surface, or invest in a standing desk, allowing you to adjust your work surface to different heights.
Walk and talk. Find a meeting that doesn’t require video and schedule that meeting to be done while you walk. Whether in person or over the phone, outdoors or pacing your home, you just might find yourselves being a bit more creative and productive as you do so!
Cherish the refills. Don’t get caught up on bringing enough water to keep you hydrated throughout the day all at once. Use the chance to fill up your water bottle each hour (and, er, hightail it to the bathroom) as a great way to stretch your legs and incorporate some movement. Bonus if you can get some squats in during the refill!
Listen to your feelings. If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by something going on during the day, take 10-15 minutes to walk it out. You’ll likely find yourself feeling more settled and ready to tackle whatever the day may hold.
Leave food in the kitchen. Make it a point to set your work aside and eat your meals away from your desk. Doing so will likely help your posture, digestion, and refuel your energy to knock out the day’s tasks.
Dress for success. In many cases, all you need is a blouse or jacket to look professional on a video call. So, when you get dressed in the morning, put on your favorite workout clothes and then layer it with a nice top. This way, you’ll be ready to go whenever you can take a movement break in your day!
Listen and learn. Personal and professional development doesn’t have to be done sitting down. Download an audio book or queue up a podcast to help you grow and learn while being active.
So next time you head to your home office, remember these tips and implement a few. You just might find a little more balance, a lot more energy, and a much shorter to-do list once you do.
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