With the shift towards remote working still going strong, health is an ongoing concern.
The global pandemic resulted in many workplaces implementing work-from-home policies. But how can you work from home and stay healthy?
According to a survey conducted by CoSo Cloud, 77% of people believe they are more productive when working from home.
Another study, conducted by commercial real estate firm CBRE, suggests that up to 69% of millennials are willing to sacrifice certain workplace benefits to have more flexible working options.
And according to video conferencing company Owl Labs, 74% of people say they’re more likely to stay with a company if they have the option of working from home.
The simple message is that working from home is likely to become the new normal in the coming years.
However, working from home also presents challenges.
No longer faced with the need to commute to the office, people may find that they’re less focused on their health. Some may also find they have limited access to exercise equipment or other resources that help them to stay fit.
In this blog, we’ll share four tips on how you can work from home and stay healthy.
TIP #1 – EASY EXERCISE
Do simple exercises, squats and jumping jacks!
These involve using your own weight to strengthen your lower body.
Another exercise that most people are familiar with thanks to school gym sessions, jumping jacks! These elevate your heart rate and work your entire body.
Jumping jacks allow you to improve your cardiovascular conditioning without requiring a lot of room.
Both are perfect for your home office space.
Don’t worry, we’re starting to break a sweat already too!
TIP #2 – KEEP ON MOVING
It’s easy to spend too much time at the computer when you’re working from home. What’s more, you may choose to spend your breaks sitting in front of the television. This leads to long periods of sitting around. As relaxing as that sounds, it’s not healthy for you!
Sitting for several hours at a time is linked to a range of health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. And by committing to moving for a few minutes per hour, you reduce your risk of experiencing these conditions.
Consider setting a timer to remind yourself to get up and moving every hour. Spend a little time walking around the house or go for a quick walk around the block before resuming work.
TIP #3 – DE-STRESS YOUR ENVIRONMENT
One of the best things about working from home is that you have complete control over your environment. Use this to your advantage by creating an environment that allows you to tackle stress.
For example, placing scented candles around your desk creates a more relaxed environment. So, too, does ensuring you have plenty of plants in your home office. Who doesn’t love a little succulent! Working near a window also helps to reduce stress, as having a view of nature can prove soothing.
You can even take this step further by incorporating an “active” chair such as an exercise ball. That way you’re even doing activities as you sit! The unstable nature of the ball forces you to use your core muscles to stay upright, strengthening your body in the process.
TIP #4 – STOCK HEALTHY SNACKS IN YOUR KITCHEN
The kitchen is only a short walk away when you’re working from home. Unfortunately, this also means that it’s very easy to access sugary snacks at any point.
The solution is to eliminate unhealthy snacks from the kitchen. Instead, stock the kitchen with fruits and healthy snacks.
Make these healthier options visible by placing them on the counter while hiding away the unhealthy snacks in the cupboards. This ensures your healthy snacks act as a visual reminder to stick with the foods that are good for your body.
YOUR HEALTH IS A PRIORITY
While working from home offers a range of benefits in terms of flexibility, productivity, and work/life balance, it can also lead to a more inactive working environment. Overcoming this requires you to come up with ways to keep your body active, even when you’re spending long hours sitting in front of a computer.
The four tips shared in this article will help you do just that. And best of all, none of them require you to buy expensive exercise equipment! Winner!
Article adapted with permission from The Technology Press.