6 Simple well-being tips when working from home to stay healthy and productive
1. Make your physical health a priority
It is no secret that the state of our physical health impacts our mental health, so it’s crucial we find ways to stay active when working from home. Whether you plan regular morning or afternoon walks, scheduling a gym class or just aim to meet your daily step goals. Time spent away from the desk focusing on physical health goals can help promote a healthy work life balance. If you are finding it difficult to exercise or make your physical health a priority, there is plenty of free online classes on YouTube and Instagram to use. Don’t forget to stay on-top of your diet as well, it can be all to easy to fall into bad patterns and snack on junk food throughout the day. Try keep healthy snacks like fruits and nuts in the house and avoid this.
2. Use breaks effectively
Just like you would in the office it’s important to take regular breaks to keep your work productivity at it’s best. For example, do you usually grab a mid-morning coffee at around 10am? Do you go out and grab lunch when you are in the office? Whatever these breaks look like it’s important to make them regular to get away from the desk and keep you focused during the day.
3. Schedule social and virtual interactions
To prevent yourself from feeling alone and isolated it’s important to schedule regular social activities and meetings. Catching up with colleagues or friends for a quick lunch or coffee during the day can be a great and easy way to connect and have some face-to-face time. You can also plan regular virtual meetings with your team for work chats as another means of interaction. Adding some extra time onto to meetings for general chit chat and personal conversation at the beginning or end of a meeting can be an effective way to bond with fellow contractors and employees even when you’re working from home.
4. Keep your workspace clean and tidy
If you don’t have an office space, spare bedroom or separate area where you can work from your living space, try and set boundaries as much as possible between your work and home life. For example, using the corner of the dining table as your space where you only focus on work. Try avoid making this space a place where you involve your personal life such as eating dinner or making personal calls. Keeping this space clean and clutter free can be which can be helpful to boost productivity. Also removing notes and closing the laptop is essential to tell yourself the day has ended and switch your brain from work mode into home life mode.
5. Keep a regular routine
Setting a schedule and sticking to it throughout the day especially in the morning can be one the most effective ways to set yourself up for a productive day. If you have a normal office routine try to stick to it as best as possible. If you usually wake up at 7am and take the dog for a walk and grab a coffee then continue to do this even if you’re working from home. It can be very easy to hit snooze and sleep in for an extra 30 minutes and start work in your pajamas. Whilst this can work for some people, for many it starts their day off slowly and unproductively. During the day keep your breaks regular and have a finish time if you usually have one. When the day is done shut the door to the room if you have a separate work space and consider what you usually do as an activity to switch off your work brain and do it.
6. Don’t be to hard on yourself or others
Working from home can be difficult especially if it’s new and you’re starting out. If you do find yourself feeling a bit flat and distracting yourself by social media or online shopping than that’s okay. Try and identify the areas which aren’t working or making you feel less productive and take steps to rectify. Most importantly be patient, doing something that is new and different can be challenging so stay positive and be kind to yourself and others as you adjust to your new work routines.