Wellness and Working From Home
I have been working remotely for a few years now and here are some of the things I try and do to keep my wellness in check while working from home.
Change Up Your Routine
I usually start my day with exercise to get myself energized rather going from bed to the sofa to my desk. This gives me the chance to feel active, get a shower, and properly get ready for the day. I make sure I take real breaks and stand a way from my screen throughout the day. In general, I now find it really productive to work from home because I am able to work flexibility and allocate time to my work when I am in the zone. For example, I might end up working 9 to 6.30 instead of 9 to 5 because during that time I have taken breaks for when I am not as productive as I want to be — so I might do the laundry, clear the dishwasher, read something for 10 minutes.
Self awareness is important here, not to fall into the trap of doing endless chores and distractions either but to use the time where you might have been looking blankly into your screen at the office to something productive at home. I also create ‘a fake commute home’. I find a way for separation when I have finished work, this could be things as simple as changing rooms, getting changed, or having a stretch to reset and be ‘home’.
Get Creative in the Kitchen
Working from home is a great opportunity to be more creative with your lunches as you can cook it fresh. This has been one of my favourite things working remotely. I have started journaling my own recipe book with all the new lunch creations! Here is a few of my favourites that are quick and easy to cook from home:
Tofu scramble
Miso soup
Roasted cauliflower served with hummer and avo
Peanutbutter on toast with lime, chilli and corriander
It saves the temptation of getting a quick takeaway lunch if you were working from the office, a chance to gain some new healthy habits.
Invest in Your Workspace
Getting your workspace in the right set up is critical for your posture, minimizing back pains and overall sanity. Ideally get a stand for your laptop, separate keyboard and a separate mouse. These make a world of difference! I use Base12 for my laptop stand which is super handy and transportable. I also surround my workspace with plants and pictures and I am beside the window which provides me with some calm vibes.
I have my to do list front and centre, the oldest trick in the book but one that can really help with productivity during the day and keep you on track. I also have my water bottle beside me as a reminder to keep drinking throughout the day too.
Other Happiness Tactics
I have also started journalling a one liner on what I am grateful for on that today, it is a small thing but gives me a positive spin on a day fully working from home which for some can be monotonous. This also encourages me to be reflective during the day and recognise when I am most inspired or energized.
(Side note: favourite thing about working from home? Ability to sing out loud when listening to music!)
Investing in yourself is a great way to keep your wellness and mindset in check, find time in the day for some career development too. This could be setting time aside to reflect on your goals, listen to a podcast (I am loving Squiggly Careers at the moment), or setting time aside to listen to a TedTalk. If you are in a position where you have to get through some mundane tasks that don’t require a lot of concentration it is great to have these type of things in the background. Skillshare have some really great online courses to check out as well. I would love to hear any other tips people may have for keeping their wellness in check when working from home. If you have any questions or feedback please leave a comment below.