How To Stay Active & Happy When Working From Home

It is important for everybody to stay active, but particularly if you work from home. More and more people are now working from the comfort of their own home instead of traveling into the office each day, and this can bring a host of benefits. Although there are many advantages, it does mean that extra effort needs to go into being active as sitting at a disk all day long can pose a number of health problems including mental health problems, an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. If you work from home all day and are looking to get more active, here are a few great tips.

Walk Before & After Work

One great way to get some fresh air and exercise is to treat your home job as an office job, so start the day by going for a stroll and then do the same at the end of the day. In addition to providing exercise, this can also be beneficial because it creates a productive routine and can help to enforce the distinction between home and work, which is something that many people struggle with.

Stick to a Schedule

Following on from this, creating a schedule and sticking to this can be beneficial for both physical and mental well being. It can be tempting to wake up late and work sporadically, but having a regimented schedule is good for your mental health and will also help you to be productive. Many homeworkers will get up early, shower and dress like they would if they were going to the office.

Go Out For Lunch

Being cooped up in the house all day can lead to cabin fever, so be sure to use your lunch hour well instead of eating at the desk or sat in front of the TV. You could meet somebody for lunch, head to a local coffee shop or simply take a homemade lunch at the local park – which is also a great way to save money.

Hourly Breaks

In addition to sitting for extended periods, it is also not healthy to stare at a screen for too long, which is why it is recommended that you take a short break every hour. It can be as simple as standing up, stretching and taking a short walk around the house. These breaks can help with focus and productivity, so be sure to incorporate them into your daily routine.

Work Out

One of the major benefits of working from home is the fact that you do not have to spend time traveling to and from the office. Use this extra time by getting a workout in whether this is exercising at home or going to the local gym. If you have a flexible schedule, most gyms are very quiet just before 9 AM when most people are on their way to work. Going to the gym, or any form of exercise is also a good way to break the day up.

Use Your Free Time Wisely

Once you have finished for the day, it can be tempting to flop in front of the TV for the evening – but this is just as bad! Instead, use your free time wisely by getting out the house and doing something social as this is good for both mental and physical well being. It is fine to chill out at home, but make sure that you break the week up with a few activities to get out and about.

Standing Desk

Standing desks are becoming more and more common, and it is easy to see why. A standing desk can greatly reduce the risks of being sat down for extended periods of time and could be beneficial for your posture. You will not want to stand at your desk the entire day, but many are adjustable, or you could simply use an adjustable chair so that you can sit from time to time.

Chair

Instead of your typical office chair, consider an alternative type which can minimize the risk of being sat down for lengthy periods. The best example is a perch stool, which is a stool with a rocking base which makes it easy to move around and wobble so that you can stay active while sitting down. Many people find that in addition to the health benefits, these stools can also improve focus and productivity. They can be used in a range of other environments too, so consider introducing them into other areas of your home.

Ergonomic Equipment

It is important to stay active, but, equally, the majority of homeworkers will need to spend the majority of their day at their desk. In addition to a standing desk and a healthier form of seating, there are various ergonomic devices which can minimize health risks like repetitive strain injury (RSI). These are important investments to make and could have a huge impact on your health in the long run.

Active Meetings

If you have a client meeting, colleague meeting or any other kind of commitment, make the effort to make it an active meeting. Instead of inviting them over, go out for a walk or to a nearby coffee shop. Even if it is a phone call, it is a good idea to use the opportunity to get away from the computer screen and get some fresh air.

Seek Out Fellow Remote Workers

Remote working is incredibly common and will only become more popular in the next few years. It can feel isolating, which is why it is a good idea to seek out other remote workers so that you can maintain healthy social connections and have people that you can relate to. Whether this is a virtual community or you meet up in person, it can help to speak to those working in a similar environment, and you could make new friends.

There are many benefits of working from home, but there are also drawbacks. These are mainly that it can be easy to be sedentary and isolated, but there are a few easy ways to improve this so that you can maintain an active and happy lifestyle while maintaining a productive and profitable career from home.