Telework - Prioritize Health and Wellness
- Don’t ditch your meal prep! When you’re home alone, no one is there to judge you for eating six cookies for breakfast, but your body won’t thank you in the long run. To avoid unhealthy eating habits, make sure your fridge is stocked with healthy food options and plan out your meals snacks ahead of time. Stick to an eating schedule just as you would during a normal week of working in the office. Eat meals away from your desk. Set caffeine limits and don’t forget to drink water. Portion out your healthy snacks and make them easily accessible so that you’re less tempted to mindlessly munch on sweets and junk food. Limit unhealthy foods kept in the home so you don’t reach for products high in sugar, salt and fat when experiencing stress. For additional help with nutrition while teleworking, schedule a telephonic health coaching appointment with a Be Well Solutions dietitian through the portal or email nutrition@bewellsolutions.com.
- Make physical activity a priority. Less than 1/4 of American adults get the recommended amounts of both aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a remote worker, you have extra time in your day that you don’t have to waste commuting into an office. Use that time to exercise and move. Reap the health benefits of exercise by opting for a lunchtime walk, a virtual yoga session with your spouse, or a quick 20-minute workout. Make time to stretch specific areas of the body that may be strained from prolong sitting like your back, neck and hips.
- Take care of your eyes. Let’s say that you’re totally engrossed in a presentation that you’ve been working on for weeks. In fact, you’re so absorbed in what you’re doing that you don’t realize that you’re now sitting even closer to your screen. Just like the rest of your body, you need to give your eyeballs a break when you work from home. Protect your eyes by looking away from your screen every 20 minutes or so for at least 30 seconds or longer. That will give your eyes a chance to recuperate and avoid eye strain and potential headaches. Set reminders if needed.
- Socialize with colleagues. One undeniable loss while teleworking is the casual "water cooler" conversation that connects us to people. If you're not used to it, full-time remote work can feel isolating. Everyone needs socialization, and as a remote worker, you may find yourself needing it more than when you were in the office. Remember: You're working from home, not the moon. Use technology to stay connected! Your department or a network of work friends may choose to schedule online social time to have conversations with no agenda. Embrace video calling and webcams so you can actually see each other. Maybe try an icebreaker over your team chat: What's everyone's favorite TV show right now?
- Find the little perks. Take advantage of the perks of being at home. Knock out some of your weekend to-do list by switching over a load of laundry during a break or weeding the garden after you finish eating lunch. Are there certain things you wish you had time for that you never seem to get to? Bake a loaf of bread this week. Next week, try something new. Working remotely comes with unique perks. Take advantage of them. You deserve it.
