Have you joined the army of remote workers because of the pandemic? If the answer is yes, then you’re not the only one. Chances are you’re having a fair share of challenges of your own with the transition to remote work. One of the major challenges is the effect this work arrangement has on health and well-being. The boundary between professional and private life has become blurry overnight. Take a look at some tips on how to improve your health while working online.
Plan Your Day
While working online, most people miss having a structured and organized day. Some like to sleep in, start their workday in the afternoon, and work well into the evening. Others like to start their day early and make the most out of their day. Still, to stay productive while working from home, you should work out a plan. It doesn’t have to be a detailed one. As long as it balances your work and life commitments, your work performance and health won’t have to suffer.
Take Breaks
It’s easy to immerse yourself in work and forget to meet some of your basic needs. We keep forgetting our body and mind need rest. So, include short breaks in your work schedule. For example, take a walk around your home every 30 to 45 minutes. Or set aside an hour for breakfast or lunch, including meal prep time. During these breaks, try not to think about work and meetings. Instead, try to relax and enjoy them as much as you can. These short power breaks will keep you mentally and physically refreshed.
Socialize
Working from home tends to become lonely at one point. You realize the importance of workplace communication only when you can’t do it any longer. To overcome this obstacle, you can check out internal communication examples. This way, you and your team members can stay connected despite not sharing the office anymore. For face-to-face interaction, hop on video calls with coworkers, family, and friends. Virtual socialization in times like these is beneficial for your mental health. It increases your serotonin levels and improves your general well-being.
Keep Fit
There are three cornerstones of healthy life – eating, sleeping, and exercising well. If something upsets their balance, your health becomes damaged. Remote workers rarely find the time to eat healthy, sleep enough, and exercise regularly. That’s why most of them struggle with sleep deprivation, stiffness, low mobility, etc. To stay fit, don’t compromise your sleep or exercise regime for meetings or a heavy workload. Get as much sleep as you need and stretch or exercise moderately. You can do yoga or Pilates at home. Also, drink plenty of water and eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Meditate
For some, working online appears more frustrating than working in an office. If you’re juggling more responsibilities than usual, you may feel the same. What could help you get rid of pent-up frustration is meditation. Starting your day with this simple exercise can help you set daily intentions and the tone for that day. It relaxes your mind and body by removing negative thoughts and feelings. Also, it helps you concentrate better and sharpens your mind as well as skills.
Set a Clock-out Time
Most remote workers have flexible schedules. While it suits some of them, others fall into a common trap. Without fixed working hours, they tend to overwork themselves. At some point, they’re bound to experience burnout. With the right precautions, you can prevent this from happening to you. For example, you can set a clock-out time at the end of every working day. That’s when you leave your home office, change into sweatpants, and start unwinding. Setting the boundary helps keep private and professional life balanced which is the key to a healthy life.
Reflect
While meditation is the right way to start the day, reflection is the best way to end it. Before you go to sleep, it’s important to take some time and reflect on your day. What have you managed to finish during the day? What have you learned? Would you react any differently to certain situations? What would you like to change tomorrow? Reflecting on such questions keeps you positive and optimistic for the next day.
All in all, the switch from working in an office to working online is quite challenging. While working online, you shouldn’t neglect your health. By following our advice, not only will you be taking care of your well-being but also improving it.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Health category
Leave a Reply