Staying Healthy While Working from Home

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably gained a lot of weight during quarantine. At least it feels like I have, but I can’t confirm until I [try to] put on my next pair of jeans.

Working from home has been a unique challenge for some and a dream come true for others. It’s hard to stay healthy while trying not to eat 8 meals a day! But staying healthy is more than just working out every day, and I want to show you how.

Go outside, every day

Sunlight is great for your health. Take a walk, ride a bike, or play some ball. It helps to get outside for 30 minutes to an hour every day. Play with your kids or go out with your family.

Not only does this change in environment (i.e., being home all day) get you out of your thoughts, but it helps you to appreciate the things we sometimes take for granted.

Stay connected to your loved ones

We can do so many things with technology. Yes, we can do weekly Zoom calls with our friends and family, but “staying connected” is more than scrolling endlessly on social media.

Creating is a great way to stay connected, without getting into the hole of consumption. Create memories, new art, hobbies, and unique experiences, and share them with the people you love through technology. When we see technology as a means of sharing creation as opposed to constantly consuming, our perspective of “connection” shifts.

Make time for gratitude

It’s important that we remind ourselves of why we’re grateful and how far we’ve come. Set aside a few minutes to think about life from an outside perspective. Everything doesn’t have to go as planned to be grateful.

Being grateful is looking at today’s reality and recognizing the slivers of joy, even if the world seems to be falling apart.

Set boundaries for work

In this age of remote work—which is here to stay—it’s very easy to blur the lines of being at work while being at home. Although it’s helpful to designate a working space, you also need to decide on the things you will and won’t do when you’re done for the day.

Something that’s helpful is deciding not to answer emails after a certain time—or maybe acknowledging them and telling the person you will have the answer for them after the weekend. Carve out a time each day to spend with just your family. Think about the small steps you can take to create clear boundaries. It’ll keep you sane.

Do something you’ve always wanted to do

I believe this season is a great time to give attention to something you’ve always wanted to do. Why not start painting or learning songs on the piano?

Do something new, not for the sake of monetizing or showing off, but just for you. Something therapeutic. Something that will challenge you. Something that will ease your mind. If not now, then when?

Rest

This is the most important thing you could do. No matter how many responsibilities you have, you can’t keep going unless you’re recharged. Rest is bigger than taking a break or taking a nap. Rest is actively practicing self-care. It’s holding yourself accountable while also being gracious to yourself.

Being healthy is a holistic process. You can work out five times a week and still feel empty. Now more than ever is the time to be intentional about the habits and the values you practice. Great health isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making an active effort to be your best self, both inside and out.