4 Helpful Habits for Working From Home

Over the last few months, many of us have had to transform our daily routine almost completely. While some parts of the world are slowly going back to normal, the reality is many are going to continue to have to work from home, at least in some capacity.

Working from home, even without additional responsibilities, can be incredibly challenging. Still, for those who extra work responsibilities or watching over children or family members, it can be even more difficult.

If you find yourself working from home for the foreseeable future, here are 3 helpful habits that you might find useful. Remember, take what you can from this article and apply it to your specific situation.

Don’t forget to stretch

If you work in an office, you may be stuck at the computer or your desk most of the day, but you also likely get up to chat with coworkers or go get coffee. At home, that might not be the case. You may find yourself sitting on the computer for longer for normal, or even doing work from your bed for hours on end.

Incorporating more stretches into your day can make a massive difference. While being able to work from home is certainly something to be grateful for make sure you’re taking care of your body as well.

For example, if you spend most of your day responding to email or typing, don’t forget doing a good wrist stretch. Taking some time to stretch your back is essential too.

Set a timer, or even put some time on your calendar to physically step away from your computer and do some light stretching. You don’t have to fit a two-hour workout into your daily routine, but just a few minutes of stretching goes a long way in keeping your fresh.

Improve your diet

Okay. We’re facing a truly historic pandemic, and many of us are facing incredible amounts of stress. If your diet isn’t 100% on point, you certainly don’t have to beat yourself up, but working to make small healthy changes in your diet can also be incredibly helpful.

What you eat plays a role in your energy levels and mood. If you’re eating crappy, it’s going to make you feel worse and even more stressed.

While ordering in may be an option (and you’d be supporting local businesses), the reality is that it’s not always the healthiest of options.

Keep things simple.

Invest in a healthy cookbook or recipes to help you find a few healthy meals you can eat regularly. UltimateMealPlans.com has a whole bunch of affordable meal plans that are easy to follow. From keto to paleo, to even low carb, you can specify your needs and just follow along.

There are also a ton of great resources such as FitmenCook and Workweek Lunch that focuses on meal prepping, so you have to spend less time in the kitchen.

Again, the point isn’t to be perfect. Make a few small changes in how you eat, and it will pay off in the end. At the very least, aim to eat at least one healthy meal each day to build momentum.

For extra fun, encourage your partner, family, or kids to join in on eating healthy.

Disconnect from work

While going into the office often gets a bad rap, having a physical end to your day is certainly a benefit. After you pack up your bag and head home, you can enjoy the rest of the evening guilt free.

Yet, with working from home, that isn’t always the case. With email, slack, and text, it can be all but impossible to ‘turn off’ even when you deserve a well needed break.

Setting proper expectations with your family and coworkers is important to disconnect from work at the end of the day. No one, especially your employer, benefits from you burning out or not taking time to recharge.

At the end of the day, literally, turn off your computer. Put the phone in the other room. Make a rule of no work after 7 PM. Whatever works for you. It may not be easy at first, but once you build the habit, you’ll be able to get more done and not be as stressed.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it may be because you’re taking too much on. Disconnecting from work isn’t just a nice to have; it’s a necessity.

Explore a side hustle

For some, the current COVID-19 situation might actually be pushing you to your limits. Doing what you need to take care of yourself and your loved ones is always priority #1. That said, you may have some extra time to pursue projects and side hustles you otherwise wouldn’t.

If you do have some extra time on your hands, now is the perfect time to explore those options. Maybe you’ve wanted to start a blog. Or maybe you’ve wanted to start a Youtube channel or level up your skills.

If you have the extra time, don’t let it go to waste. With literally thousands of courses and tutorials online, there’s no excuse as to why you can’t come out of COVID-19. Maybe you’re a marketer who wants to learn design. Or maybe you’re an investment banker who wants to finally learn how to garden.

Use this time to get ahead or tackle those things you’ve been putting off. Heck you can write a book by writing just an hour a day. Don’t feel like you have to do anything extra, but don’t think you shouldn’t use this time to your advantage either.

Putting in the work now can pay off massively down the road.

While these above tips may seem simple on the surface, we promise if you give them a try, they will make a massive difference.