Work From Home

While working from home has its benefits, like working in your favorite yoga pants or hoodie, it also makes some easy unhealthy choices that much easier for us to make.   

I have a huge sweet tooth, so I often find myself thinking “I’ll just finish off the cake from the other night as a midday snack”.   

I know others may think “I can lounge on my couch for these calls instead of at my desk,” or “Who needs lunch, maybe a quick nap instead.”   

Without our peers down the hall to walk and talk to, or heading out to pick up lunch from the restaurant down the block from the office, or even the walk from the parking garage to our desks, us work from home folks often don’t get enough movement during our workday. We also often make the easy to grab, unhealthy (but yummy) food choice that is just a stone throw away from our desk (like the cake, cookies, or your kids’ favorite candy) instead of a healthy food choice simply because it’s there.  

This said, I’m going to share a few tips with you on things you can do to help you get some additional movement in your day, as well as maybe think twice about finishing off the pack of donuts on the counter.  

Exercise

To get some additional movement or exercise in your day, try some of the following:  

• • • Walk as you Talk – Take one of those non video facing calls on a walk with you.  
    • Set a Timer – Take a 5 minute walk every hour around your house.  
    • Desk Workouts – Google this! There are SO many! Run up and down your stairs, do some stretching, or walk around the house.  
    • Weight Training – You read that right, keep a pair of dumbbells next to your desk and do some curls while reading a document or on a call (maybe not a video call).  
    • Go the Distance – When you need that restroom break, don’t go to the bathroom right outside your office. Go to the furthest bathroom in your house.  
    • Standing vs Sitting – Did you know you can burn approximately 30 more calories an hour by swapping sitting for standing? Pick a few hours in your day when you will stand at your desk versus sit.  
    • Desk Exercise Equipment – Nowadays you can buy (or win during Maveristmas) an under-desk treadmill or elliptical to use while you are working at your desk. 

Diet

To help yourself make healthy food choices while working from home, try some of the following:  

• • • Pack your Lunch – It may sound silly but pre making your lunch like you are going into the office is a good way to ensure you grab a healthy thought-out meal at lunchtime.  
    • Healthy snacks – Stock your house with healthy snacks and leave them out in an “easy to grab” spot so you select them versus digging out an unhealthy one.  
    • Make sure you eat – It is easy to get in the zone and not stop for food. Making sure you eat throughout the day can prevent you from getting hangry but also from overeating later in the day.   
    • Portion out snacks – While it is easy to just grab a bag of chips and eat directly from it, portioning out a single serving of your snack versus eating out of the packaging is a better approach.  
    • Drink Water – Not drinking enough water in your day can lead to dehydration and make you not feel well. Drink plenty of water (half your body’s weight in ounces) to keep dehydration at bay and it can also help curb your hunger.  
    • Limit Caffeine – While you may have access to endless cups of coffee, too much caffeine can cause headaches, digestive issues, anxiety and even make you tired.  

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