As working remotely has become more feasible, it has also become much more popular! There are many people who are still working from home and enjoying the many benefits. However, there are some challenges that come along with working remotely. One of those challenges is having the discipline and consistency to create healthy habits or avoid unhealthy ones. In fact, it’s easy to completely ignore your health and get stuck in a work routine and barely leave your desk all day long. But with just a little bit of thought and planning, you can develop some really good habits that can help your work from home routine benefit your health. So, if you’d like to learn some tips on how to stay healthier while working from home, this blog is for you.
1) Get Some Sun!
Did you know that sunshine is a great source of vitamin D? It is recommended to get at least 20 minutes a day out in the sun to provide for that vitamin D intake. What a great way to stay healthy! However, many people do not get 20 minutes of sunshine per day. If you’re working from home, you may not either. But it could be as simple as taking your laptop and working outside on the porch for a little while every day. Doing so also has the added benefit of fresh air, hearing the birds sing, enjoying the breeze in the trees, and an overall therapeutic atmosphere in general. You know you have emails to check every day, why not do it outside? It is a simple way to give yourself an immune boost and a little health advantage that is free and easy to do.
2) Get Up and Move It, Move It!
It is so easy to get sedentary when working at a desk job from home. Hours can go by before you notice you have not gotten up from your desk or moved out of your chair. Staying in the same body position all day long can be very hard on your body. It can lead to aches and pains and other issues, and those can make it harder to stay motivated. It’s a great idea to just set the alarm on your phone to go off every one or two hours. When the alarm goes off, get up and move around! Even just a few minutes of exercise can help. Do some jumping jacks. Go for a short walk. Play catch with your dog or your kids. It doesn’t have to be a long period but you want to be consistent. You might be surprised how many great ideas and inspirations you may get while taking a little bit of an exercise break during your workday.
3) Drink Lots of Water
Many people do not realize that one of the first signs of dehydration is fatigue. When we feel tired we often turn to caffeine which may make us more dehydrated. If you find yourself worn down and struggling to have enough energy just to get through the day, pay attention to how much water you are drinking. A great method for making sure you’re drinking enough water each day is to get a large thermos or drinking container and fill it at the beginning of the day. Make it a goal to finish that container completely, every single day. It is recommended that you drink 1 ounce of water every day for every half pound you weigh. If you weigh 150 pounds, you should try to drink 75 ounces of water each day. If that does not sound realistic, do what you can. Any movement you can make towards drinking closer to your target amount helps your overall goal of developing healthier habits.
4) Plan your meals
It is so easy to sit at your desk and snack all day. It’s even easier to snack on unhealthy snacks like chips or candy. But if you take just a little time to plan your meals, then you know ahead of time what you’re going to eat, and are more likely to stick to that. Plan in your snacks too. Healthy and easy-to-eat snacks like nuts, veggies, fruits, etc. can satisfy your need to munch without creating unneeded extra pounds. Gaining unwanted weight because we just aren’t thinking about what we’re eating while we’re working is not just hard on our health, it can be hard on our self-esteem and make it difficult to do the things we enjoy in life. With just a little planning, you can avoid that self-esteem buster and be good to your body with healthy foods instead.
5) See Your Doctor!
It is easy to let time go by and forget to schedule your regular checkups with your family doctor at Lake of the Ozarks. But those checkups are recommended for a reason. The earlier you are able to notice any problem with your health, the easier it is to get effective intervention. At Central Ozarks Medical Center, we make it simple! Just call 1-877-406-COMC (2662) and choose the location nearest you to schedule an annual health check-up with one of our primary healthcare providers in central Missouri. Don’t forget to follow us on social media to stay up on all of our latest announcements and helpful hints regarding healthcare in mid-Missouri!
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