There are a lot of benefits to working from home. You get to avoid long commutes, helping you to save time and money. You also don’t need to get dressed every day in your business best.
Remote employees are becoming more common with companies of all sizes. If you are lucky enough to be able to work at home, it is important that you remember to take care of yourself. Here are a few self-care tips that will help you to stay happy and productive.
Set Boundaries
You want to set boundaries between work and home. Have set hours devoted to work. Once these hours are up, take time for yourself. Try to keep the same hours you did when you were going into the office. For example, take time for lunch away from your computer. When your break is over, don’t prolong it by doing household chores. Go back and finish up your workday.
Create a Designated Workspace
If you have the space, turn a spare room into a personal office. Try to avoid areas in the home where there are constant distractions. This will only lead to frustration and an inability to get your work completed on time. Look for an area with plenty of light to set up your desk. You also want to have a comfortable, upright chair for long stretches at the computer.
Prepare Healthy Snacks
It’s easy to start munching on all the sugary treats you probably have in your refrigerator and pantry. The sugar rush may give you energy for a short time, but when it wears off, you will probably feel sluggish and unmotivated. Fresh fruit and veggies will give you a boost without adding to your waistline. Prepare them in the morning or farther in advance so you have good food ready to eat.
Develop a Morning Routine
It’s important to have a morning routine and stick with it. Create one that makes you feel good. It could be relaxing over a cup of coffee, doing early morning exercises, or just catching up on the news. Taking a few minutes in the morning for yourself can make you a more productive at-home employee. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle any challenges the day might bring.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is vital for your physical and mental health. Try to have a set sleeping schedule. Optimally, eight hours of sleep is best for most people. This is not always possible, especially if you have a busy life. Set a time to go to bed at night. If necessary, use an alarm to wake up in the morning. A schedule can improve your quality of sleep so you wake up refreshed and ready to work.
Make Time to Stretch and Exercise
All types of at-home workers from programmers, to graphic designers, to gaming pros, to bloggers must prioritize stretches and exercises that can help undo the damage from working at a computer. Many exercises can even be done while seated at an office chair or during breaks, like a five-minute yoga practice, or you can try out some simple neck and spine stretches.
Get Ready for Work Every Morning
This will help you get in the right headspace to start the workday. Take a shower, brush your teeth, and get dressed. Don’t spend the day in your pajamas or old sweats. These comfy clothes should be saved for your days off. You don’t have to put on a full work suit, just something that you’d wear in public or to greet guests at your home.
Meditate
Meditation is a great way to unwind any time of the day. If your work is becoming stressful, take five or ten minutes for yourself. Meditating for a few minutes can help clear your head so you can go back and tackle the problem with a new perspective.
These are only a few tips that can help you take better care of yourself, but there are many other steps you can take, especially if you’re new to working at home. When you are healthy mentally and physically, your work performance will be at its best.