8 Healthy Tips For Working At Home

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans have shifted to working from home. If you’re one of the many Americans who now find themselves clocking in in their pajamas, it can definitely feel like quite the adjustment. 

At Southwest Chiropractic, we understand that the change can be a little jarring, so we’ve decided to dedicate our latest blog to tips for working from home. By using these tips, you can hopefully enjoy working from home just a little bit more, and stay healthy throughout the pandemic!

1.) Designate A Workspace

One of the first items on your working-from-home to-do list should be to find/make a designated workspace. The reason for this is it can help you get and stay in the mindset of work, rather than sleep or leisure. A desk would be ideal, but even using the dining room or kitchen table would suffice. 

When finding your workspace, try to find a place where you can spend time away from distractions like the TV or family. This isn’t always possible, of course, but finding a place away from distractions can help you stay productive.

2.) Invest In Work Equipment

Investing in some handy equipment can also do wonders for your time at home. One of the best investments you could make today is a good office chair, one that balances comfort and support. While we don’t recommend working on a bean bag chair or the couch, a dining room chair might be too rigid and uncomfortable. You can find a happy medium or, if all else fails, look for some affordable office chairs with great reviews online!

Another excellent investment to make for your home setup is a standing desk, which can keep you from staying seated for hours at a time. Sitting is notoriously bad for you—it increases the likelihood of certain diseases, as well as harming mental health on average. With a standing desk, you can avoid some of those bad effects. 

Other excellent investments include a hanging file folder, a nice desk lamp, and a phone adapter

3.) Take Breaks 

We are workaholics. This country, and the world at large, works long, hard hours. As you work from home, though, it’s important that you remember to take breaks along the way. 

Periodic breaks in the day can have incredible health benefits, like improved creativity, mental-wellbeing, and even productivity. Yes, productivity! By giving your brain time to rest and refresh, you can work more efficiently when you are working. 

Try to schedule out your break time, like one 5-10 minute break per hour or two. That way, you can find time to walk around, read an article, play a game, or even just rest your eyes.

4.) Don’t Forget To Stay Active

This is a huge tip. Being active is an incredibly crucial part of working from home. Even if you didn’t have a workout routine before, you probably still burned more calories than you realized. 

This is because our everyday activities also burn calories, not just going to the gym or swimming laps in the pool. Opening your car door, walking to the break room, getting the conference room ready for a meeting—these all burn calories too, though we don’t often think about it. Working from home doesn’t allow you to burn calories in this way, so be sure to stay active. 

Remember those breaks we suggested? Perhaps use them to go for a quick walk, or do a small workout circuit. This can help you stay happy and alert while you work, while also getting you out of harmful postures. Purchasing equipment like workout bands and a pull-up bar can also do wonders for your health. One of our more recent blogs discusses stretching in detail, another excellent way to stay healthy.

​5.) Get Some Consistent Sleep

Working from home messing up your rhythm? You’re not alone. In addition to messing up our normal routine, it can also affect your sleep too. People tend to sleep later (sometimes way later), which can leave you groggy in the morning. 

If you were getting a good amount of sleep pre-COVID19, try to maintain that schedule, or shift it slightly to account for your lack of a commute. But try not to let your sleep vary wildly from day to day, as it can lead to weight gain, irritability, and decreased productivity.

6.) Get Dressed

We all love our cozy pajamas, but when it’s time to work, you may want to put on some clothes. That’s because they help you get into the mindset of working, as opposed to the mindset of...well, sleeping. 

That doesn’t mean you need to put on a full suit or dress, but some casual or business casual attire can help you wake up and shift your mindset to productivity mode.

7.) Keep An Eye On Your Calories

While you work from home, it can be tempting to reach for the chips and cookies while you work, but be warned: you may need some new pants soon. 

It’s ridiculously easy to eat way too much while working from home. Even if you manage to keep eating the same amount, remember that you likely aren’t burning the same amount of calories as you used to. So you may slowly put on a few extra pounds. 

To keep from gaining your social distancing-15, try cutting down slightly on your daily intake of food, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and satiated.

8.) Make A Set Schedule

Finally, make a set schedule for your work. Working from home, it can be easy to let work consume your whole day, but you need that break. Set a definite start and stop time for work, so you can switch from work mode to relaxation mode reliably.

Choose Southwest Chiropractic For Your Health Needs

Working from home got you feeling achy and off-balance? We may be able to help! Southwest Chiropractic is El Paso’s #1 in chiropractic care, and we’d be happy to help you feel your best. 

Contact us today to schedule your consultation!