Congratulations! You have finally escaped the cube farm and negotiated a work-from-home schedule. You imagine sleeping in a little later, trading high heels and skirts for sneakers and sweats, and saving a ton of money skipping your morning latte run in favor of your own Keurig creation.
Working from home can help work/life balance and put some money back in your bank account, but there are also drawbacks. According to a 2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics study, telecommuting may actually cause your boss to have higher expectations about your ability to work more hours, including nights and weekends.
Your own expectations about what you can do with this new-found freedom may also be slightly askew. If your job required hours of sitting before, don’t expect that to change because the treadmill is now in the next room. You may find yourself moving less because your co-workers aren’t stopping by your desk to ask you out for lunch or you don’t get to climb a few flights of stairs on your way to your next meeting.
Working from home requires setting some clear boundaries about not only your office hours, but also meal and exercise breaks. Use these tips to help you create a new “work at home” fitness routine.
Become a morning exerciser.
Take back the time from your morning commute to get in a workout instead of sleeping in. Create an inexpensive home gym and a dedicated space to work out. One of my favorite home workout tools is the kettlebell. If you aren’t familiar with this tool check out Kettlebells for Dummies or the DBK program at DailyBurn to help you learn proper technique. Unless you have to Skype into meetings with clients, you can put off your shower till mid morning or lunch if necessary.
Keep healthy snacks in your desk drawer.
You may get stuck on conference calls more than you expected. Having almonds, protein bars and dry roasted edamame at arms reach may stop you from running to the cookie jar at the end of the day. While sitting at your desk doesn’t burn as many calories as someone who stands or walks on the job, the brain does require a constant flow of fuel. According to Scientific American, the brain requires a huge amount of energy relative to its size. Up to 20% of our resting metabolic rate comes from brain activity! Unlike your muscles, it can’t store fuel in the form of glucose. It needs a steady supply of glucose in the blood stream. Try not to go more than four hours without a small protein/smart carb snack.
Set a timer to get up and move every hour.
Researchers now believe NEAT is the biggest factor in not only health but weight maintenance. Set an alarm on your phone or try an app like StandApp to help you remember to take activity breaks. Try one of these one-minute workouts to get your blood pumping and boost your brain power (and productivity). Even standing up every chance you get or stretching in your chair can make a big difference to your body and mind.
Take a lunch hour (or half hour).
You will be tempted to stay at your desk to eat, just like you did at the office. Instead, set a reoccurring meeting on your calendar with yourself to have lunch and take a quick walk. It’s also important to have lunch with your co-workers on occasion. Working remotely can make you feel disconnected and perhaps even out of the loop on big projects and decisions. Face-to-face time with your co-workers helps you feel like you are still part of the team (and keeps you up to date on the latest office gossip).
It takes time to form a new routine, so don’t be too hard on yourself as you form new habits. Celebrate the successes and learn what works (and what doesn’t) for YOU. Just remember, you’re working from home but you are still WORKING. Set aside the money you saved on coffee and dry cleaning to take a well-deserved vacation!
Also Read:
7 Fool-Proof, No-Excuse Ways to Move More Every Day
5 Healthy Snacks Disguised as Meals
The No Squat Lower Body Workout
image via Death to Stock Photo