5 Ways to Stay Active While Working From Home
Staying active while staying indoors on most days can be tough. With the Coronavirus pandemic still infecting millions of people every day, it isn’t surprising that your company has placed you as well the majority of your colleagues in a remote work setup for the time being. With this, staying active is your best option not just to maintain a healthy body but also a healthy mind. Here are some activities to help you out:
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1. Maintain a workout routine
Probably the most common way to stay active while working remotely, maintaining an exercise routine will keep your body moving throughout the entire week even on days when you’re not working. There’s nothing to worry about if you’re not an athlete or have limited mobility since there are a lot of exercises that you can do. You also don’t need to build a work from home gym.
Sit-ups and push-ups are basic exercises that are very helpful since they build stamina and core strength. You also don’t need any equipment for these exercises which you can do early in the morning or after your shift in the afternoon. If you do opt to purchase some equipment, go with portable ones such as dumbbells and resistance bands. Once you have these equipment, search online for easy workout plans which you can do twice or three times a week. Alternately, dance exercises are also something you can go with if you hate lifting weights and doing strenuous physical activity.
2. Cook and clean
If you’ve been working from home for quite some time now, you may have already developed the habit of doing chores while working at the same time. Although this type of balancing act is never advisable, doing chores is still the best way to keep your body active if you can’t go outside for various reasons. Cooking and cleaning are some of the best chores you can do at home, and also some of the easiest.
Schedule your chores before or after the shift as well as on weekends. As for the cooking, you can prepare meals for yourself or your family as long as your schedule permits you to. Do simple meals on weekdays and reserve those complex meals during weekends. As for the cleaning, it can be as simple as cleaning the living room or cleaning the entire house. You won’t only be sweating like you’re working out, but you also get rid of bacteria and potential viruses in your home. In these times where a high level of cleanliness needs to be of the utmost priority due to COVID-19, the importance of cleaning your home is important as ever.
3. Walk around
How to stay active at home? Walk around. Sitting for long hours in your home office is never good for the body. It leads to weight gain (obesity) and other conditions such as increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol levels. There’s a simple solution to solve this problem: walking around the household. Even if you’re living in a small room or apartment, you can still do this activity. Walking requires minimal effort and you’ll still stay active throughout the day.
Remember that you can still walk around even during your shift. If you’re taking calls from your boss, don’t just sit and finish the entire call while in a chair. Roam your house and even outside of it for the duration of the call. You can also walk around if you feel stressed as it will help clear your mind and recharge for a few minutes. You’ll even have more time to walk after you’ve finished work for the day. Experts say that one needs to take at least 10,000 steps per day to burn around 3,000 calories per week. Taking 10,000 steps may be unachievable now, but do your best to work to that number in the future.
4. Do yoga
Yoga is one of the most underrated ways to maintain a work life balance while working remotely. Although you won’t sweat as much compared to doing strenuous exercises, yoga is still a great activity to improve flexibility and ease numerous body pains. Yoga is also one of the best, if not the best method to relieve stress and anxiety. The more you do yoga, the more you’ll develop a relaxed and optimistic mindset.
Much like the other activities on this list, schedule your sessions during your free time. If your schedule is packed during weekdays, reschedule on weekends or during your days off. You can even do some quick yoga after you’ve finished all your work and family responsibilities during the day.
5. Set reminder alarms
Setting alarms isn’t just for waking up, but also for whatever activities you have planned for the day. This will help you stay on your toes and also prevent you from becoming lazy. The more you stay lazy, the more you will compromise your long-term health.
Since you’re mostly staying at home these days, plan out all the activities for the entire week. This allows you to maintain a schedule so that you don’t forget to do any activity relating to staying active. If you have an unexpected event you need to attend that forces you to miss a schedule, do some rescheduling right away. Already set an alarm for your exercise routines? Why not set alarms for your other activities as well such as for chores and family time. You’ll be amazed how much work you’ll finish if you already scheduled it ahead of time. Your time management skills will even improve in the process.
Final thoughts
Staying healthy can be difficult while working in a part time or full time remote job. People tend to earn money while compromising their physical and mental health in the process. But it doesn’t have to be that way especially with the number of activities you can do in the comfort of your own home. Whether it be doing exercises or doing chores, these healthy habits will help you stay active and keep you fit as long as the Coronavirus pandemic still rages on.
