The pandemic has resulted in a vast expansion of those who work from home. Once relegated mostly to freelancers, authors and those working on small business ideas from their kitchen table, working from home is now also commonplace for regular employees, especially those whose physical business locations have been shuttered or restricted to help reduce transmission and infection risk associated with COVID-19.
But working from home to avoid infection from the pandemic can still lead to ill health, especially when the home environment causes you to move less often while snacking more often. If you are working from home and concerned about what the experience is doing to your physical health, implementing these tips can help.
Structure your workday
When working in a brick and mortar location, most employees have a basic structure to their workday that helps them limit unhealthy activities. When working from home, however, the familiar surroundings and the knowledge that snacks and leftovers are just a few feet away can really take a toll on physical health.
Stress eaters may also find that they consume more unhealthy snacks at home than they did in an office setting because no one is watching their movements. To avoid this type of misbehavior, employees who have been instructed to work from home should consider following a schedule similar to the one they were accustomed to at the office.
To do this arise, be sure to dress for work and enter your home office on time each day. Restrict bathroom breaks and trips to the kitchen for food or coffee to scheduled break times.
Get creative about adding exercise to the mix
While working with a strict schedule will be helpful in limiting bad behavior while working from home, you should still look for creative ways to add some healthy exercise to the mix. This is especially important for employees who spend their work time in front of a computer screen or speaking on the phone.
An excellent idea for increasing the level of healthy activity while working from home is to consider adding a standing or elevated desk along with an under desk treadmill to your home office. Employees who utilize this type of exercise option to provide periods of activity can break up sedentary activities, encourage better circulation, and maybe even become more motivated to curb snacking.
To learn more about treadmills for the home office, shop online or call a local retailer who handles this type of home exercise equipment. A retailer can provide additional information for equipment such as the Lifespan TR1200 under desk treadmill.