20 healthy habits to pick up when working from home

Working from home can still feel a little weird, even though many people have been doing it since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The drastic change can impact one’s mental and physical health. To counteract such negative effects, pick up some healthy habits that will make you feel in charge of your daily at-home work life. Here are 20 things to try.




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Brush your teeth

According to a study by Delta Dental, 31% of Americans fail to brush their teeth at least twice a day; some don’t brush their teeth at all. This goes against recommended guidelines that suggest to maintain general health, the mouth should get some love in the morning and evening. Now that you have easy access to your toothbrush and paste, make this a top priority.




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Stand

Sitting is one of the worst things we can do to our bodies, especially when it’s done while arching one’s back to work on a laptop. The damage it can do to our posture is long-term. To counteract these effects, download an app to your smartphone that will remind you to stand up at least once every hour.




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Stretch

There’s a simple way to soothe and loosen tight muscles: stretch! Making time to touch your toes every day will improve your general sense of well-being, improve blood flow, and get feel-good endorphins pumping through your body. Make time to bend and stretch at least twice a day.




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Exercise

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that most people get about 150 minutes of exercise every week—that’s about 30 minutes, five days a week. But, on average, 80% of people aren’t meeting basic activity recommendations to maintain optimal health. The solution? Make some meetings walkable or spend the time you would have spent commuting doing an at-home workout.




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Drink water

How much water a person needs is still up for debate. One thing that is clear is that H2O is an essential source of hydration for our body, muscles, and brain. To keep everything functioning in tip-top shape, aim to drink at least six glasses of water a day. You can make it easier by keeping a jug of the liquid beside your laptop or by adding fruit to your sipper to make water tastier.




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Go to the washroom

You know when you’re in a meeting and you feel the need to “hold it in” so you don’t miss something important your boss says? Doing that can seriously damage your bladder and kidneys or even lead to a urinary tract infection (UTI). So, when you feel the urge to urinate or defecate, get thee to thy bathroom.




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Get some sunshine

With spring and summer around the corner, now is your chance to get out and enjoy the sunshine more than you would have if you were in an office. Stand on your porch, hang out by a window, go for a walk. Studies show getting some rays can boost your mental well-being.




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Eat your fruits and vegetables

With access to your fridge, it’s really never been easier to get your daily intake of fruits and vegetables. (That is if you go to the grocery store to buy them on a weekly basis.) Make that your aim while continuing to work from home and you’ll increase your overall health and longevity.




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Do the laundry

Laundry is one of the most loathed chores there is, largely because it never feels like there’s time to do it. Get ahead of the task by making it a new habit to throw a load in before you start your workday; add the clothing to the dryer at lunch; fold it at the end of the day. You’ll never have to worry about a mountain of clothes again.




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Cook

Takeout is on the rise, with good reason—people are tired and many want to support local businesses that have been shut down by COVID lockdowns. The catch? Takeout is often less healthy than home cooking, which could have an impact on your health and waistline. Make it a habit to cook at least one meal every week. Getting a new cookbook or two could also provide you with some inspiration.




Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.


Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Wear clothes you love

Work sweatpants might be here for good, which could be a good thing for morale and overall confidence. An item worn to the office is often donned because a person believes it’s better for their image, even if it’s not something they love. Now’s the chance to ditch that attire for clothes that make you feel comfortable in your own skin.




Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.


Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Create a proper office space

With all this working from home, you’ll want to take the time to set up a proper office space that keeps your body feeling healthy throughout the day. This could include buying a new chair and tools (like a mouse) as well as making other tweaks to stave off things like back pain.




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Connect with neighbours

It takes a village to do just about anything, and connecting with those that live near you will give you a sense of community—something that will enhance your sense of well-being when the going gets tough.




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Wash your sheets

Bed sheets and bath towels accumulate a ton of dirt, dead skin cells, sweat, and dust mites after only a few days of use. To keep them clean, and to improve the air you breathe at night, wash these items at least weekly.




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Get it on

If you’re working from home alongside a partner, now is the time to improve your romantic relationship. Couples tend to find it difficult to get it on during a regular work week full of commuting, childcare obligations, and work tasks. The solution is to set time aside for intimacy—whether that’s a full-on romp in the sack or a cuddle session on the couch.




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Get ahead of big chores

When you’re going into an office, it can be hard to tackle larger home-care tasks like cleaning air filters, raking the leaves, watering plants, fixing a light, and the like. Now that you’re at home, make it a habit to tackle one large task each week. You can do it over lunch or when you have a meeting break. This will help you feel more proactive about your to-do list, and will give you a relatively large win when other things might not be going as smoothly.




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Reach out

Working from home can feel isolating, especially from beloved colleagues, friends, and even family. Make time each day to ring someone up so you still have that daily “watercooler” moment—the one where you chit chat about pretty much nothing with a confidant. It’s believed these mini moments are good for the heart and soul.




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Take a beat

Many find it hard to pause to catch their breath on an in-office work day because meetings need to happen, kids need to be dropped off, and things need to get done. But studies show finding a moment to meditate can help you focus, maintain well-being, and improve your brain’s overall health. Download a meditation app to get started.




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