One of the biggest issues with working from home is that you typically don’t need to move very often. Unless you do something active like an in-house yoga class or if you work as a fitness instructor, you’re probably quite sedentary and, as a result, you spend a lot of time sitting down at your desk and typing away at your computer. This usually results in a lack of exercise and your body might feel like it’s constantly in a lazy state.
When we used to work for someone else, we’d wake up a little during the commute to work (because nothing is worse than falling asleep on the train or taking the wrong bus!) and by the time we reach our workplace, we’d have friends to speak with and work to do, keeping us on our toes. However, when we roll out of bed and climb into our desk chair to start the day’s work, it’s all too tempting to just fall asleep and get nothing done for the rest of the day.
So in order to energise your body and mind to work at home, here is a collection of useful tips and tricks to follow.
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Set up a working environment
One of the first things you need to do is set up a working environment. It’s important to keep your work life and home life separate as much as possible so that you don’t mingle them together. You don’t want to get up and start work in the exact same room that you slept in, and you don’t want to go downstairs and get distracted by family members while you work. Work in some place quiet where you won’t be distracted, and make sure it’s not your bedroom. The reason being you don’t want to associate your place of work with your place of sleep—that can only lead to disasters such as falling asleep when you just want to “lay down for a bit”. However, if there are no other choices, then your bedroom might be the only place where you can set up a working environment that’s free from distractions (aside from the comfort of your bed). Make sure your work area has a desk with all the essentials you need. This will create an area of the home that your brain registers as “work time”, thus kicking your body into the right mood and energising you for work.
Give your bedroom a makeover
The bedroom has been mentioned already, but it’s hard not to stress how important it actually is when it comes to giving you the energy you need to improve your work day. Make sure the bed itself is comfortable enough and giving you a good night’s rest. Take a look at Mattress Guides reviews if you want to purchase a new mattress. You spend roughly a third of your life sleeping, which is why it’s incredibly important to ensure you sleep tight in order to wake up feeling more refreshed. In addition, you’ll want to try and remove as many electronics as possible from the bedroom. As mentioned before, this might not be possible if your bedroom is the only viable office space in the house, but if it’s not, then make sure you keep everything (including your phone) out of the bed. Your body needs to associate the bedroom for bedtime, much like how you want to train your body to recognise your work area so that it adjusts accordingly.
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Work on improving your diet
If you feel like you lack energy when you wake up, then you may need to alter your diet a bit. Focus on eating foods that provide you with a boost of energy such as fruits and vegetables, carbohydrates and dairy. Some of the healthiest breakfasts to eat are porridge with fruit, omelettes and toast with a spread like peanut butter. However, what works will solely depend on your body and how you react to these foods. Some people get by without eating until it’s lunch time, while others swear by their morning bowl of cereal. Whatever you do, make sure you avoid caffeine like the plague because it only provides a temporary boost in energy and focus. The more you drink, the more you’ll need to feel its effects in the future. Drink plenty of water to hydrate yourself, and eat some carbs when possible to provide your body with the energy it needs to get through the day.
Force yourself to move a bit
Try your best to exercise a little bit throughout the day. For instance, you could give yourself a five-minute break to stretch, get a new drink and work your legs every other hour. Alternatively, you could take your work elsewhere, such as to the park or your relative’s home. This is a great opportunity to incorporate some movement into your working routine, but it only works if you can do your work with just a laptop and an internet connection. If you have an exercise machine at home, such as a cycling or elliptical machine, then you might find it beneficial to do five minutes after eating breakfast to wake yourself up a little and get your heart working a little. This can emulate the same effects of commuting to work and if you incorporate it into your morning routine, it can give you a nice boost of caffeine-free energy.
Radiate positivity
While your work might demand a lot of attention, you want to ensure that you’re doing your best to stay positive throughout the day. If all you can think about is trying to finish quickly so you can go and watch television or fall asleep again, then you’re prone to rushing your work, producing worse results and feeling drained. Keep your mood positive by introducing some music to your working routine. Listening to some tunes while you work can boost your energy and reduce your fatigue, especially if it’s something upbeat. Some people even listen to classical music because they claim it can increase your focus.
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