Original publication date: April 29, 2020
Written by Corrie Hill, Executive Assistant at OFNTSC
Hello! / Shé:kon!
First off, I want to acknowledge that I hope you all are staying safe and practicing social distancing during this crazy time.
I think we all are aware that working from home can be both a blessing and a curse. The days of commuting to the office seemed to have vanished before our eyes and it’s now the norm to roll out of bed and hop onto your computer, right?! #pyjamasallday
For the majority of us who are new to the world of working from home it can require a significant amount of willpower and coming up with some healthy habits to stay on top of not only your work, but your home life as well.
When you’re working from home, it can seem easy to become distracted by daily household chores, the constant pandemic related news updates, friends, family and that pesky tub of ice cream that seems to call your name…even though it’s only 10AM (but you deserve it tee-hee!).
If you are looking for new ideas to conquer your new work environment or if you’re simply looking to refresh your own existing healthy habits (or if you’re on the lookout for some new bathroom reading material) please read on!
I’ve put together my top 5 healthy habits (with a little Mohawk twist) you may find helpful and may want to implement into your new working life.
Énhska (1)
Create a Mindful Morning Routine
You may have heard to get the most out of your work from home life that a little discipline goes a long way. I attest to this as mornings and myself aren’t the bestest of friends (bestest is a word right?).
In no way am I encouraging you to get up at 4AM, go for a 10-mile hike, make a smoothie and meditate (cause who has time for that?!). Instead, I believe in a simple routine that is tailored to you.
A routine is simply something that you would do over and over again to flip that switch from ‘snooze mode’ to ‘work mode’.
For you that may be waking up at 7 am, making a nice cup of coffee and reading the local newspaper. For someone else, it might mean waking up at 6 am, feeding your kids breakfast before loading their online lesson plan for the day, chug a red bull (Oops I mean take your vitamins!) and then unwinding by reviewing your daily calendar for the work day.
It is important to know that whatever works for you may not work for someone else because your home life is completely different from someone else’s. I’ve found that the key is repetition and training your brain to get down to business!
Tékeni (2)
Hello, Vitamin D!
Feeling a little sluggish or starting to feel the quarantine blues? Stop the blues in their tracks and experience the many benefits of vitamin d by one simple step…open your curtains! As soon as the natural light fills up my work space it is an immediate mood booster (who knew even your teeth will benefit!).
Vitamin d is a unique vitamin as your body naturally makes it with exposure to sunlight.
Click the link below to learn about the many health benefits of vitamin d:
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-vitamin-d
Ahsen (3)
Get Moving
As I said I like to keep things simple around here, so my next healthy habit can be easily tailored to your own needs and physical ability. Now that the time spent at home has increased significantly sometimes it can feel almost impossible to move from your workspace.
Depending on your own physical ability and desire, something as simple as a few stretches to a brisk walk around the block will give your body and brain the boost it needs to keep the work juices flowing!
Also let’s be real, with your comfy couch staring at you all day the last thing on your mind is to do a million crunches or 100 jumping jacks. So the key is simplicity. For example, if you don’t enjoy running then trying to run 5kms or 10kms will only make it harder to stay motivated. Experiment with different methods and find the best that works for you!
Speaking of that comfy couch below is a link to a simple 10-minute couch workout! Nope, this isn’t a dream. This time you’re actually encouraged to use your couch for health reasons!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F33rmDET71U
Kaié:ri (4)
It’s OK to Take a Break
When you’re working hard on a project or any sort of task, sometimes it can be easy to lose track of time. Taking a break has proven to refresh the mind and also spares time to eat those tasty snacks!
Try creating a simple schedule and try to stick to it for a whole week. If you need to make changes do what suits your daily schedule.
Below is mine as an example:
10:00AM: Break #1 (Refresh my water and of course … snacks!)
12:00PM: Lunch (I also dedicate 30 minutes for some form of physical activity)
3:00PM: Break #2 (Replenish the snacks or I’ll take a quick walk around the house)
Following scheduled breaks will also help give your mind the fuel it needs to nail that presentation or to complete that report you’ve been working on all week.
Wísk (5)
Self-Care isn’t Selfish
Practising self-care isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Sometimes it may seem like our schedules are far too busy and stressful or we may find ourselves to be too consumed with technology to make time for ourselves. Taking the time for self-care can have many positive and long-lasting affects to your health (both physical and mental), reduce stress and more!
Here are just a few simple self-care ideas you could start today!
- Listen to a positive podcast
- Read a book
Or a colleague’s blog post - Meditate
Have 5 minutes to spare? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inpok4MKVLM - Laugh with a friend or family member
Try using Zoom to host a virtual game night! - Look at photos that make you smile
- Listen to music
It’s Your Turn!
Now it’s your turn to create the ideal work from home life that works for you. For those who are starting out, be patient, and maybe try just one healthy habit each week. If that works then try another and build your own healthy habits for a healthier you!
Stay healthy everyone!
