Building and maintaining a wellness routine as a remote worker can be challenging. Without the structure of a traditional office environment, it can be easy to get caught up in work and forget about your personal health and well-being.
In this guide, we will explore more in-depth tips and strategies that remote workers can use to build and maintain a wellness routine. We’ll cover everything from exercise to nutrition, sleep habits to mindfulness practices, and more.
Get clear on your personal wellness goals
Before you can build an effective wellness routine, it’s essential to get clear on your personal goals. Take some time to reflect on what is important to you and what areas of your health and well-being you want to focus on. Some questions you might ask yourself include:
- What are my primary health concerns?
- What types of movement or exercise do I enjoy?
- How can I improve my sleep and digestion?
- What types of self-care practices help me feel most relaxed and revitalized?
Getting clear on your goals will help you create a customized wellness routine that works for your personal needs and preferences.
Establish a consistent daily routine
Remote work often means more flexibility in your schedule, but this can also lead to a lack of structure that can be detrimental to your health and well-being. To combat this, it’s helpful to establish a consistent daily routine that includes dedicated time blocks for work, exercise, self-care, and other activities.
Start by identifying your most productive work hours and scheduling your work tasks accordingly. Then, set aside time each day for exercise, self-care, and rest. By creating a consistent schedule, you’ll help yourself stay on track and prevent burnout.
Create a designated workspace
One of the benefits of remote work is the ability to work from anywhere, but this can also make it challenging to separate work-related activities from personal time. Creating a designated workspace can help you establish a boundary between your work and personal life.
Ideally, your workspace should be a quiet and distraction-free area where you can focus on work without interruptions. If possible, try to set up your workspace in a separate room or area of your home. If you don’t have a separate room, you can create a designated area by using a desk or table, and personalizing it with items that help you feel focused and productive.
Focus on Nutrition
Eating a healthy diet is a crucial component of any wellness routine, and for remote workers, it’s essential to eat well during the workday. When your kitchen is just downstairs or steps away, it can be tempting to snack or skip meals altogether. Instead, try to plan out healthy meals and snacks in advance to help ensure that you eat well throughout the day.
Start by incorporating a variety of nutrient-dense foods into your diet, including lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Avoid processed and sugary foods, as they can cause energy crashes and reduce your productivity.
One way to make healthy eating easier during the workweek is to meal prep on Sundays. Plan out your meals and snacks for the week ahead, and prepare them so that they’re ready to eat during your workday. You can also use a meal delivery service or grocery delivery to make healthy eating more convenient.
Take breaks
Taking regular breaks throughout the day is essential for staying productive and maintaining good health. When working from home, it can be easy to stay glued to your computer for hours at a time, but this can lead to burnout and decreased productivity.
Instead, try to take a five to ten-minute break every hour or so. Use this time to stretch, take a walk, or simply step away from your computer. You may also find it helpful to use the Pomodoro technique, which involves working for 25-minute increments and taking a five-minute break in between.
Incorporate exercise
Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good physical and mental health, but it can be easy to skip workouts when you’re working from home. To make exercise a regular habit, try to incorporate it into your daily routine.
Start by scheduling dedicated workout time into your daily schedule. This may involve going for a run or walk during your lunch break, streaming a yoga class on a break, or setting up a home gym in a spare room.
Another way to make exercise a regular habit is to join a virtual fitness class or hire a personal trainer. Having someone hold you accountable can make it easier to stick to a regular exercise routine.
Prioritize Sleep
Getting enough sleep is crucial for maintaining good health and productivity. Without a set schedule, it can be easy to stay up late and wake up too late, which can disrupt your sleep patterns and negatively impact your health.
To prioritize your sleep, start by setting a consistent bedtime and wake-up time. Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night, and establish a pre-sleep routine that helps you relax and wind down before bed.
Avoid looking at screens or engaging in stimulating activities for at least an hour before bed, as they can interfere with your sleep quality. Instead, try to read a book, meditate, or take a relaxing bath to help you unwind and prepare for sleep.
Incorporate Mindfulness practices
Mindfulness is a powerful tool that can help to reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Incorporating mindfulness practices into your wellness routine can help you stay focused and productive, even during stressful times.
Start by practicing mindfulness meditation for a few minutes each day. You can use apps like Headspace or Calm to guide you through these meditations.
You can also practice mindfulness throughout the day by bringing your attention to the present moment. Engage in activities mindfully, savoring the sights, sounds, and sensations around you. Whether you’re walking, eating, or working, try to remain present and focused on each moment.
Stay Connected
Working from home can be isolating, so it’s crucial to stay connected with colleagues, friends, and family. Social connection is vital for our overall well-being and can help reduce stress and improve mental health.
Make an effort to stay connected with colleagues through virtual meetings and chats. Create a routine of reaching out to friends or family regularly, whether through phone calls, video chats, or text messages. Even small doses of social connection can have a positive impact on your health and well-being.
Set boundaries:
Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining a work-life balance as a remote worker. Without clear boundaries, it can be tempting to work all hours of the day, which can lead to burnout and decreased productivity.
To set boundaries, start by creating a specific start and end time for your workday. Communicate this schedule to your colleagues, and make it clear that you will not be available outside of these hours.
Also, make it a point to unplug from technology and work-related tasks outside of work hours. Set specific times when you will check emails or messages, and avoid responding to work-related issues outside of these times.
Try different forms of self-care
Self-care is essential for maintaining good health and well-being, but it looks different for everyone. Experiment with different forms of self-care to find out what works best for you.
For example, you might find that taking a bath helps you relax and unwind, or practicing yoga helps you feel more centered and calm. Consider trying different forms of self-care regularly and make time for the activities that make you feel most rejuvenated.
Get outside
Spending time outside can have a positive impact on both physical and mental health, but it can be easy to forget to take a break and get some fresh air when working from home.
Make it a point to get outside at least once a day, even if it’s just for a short walk around the block. Exposure to natural light can help regulate your body’s circadian rhythm, which can improve sleep quality and overall health.
Keep your workspace organized
A cluttered workspace can interfere with productivity and increase stress levels. Take some time to organize your workspace, and create a clean and clutter-free environment that promotes focus and concentration.
Invest in organizational tools, such as shelving, desk organizers, and filing cabinets, to help keep your workspace tidy and organized.
Take advantage of virtual wellness resources
Many wellness resources are available virtually, making it easier than ever to stay healthy and well while working from home. Consider taking a virtual fitness class or participating in a virtual wellness workshop.
There are also many free wellness resources available online, from guided meditations to healthy recipes. Take advantage of these resources to help you build and maintain a healthy and well-balanced life as a remote worker.
Prioritize mental health
Working from home can be stressful and isolating, and it’s easy to neglect mental health when focused on work-related tasks. Make it a priority to take care of your mental health by practicing self-care, mindfulness, and seeking support when needed.
Consider speaking with a therapist or mental health professional if you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns. There are also many virtual resources available, such as teletherapy, that can make it easier to access mental health support from the comfort of your home.
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is essential for maintaining good health and well-being, but it can be easy to forget to drink water when working from home. Keep a water bottle nearby throughout your workday, and make it a point to drink water regularly.
Avoid sugary drinks and instead opt for water, herbal tea, or unsweetened beverages that are good for hydration.
Take frequent screen breaks
Staring at a computer screen for hours at a time can cause eye strain, headaches, and decreased productivity. To combat this, take frequent screen breaks throughout the day.
Set a timer for every 20 minutes and take a five-minute break to rest your eyes and stretch. Engage in activities such as walking, stretching, or simply looking away from the computer to help relieve eye strain.
Be patient
Building and maintaining a wellness routine takes time and patience. Don’t expect to see results overnight, and instead focus on making small, sustainable changes that will lead to long-term health and well-being.
It’s also important to be kind to yourself and avoid judgment or criticism when having an off day. Remember that wellness is a journey, and the most important thing is to keep moving forward and prioritizing your health and well-being.
Final Thoughts
Remote work can be both a blessing and a curse. While it offers flexibility and convenience, it can also lead to unhealthy habits and stress. By building and maintaining a wellness routine, remote workers can prioritize their health and well-being, and stay productive and focused while working from home.
Remember that building a wellness routine is a journey, and what works for one person may not work for another. It’s important to be patient, kind, and understanding as you navigate the process. Try different approaches, experiment with different self-care practices, and find what works best for you.
In the end, the most important thing is to prioritize your health and well-being, and make it a priority in your daily life. Whether it’s through exercise, mindfulness practices, or healthy eating, small changes can have a significant impact on your overall well-being. Keep moving forward, be kind to yourself, and enjoy the journey towards better health and a more balanced remote work life.