Work From Home: How are you staying healthy?

[Deleted User]juggernaut (deleted user)
edited March 2020 in General

This is my first question on the forum. Hope to not being trolled. =) :)

Most organizations in US have requested all the employees to work from home.
I have been working from home for past 2 weeks. First week was amazing and I felt great working from home.
But second week onward, things started changing.
A clear example was my steps tracker app. My number of steps have reduced from ~5000 on last Sunday to ~200 on Thursday (yesterday). That is concerning me since, I have stopped going to my gym as well.

I feel drowsy, less energetic, and hungrier.

How can I fix this? Curious to learn how you all are staying healthy while being self-quarantining?

Comments

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    When I am not traveling I Office from home and have done so for nearly thirty years. What you are referring to is easy to slip into. You just have to do it. Now I also turned my walking and work outs into a reward for finishing certain tasks—but that is me. In the end, it is you vs. you and psyching yourself into doing it is something only you can figure out—-what makes you tick? Should you reward yourself in some way for doing it? These are considerations you need to think about.

    Maybe you should make a list divided into two columns. On one side are the tasks like working out or cleaning and on the other side you list small rewards that create guilt—like eating a cookie or watching a show. Then pair each of them in one column with something from the other column. That is just one strategy.

    I once walked three miles (I live up next to a county wildlife preserve so this works for me) on a trail inaccessible by car and I buried a watch I liked in a box. I was concerned someone might find it and walked the next day and replaced the watch in the box with another important item. This strategy worked for me several years ago when I started thinking I was too busy to walk or run.

  • alpharesalphares
    edited March 2020

    I only do bodyweight exercises as I don't have a gym equipment at home and my trainer is Jeff Cavalier of Athlean-X. That guy completely destroys me.

  • UKGuyUKGuy
    edited March 2020

    I've been working from home for years. I first started in the days of dial-up modems so that will tell you how long. It's definitely a lifestyle change. I miss the human contact do a degree so I've been going into the office one day a week. During this crisis I'm working from home exclusively. The main danger I find is the refrigerator is close by and always accessible, so I tend to snack a lot. Working from home, you should have more time to exercise because you don't have to waste time commuting. Make sure you take a real lunch break and go for a short walk, don't eat lunch at your desk.

  • hillbillyhillbilly
    edited March 2020

    @juggernaut - being more rested after work just means you can bring more intensity to your workouts. Set yourself a new 5K goal or aim for a new PR at whatever exercise you do. Perfect time to make some gains. Outside is perfect for social distancing.

  • parkwayvisualparkwayvisual

    I still go into work everyday. My employer is considered an essential business, so I'm required to show up everyday for my normal hours.

  • dontrememberdontremember

    I'm still going to work every day, until we're told to stay home. Some of the other guys started working from home last week. I've been running about 3 - 4 miles mid week, and up to 10 miles on the weekend anyway, so I'll continue to do that.

  • StoryDoctor1138StoryDoctor1138

    @juggernaut As a work-at-home freelancer, I can tell you that @UKGuy has some great ideas. In addition, try to set up a specific schedule and stick to it (when to sleep, when to work, when to eat...) even if it's different than a schedule you would keep if going to work. Be sure to change into different clothes to work (no working in PJs) and try to set a specific place in the house to work. Go outside for at least 5 minutes several times a day (rain permitting) and if you can do some basic walking (to the mailbox, etc.) get some steps in that way.

  • [Deleted User]juggernaut (deleted user)
    edited March 2020

    Thanks all for the great advice. Here are the takeaways:

    Challenges:
    1. I start at 9 and tend to work till 9 because no one stops me.
    2. Gym is closed indefinitely and I don't have the motivation to leave my work at 6 PM.
    3. I am working from my Bed because I don't own a desk and chair and it is affecting my posture as well. (Yeah, I might be overreacting - but I have observed that my back has started paining).
    4. Eating a lot of unhealthy snacks.

    Solutions:
    1. First and foremost, I ordered desk, chair, affordable monitor, so that my posture is fine, should be delivered in a week.
    2. I threw all the unhealthy snacks and bought some fruits, etc. Even if I am munching, let me munch on some healthy stuff.
    3. I educated myself on Lock Down in my area, and I can still go out alone while maintaining distance from other passerbies. So, Saturday onward, I will go for a jog and schedule it at 6 PM so that I leave my work for the day.
    4. No more working in PJs. Get suited up for work!

    Open to more ideas. Happy quarantining!

  • [Deleted User]juggernaut (deleted user)

    @alphares: Jeff Cavalier is a beast Thanks for telling me about him.
    @FunCartel: I Liked the concept of "Cookie after a work-out".
    @UKGuy: Yeah I Wasn't taking those "real" lunch breaks, I would schedule meetings with my team during the lunch. I am going to suggest having "just" lunch virtual meetings with my gang because I miss the social connection.
    @hillbilly @dontremember @StoryDoctor1138: Yep, Sat onward, will start with 1k and slowly increase.
    @spuds: Stay safe with good social distancing with colleagues/ clients. Wash hands regularly and stay healthy.

  • geoff1000geoff1000

    I have a company-branded mug, that I've been using at work for almost 30 years. When we were sent home, I brought it with me, and that's the one I use when I'm working.
    Having it at my elbow and drinking from it, keeps reminding me that I am "at work".

    A similar idea might be a desk notice with one's name and job title and the company logo ; as if "the office is just a bit empty today".

    One more would be to print out or have on a TV, a standard picture of the company offices.

    Clothing is less important to me, because I can't see what I'm wearing.

  • [Deleted User]juggernaut (deleted user)

    @geoff1000
    =) Lol amazing tagline.
    Yeah, clothing doesn't make much different but my hunch is it could affect the psychology.

Sign In or Register to comment.