Career Advice

Important Self-Care Tips for Working From Home

We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.

The work-from-home life is something that thousands of people have adopted since the onset of the pandemic – and we have to admit it’s working great. We’re wasting far less time on commuting and pointless face-to-face meetings, and many of us can work in a much more comfortable and stress-free environment.

However, working from home has its challenges and some people are still struggling to find their groove. When you work and rest in the same place, it’s tough to make sure you’re taking care of your work obligations as well as your obligations to yourself.

When you work from home, there are a few important habits you need to implement for the sake of self-care. Here are some tips for managing your work-life balance when the lines are blurred.

Focus on Back Health

In a real office location, we’re far more inclined to get up and walk around, talk to co-workers, grab a cup of coffee and generally move more. When we’re at home, it’s easy to get stuck in the zone and barely move for 5 hours at a go.

This is detrimental to the health of our backs and necks. You can counter this by taking forced breaks to move around and changing your desk setup to be better for your spine. Invest in an ergonomic desk chair, and consider looking at which sit stand desk is best since this can force you to stand straight for a few hours and stretch your back muscles.

You might implement a morning or evening stretching routine or even try out desk yoga – just make sure you’re prioritising your muscular health.

When you work from home, there are a few important habits you need to implement for the sake of self-care. Here are some tips for managing your work-life balance when the lines are blurred.Click To Tweet

Prioritise Your Physical Environment

Working in an ugly, boring office is just part of the trade when you work a desk job. However, when your office is in your home, you have the freedom to dress up your space however you want to. Working in an environment that you find relaxing and tranquil, or one that sparks inspiration and creativity can do wonders for boosting your productivity.

Look for office interior design ideas online, pick a look that really speaks to you and truly invest in making your space inviting. This will make it far easier for you to walk in there each morning with an actual desire to spend the next few hours at your desk.

Implement a Morning Routine

Wake up. Make coffee. Sit at desk. Sound familiar? Gone are the days when we used to have to actually get ready to leave the house and head to work. What you might not realise is that it’s pretty detrimental to your work and your mental health to skip these ‘non-essential’ steps.

When you work from home, fight the urge to drag yourself from your bed to your desk and implement a morning routine to start your day. This should involve taking a shower, making a nutritious breakfast, making your bed, and getting ready.

You might want to include some personal time in the mornings too – for reflection, reading, mindfulness, and other practices that will prepare you for the workday. 

Get Dressed

No, not in yoga pants and not in a fresh pair of pyjamas. Getting dressed and making an effort with our appearances can truly help us to feel put-together, ready, and positive about the day ahead.

There’s nothing wrong with embracing the work-from-home life and skipping the pencil skirt and heels, but opting for a comfortable yet professional looking outfit is going to help you avoid the burning desire to curl up on the couch.

It’s been proven that getting ready for the day boosts productivity and gives a better sense of purpose to people who work from home. 

Remove Distractions

One of the more difficult aspects of working from home is the endless distractions we’re surrounded by each day. Social media notifications, needy kids, chatty spouses, dirty dishes, and that bottle of wine and new episodes of your favourite show calling your name. Fighting distractions all day makes it harder for you to work effectively and can leave you feeling unaccomplished and frustrated.

Remember to treat your workday as a workday and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Keep your office door closed and make it clear to friends and family members that you’re not available for random distractions during work hours.

Remember Your Lunch Break

Shovelling your sandwich into your mouth with one hand still on your keypad isn’t a good example of mindful eating. Forgetting to eat lunch altogether is an even worse idea. We all need to eat and we all need a break at some point in the day – this is why you’re typically allocated an hour’s lunch break in your employment contract.

Just because you’re working from home, doesn’t mean that this rule is void. Make the effort to take your lunch break. Step away from the office and mindfully eat a balanced and nutritious lunch away from your desk – even if it’s in front of the TV.

The energy boost from the food and rest will only benefit you in the second half of the workday.

Snack Mindfully

Constantly being within walking distance of your fridge can make it easy to snack all day every day (often replacing that crucial lunch break). However, this is not a healthy or beneficial way to eat and you might find that the calories add up significantly!

Listen to your hunger cues and snack when your body is really asking for it. When you do feel a craving, satisfy it with ready-made and pre-portioned healthy snacks, instead of simply grabbing a bag of chips. Being prepared is the key to good nutrition.

Set a Switch-Off Time

When you’re missing the cue of everyone else packing up and leaving the office, it’s so easy to forget the time and keep working late into the evening. Setting yourself a cut-off time when you switch off your computer and close the office door is important in order to find rest and spend time with the people that matter. Set an alarm if you have to!

What's next?

home popular resources subscribe search