Combating Inactivity When Working From Home
It can be difficult for some people to stay focused, because of a lot of different distractions at home.
Working from home is the new normal, thanks to COVID-19. On the one hand, working from home has allowed me to schedule my day according to my will, on the other hand, it has some drawbacks as well. The biggest fall out which I’ve felt the most is growing inactivity and laziness. As a self-employed worker if I’m not rushing to the office early in the morning that doesn’t signify comfort but is making me much lazy. And to counter this inactivity I’ve come up with a few fantastic ways to stay active and inspire all other homeworkers out there.
Gym From Home
If we can work from home then how about gym from home? For that, firstly you would have to set up a small indoor gym at your home. Beginning from a small setup and not going too far, you may get the most frequently used exercise equipment. Take a pen and paper and start noting down: dumbbells set, kettlebells set, skipping rope, resistance bands, yoga mat, and a stability ball. Once you are done with this you may slowly add other equipment like a treadmill or stationary bike as well.
Get A Sit/Stand Desk
Working while sitting in the same posture for hours can cause muscle stiffness and pain. To counter this problem I’ve come up with a great idea of buying an adjustable sit/stand desk. Once you are tired of sitting and working you may adjust the desk according to your height and continue working. And as you stand and work your leg muscles would get enough stretching. Alternate these sitting and standing postures many times during the day to keep your muscles active.
Set The Ratio To 45:15
Being my boss when working from home, I need to keep a work-to-rest ratio. And that is something I want all of you to try as well. It may vary from person to person but for me, the work-to-rest ratio is 45:15. After working for straight 45 minutes I take an activity break for 15 minutes. And in these 15 minutes, I do any small tasks involving physical movement. Keeping in view your routine and stamina you may also set work to rest ratio.
Drink More Water
Another habit I’ve noticed in myself is that I tend to drink much less water when staying at home throughout the day. And lack of water is a great source of muscle fatigue and laziness. Since then I’ve made a habit of keeping a tumbler beside my working desk to stay hydrated. On a lighter note drinking more water will also increase the chances of physical movement (getting up and going to the washroom) and keep you active while working from home.
Do Your Work Yourself
One common habit we tend to develop when working from home is to ask others to do our tiny jobs. It may as small as getting a glass of water. And the by-product of this habit of asking for help is growing fatigued. To break to chain, get up and do your small tasks yourself. It may be anything, from getting a glass of water to cooking your meal. Avail every opportunity to keep your muscles active.
Set A Daily Step Count Target
To stay active, you may get some help from the fitness tracker. Others use it for counting their daily steps but we’ll be using it for challenging ourselves. Try what I do, set a daily step count, and challenge yourself to meet the target. This has proven a fun way of maintaining mobility throughout the day.
Dedicate Some Outdoor Time
You may not be leaving the house to work but surely can have some fun. Dedicate at least one hour from your daily routine to some outdoor activities. It can be anything from doing the groceries to going for a walk. Make sure to dedicate some time for socializing as well.
To all my fellow home-workers tired of inactivity and laziness, here are some fascinating ways to stay active even when working from home, take note: gym from home, get a sit/stand desk, work and break alternatively, drink more water, do all your tasks yourself, set daily step target, and dedicate some time for outdoor activity.