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People mistakenly think that moms who work at home by blogging have all kinds of free time on their hands to do things that benefit their health like yoga or even taking ten minutes for themselves. However, we know this isn’t the case, and when you’re a work at home mom, you don’t get to ‘clock out’ each day.
You’re always expected to be on, and this can make caring for yourself fall to the bottom of your ‘to do’ list. But, we’re going to give you several simple ways to stay healthy while you work from home that is simple and quick to do.
Change Your Clothes to be More Productive in the Morning
We get it, one of the perks of working from home is you can wear what you want, including your pajamas all day. This isn’t a way to motivate yourself and get productive, however, so you may want to rethink it.
Get up, have your cup of coffee, shower, and change into new clothes to get your productive juices going!
Squeeze a Workout Into Your Old Commute Time
If you used to spend time commuting to and from your job each day, add a short workout routine into this time slot. A quick YouTube yoga session or a Core-Body workout takes around 20 minutes, and it can get you feeling more away and ready to take on the day.
Find what suits your tastes and squeeze it in each day.
Take a Lunchtime Stroll
If you have dogs or little kids, they may enjoy going out for a short walk each day around lunchtime. You may even be able to tire the kids out enough for a short afternoon nap!
A 2015 study showed that people who got up and went ofora short walk felt more relaxed and enthusiastic when they finished, and this is good for your productivity levels!
Have a Good Support System in Place
One of the biggest pitfalls of working at home is the lack of adult interaction. Your kiddos are great, but sometimes you need new conversation material that doesn’t revolve around their favorite animated movie or show.
Chat online with friends or call and talk on the phone for a few minutes each day. You can also reach out to other work at home moms through blogs, forums, and online chat rooms.
Invest in a High-Quality Air Purifier
You may not believe this but the air inside your home is a lot worse than you think. In fact, many studies have discovered that air in houses is up to 10 times worse than the outdoors or an office location. The reason being is that our homes are filled with all sorts of invisible toxins. Some come from cleaning products, others from natural bacteria and mold, as well as pollen and other germs that float into the house.
When you’re a work at mom it’s important to invest in a high-quality air purifier. The best devices can strip the air of 99% of the bad particles that can impact your health. Like any home product, there are many different types of air purifiers to choose from. A good place to start doing your research is Home Air Quality Guides. This site has a list of the top 10 air purifiers for home use and gives the pros and cons of each one. There’s also a section on how to find a cheap air purifier if budgeting is a concern.
Have Healthy Drinks and Snacks on Hand
Resist the temptation to eat whatever unhealthy food is lurking in your kitchen. Instead, pack a bag of healthy foods and grab a bottle of water to sip on throughout the day.
Also, get up and stretch or take a short walk around the house to get your blood flowing again. Set a timer if you’re prone to forgetting!
Use a Standing Desk or a Treadmill Desk
Fight back the midday slump by investing in a standing desk or a treadmill desk. Studies have shown that these two things can increase a worker’s productivity levels as they use them. If you’re a work at home mom, you know how valuable this can be.
Meditation Apps
Meditation apps are the perfect way to end phase one of your day before your kids come asking what’s for dinner and you have to be ‘on’ once again. Take a few minutes, put headphones on, pick your meditation app, and decompress.
Carve out ten minutes each day for you to clear your head and reset.
Get a Shutdown Ritual
Traditionally in an office setting, you pick up your things, shut off your computer, and head home. When you work at home, this can blur. To prevent this, develop a shutdown routine that helps to transition away from your working mode. Close your laptop and store it away, go for a short walk, run errands, or do a short workout and keep it consistent.
Being a work at home mom is a challenging and rewarding endeavor that more and more people are slowly transitioning to. However, you can’t let yourself get lost in the shuffle of your new reality, and you have to take time for yourself.
Making it a habit to do a morning wardrobe change, doing a little bit of exercise, taking a break during lunch and having a good support system are great first steps to staying healthy while working at home.
To benefit in the long term, however, investing in a cheap air purifier, snacking on healthy foods, transforming your desk, taking time to meditate and creating a shutdown ritual are simple things you can do that will maintain your physical and mental health.
All of this put together will lead to a more positive you!
2/21/18 My grandfather hasn’t been feeling well this week so far. He is very lightheaded which just makes him feel awful. I hope he feels better soon!
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
You Are Unique – Shouldn’t Your Vitamins Be Too?
