Staying Healthy While Working at Home

Your Health is Important Mom!

Trying to Stay Healthy While Trying to Work at Home

You may have decided to work from home because you were sick and tired of the corporate rat race. Remember feeling exhausted by everything you had to do each day when you worked out of the house? You got the kids to school or daycare, got yourself to work, picked up the kids, feed them supper, drove them to their evening activities, collapsed into bed at night and then did it all over again the next day.

Aaah! Just thinking about it makes me want to scream. Not to mention, with a crazy schedule like that, there is no time to take care of yourself or your own health.

Now that you’re working from home, you have more control over your day. But are you taking care of yourself the way you should? If you’re working to get your business off the ground, or to ace your new work at home job, it’s still easy to put yourself last and neglect your health. I know I was a perfect example of this – and still catch myself now and then falling into a trap of not eating healthy and blowing off exercise. I get into the mindset of, “Oh well..I’m at home..I can exercise any time…” And then I never get on that treadmill or take that walk. Let me tell you – the pounds can add up! I gained 12 pounds working at home!

But when you’re a work at home, you don’t get sick days, and there’s no one to cover for you if you need a day off. Your kids deserve a parent who is healthy and happy at home too.

Here are some ways to look after your healthy when you work from home.

Drink plenty of water everyday. The coffee pot or teapot, or your new espresso machine may be close at hand when you take your breaks, but too much caffeine can actually sap your energy instead of refreshing you. Water is a healthier choice and can energize you on an afternoon when you would rather take a nap.

Speaking of breaks, make sure to schedule regular breaks in your day and take them. Get up from your computer or work table and stretch your legs. Take a walk outside, or even put in a load of laundry for a change of scenery. Not exciting, but it does get you moving.

When you’re on a break, or done work for the day, put your business out of mind as much as possible. You’ll feel more rested when you come back to it if you’re able to leave it for a while. For a long time I didn’t do this. Actually for years I didn’t. It caught up with me the older I got. I started having trouble sleeping, acid reflux became an issue, back problems….all from sitting too much, working too much, stressing to much.

Parents of young children tend to work at night, after their children are in bed. Practically, this works well because the kids are sleeping and the house is finally quiet. But if you’re not sleeping well at night, that may be the reason why. If you do need to work into the wee hours of the morning, give yourself enough time to unwind before you hit the sack for the night.

To be successful in your work at home job or home business means you have to be around for it. Take the time to take care of yourself first, and then put everything you have into your business.