Anyone who's worked at home more than a week knows that it can quickly become an unhealthy (physically) lifestyle.
Don't get me wrong: I love working at home, and have done so for eight years now. But I've learned -- sometimes the hard way -- that this is a lifestyle that can promote some very bad habits.
Like what? Well, like sitting too long at your desk every day (that's how you make your money after all, isn't it?). Like not getting enough exercise (nobody pays you to work out, do they? You've got bills to pay). Like eating fast food and fat-heavy microwave meals (who has time to cook? Three deadlines are staring you in the face this week!).
Add them all up, and you've got the ingredients for weight gain, slack muscles and clogged arteries. And those aren't ingredients that will allow you to stay productive, healthy and able to enjoy those days off all of you should be taking.
So here are a few tips for the workaholic work-at-homer who doesn't make time for anything else:
1) Schedule a time for exercise. Make a workout as much a must-do part of your day as your client calls and report-writing. No, you won't be able to work out every day, but you need to at least make it a priority in your routine. Aim for at least three times a week. Wake up early if you have to. Skip the evening news if you have to. Just try to get a little exercise on a regular basis.
2) Get up and stretch every hour. Set an alarm clock to ring hourly if you have to, but make a point of getting out of your chair regularly during the day. Walk around the house. Run out to the mailbox. Even take a quick stroll around the block. These little breaks won't eat up a lot of your time, but they'll get your blood circulating and your muscles working. And believe it or not, it will give you more energy to keep working once you get back to your desk.
3) Keep healthy food choices at home. Pasta with a meatless sauce (there are a lot of tasty varieties available at your grocery store) is not only quick to prepare but relatively healthy too. So are frozen chicken breasts pan-sauteed in olive oil, sprinkled with oregano and served over instant rice. Make a habit of preparing your own food -- it really doesn't need to take very long, and it can be a much more healthful way to eat.
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