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10 ways to be active while working from home

AD – We were gifted the ReebokGX40S One Series Cross Trainer for the purpose of this blog post. Being active while working from home. I was also compensated for my time.

10 ways to be active while working from home. Much of the country have found themselves starting the new year working from home again. Who knows how long the recommendation with last this time round. However aside from the most recent recommendation, many people I know are now working from home permanently. With businesses taking the opportunity to shut down offices as they now have the necessary technology infrastructure for their employees to work from home. My husband is no different. Although there are many benefits that working from home brings. It also means it becomes far too easy to fall into a sedentary lifestyle. Which is not good for your body or your mind.

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10 ways to be active while working from home

Physical exercise has long been associated with improving your mental wellbeing. Something that becomes even more important as we work from home alone. And let’s face it after the Christmas festivities we probably could all do with being a bit more active. I have definitely started to notice telltale signs of aches and pains, lethargy, lack of flexibility that all come with not being so active. I do not believe in New Year’s resolutions. But I do believe that I need to look after myself now more than ever.

Take a lunch break

It is so easy to sit at your desk all day engrossed in the workload to only realise that you haven’t had a lunch break mid-afternoon. By which time you tell yourself it’s too late and give up on the idea altogether. It is so important to have a break from the computer so make sure you set an alarm for lunch. Ideally, go out for a walk in the fresh air. If that’s not possible then just doing things around the house such as washing up, laundry, tidying the kid’s bedrooms during your lunch break will give you active minutes. You will also return to your desk ready to get on with the next thing.

Short bursts of intensive exercise

During the working day, before, after at lunch it is easy to fit in short bursts of activity. Especially if like me you spend a lot of the day on zoom or on the phone. A quick ten minutes here and there can clear the mind and set you up for the next meeting or challenge. The easiest way to do this is with a piece of exercise equipment from VERY. Having some home cardio gym equipment that you can quickly jump on and off when you get a spare moment. Makes things a lot easier, and removes so many of the excuses for not doing it.

We have opted for a Reebok Cross Trainer. Which has turned out to be popular with the whole family. It is currently located in our office so we really have no excuse to use it while working from home. It also makes me feel like I am doing something for me, for my mental health and to look after myself. Which let’s face it I have not been doing so much in the last couple of years. With work-life blurring with home life, it is easy to lose sight of looking after ourselves.

Walk around when on the phone

If your job includes a lot of time spent on the phone then make sure you get up and walk around while you are on it. Just walking around the room will help to increase your step content. In the Summer I would take the phone out into the garden and walk around on the grass. Or if you know you need to make several calls at once then save them up to a point in the day and go out for a walk while you are making them.

Stand up at your desk

I get that this needs a particular type of desk to do it properly. But even if you don’t have one then find a kitchen counter or a shelf where you can work intermittently. Even just spending some time standing up during your working day is much better for you.

Online classes and book them in your work calendar

Commit to an online class such as yoga to encourage stretching into your routine. There are so many available to choose from. Or you can even do one of the free youtube tutorials. Just make sure you book it into your work calendar so that you stick to it. If it is in your calendar it also means that work colleagues are less likely to book you into something work-related at that time.

Give yourself a goal

It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it is activity-related. For me, I am using steps as it is easy to track and also means that over time as I put good habits in place I can increase it slowly. Meaning I have a goal that grows with me and my activity levels. Which I am also hoping will be a good motivator.

Build-in breaks to your day

Not just a lunch break. Set an alarm to make sure you stop at regular points through the day for a quick ten-minute break. Get up and walk around. It will add to your step count and give your eyes a break from the screen.

Walk with a neighbour or partner

If you are lucky enough to have a close neighbour also working from home, or perhaps your partner does? Then arrange to meet up frequently and go for a walk together. It will help with the motivation as you won’t want to let the other person down. This means you are more likely to move from your desk!

Sit on an exercise ball

Instead of sitting on a traditional office chair think about getting an exercise ball. The whole process of balancing on the ball while working will help to tone muscles and help with posture.

Drink water

It goes without saying. Something that I am always really good at when I am in the office but less so when I am working from home. I need to constantly remind myself to drink water and have recently taken to having a bottle with measurements on to make sure I keep my intake up.

Do you work from home? Let me know how you are keeping moving in the comments below.