While working remotely sounds great in theory, it can be difficult to establish a work-life balance and upkeep a healthy routine. It is important to construct a positive work environment and schedule that allows you to be productive and maintain good mental and physical health.

Whether you have been working from home for a while or are adjusting to a new normal, here are 10 tips for staying healthy while working from home.

1. Don’t Sleep In

While it’s tempting to sleep in late, studies show that people are more productive in the mornings when there are fewer distractions. By going to bed earlier and waking up earlier, you are setting your body up to get more restorative sleep.

This also allows you to maximize your time during the day to be more proactive and accommodate both work and personal activities. Use your morning as quiet time to get organized, get in a good workout, set goals, or spend some time with your family before locking in to start your workday.

2. Establish a Routine

A regular routine can help bolster productivity and efficiency and is essential to upkeep when working remotely. Try to maintain a schedule that reflects your normal morning routine. Wake up early, eat a hearty breakfast, drink coffee at your home desk while preparing for the day’s meetings, take a lunch break, etc.

Replace the time you would spend on your morning commute with a walk or quick workout. This is a great time to get creative and find ways to incorporate your favorite activities into your routine to keep you motivated throughout the day.

3. Get Dressed to Start Your Day

Now, we aren’t saying you should put on a suit and tie every day — as you are working from the comfort of your home. However, it is crucial to your mental health and productivity to get dressed into something other than what you slept in the night before. Get up and go through your everyday self-care routine and then put on your favorite casual wear before you get to work.

4. Make a To-Do List for the Day

It can be challenging to stay organized and efficient when surrounded by distractions: There’s a pile of laundry to do, your sink is full of dishes, your child has questions about his math homework, and you want to watch the local news to hear the latest updates. However, by prioritizing your daily tasks, you can keep yourself from getting overwhelmed with your workload and maximize productivity.

Make a personal and professional to-do list, that way you can separate the two. Try to get all your work tasks completed during regular business hours. Set up specific time blocks for homeschooling or personal tasks. Then, in the evenings, as kids wind down and head to bed, prioritize your personal tasks. You’ll be amazed at what you can get done once you have a good guide to help you prioritize and stay focused.

5. Designate a Dedicated Workspace Area

Work-life balance is an essential component of maintaining a positive attitude and strong mental health. However, this separation becomes increasingly difficult to manage when your home is also your workspace.

Designate a specific area of your home for work only — whether that is an office space, an area of your bedroom, or a specific spot at the dining room table. When you are finished with work for the day, tidy up and leave that area to move on to your personal tasks.

6. Take a Lunch Break!

Lunch breaks look a little different now that you are working from home. Given that you aren’t sharing a cubical or office space with coworkers, it’s tempting to make your lunch and eat it in your workspace area while continuing to answer emails and work on daily projects.

However, this is the time to step away and give yourself a break! Just because you are at home, doesn’t mean you don’t still deserve a break to rest your brain, refuel, and take a breather.

7. Plan Out Your Healthy Snacks for the Day

Another downside to working from home is the constant access to food. It can be tempting to run to the fridge frequently and snack all day. However, it’s important to plan out your meals for the day (including snacks), and make sure you maintain a balanced diet.

Almonds, celery sticks, carrots, and low-sugar granola bars are great afternoon pick-me-ups without loading on the calories! Set aside sometime before you start your week to plan out your meals and snacks so that you can stay focused on your day-to-day activities.

8. Spend Time Outdoors

When you no longer commute to work or spend as much of your daily routine out of the house, it can limit the amount of time you spend outdoors. Take a break when needed to get some sunshine.

Grab your lunch and eat on your patio, go for a walk, or bring your daily workout outdoors. A change of scenery and some Vitamin D are beneficial to both your mental and physical health and can give your mind a chance to de-stress when you have a lot on your plate.

9. Exercise at Home

Whether you typically went to the gym in the mornings, during your lunch break, or in the evenings before coming home from work, staying fit and healthy looks different for everyone right now.

Try not to stay stationary at your desk or workspace all day. Get up and move at least a few times a day. Do some jumping jacks in between calls, go for a walk, or set aside time in the morning or evening for a home workout. Several fitness centers are also offering online workouts you can opt into when you have time. The important thing is that you remain active, even though you are spending more time indoors.

Check out our blog 10 Fun Ways to Stay Active With Your Family at Home for more fun ideas for the whole family to stay active.

10. Ensure You Are Drinking Enough Water

One of the most important things to upkeep while working from home is to stay hydrated. Research shows that dehydration can cause headaches and fatigue, which can compromise your productivity and alertness. We recommend drinking about half your body weight in ounces of water. For instance, if you weigh 160 pounds, drink 80 ounces of water per day.

Establishing a Healthy Work-Life Balance While Working From Home

Working from home can be challenging, but we hope these tips help stay healthy and productive. Organizing and scheduling your day can set boundaries between your professional and personal life. Establish a healthy balance of work and home life to make your boss, family, and yourself happy!