Before you read this post, go drink some water (we both know you’re dehydrated). Back? Okay, here are my thoughts on staying healthy and hydrated when working from home.
Working in an office or for a job where you punch in and out, you’re given set breaks in which you can eat food and recover before another block of work, and a lot of people working from home forget that they still need breaks even if they’re not in an office. I personally am terrible about making myself take breaks, skipping lunch because I’m on a roll or forgetting to drink anything other than chai lattes. So, from experience, I’m here to tell you that taking care of yourself is one of the most important parts about working from home.
Drink Water
Seriously. Just regular water. Not coffee, not tea, just plain water. You can add fruit or flavoring or whatever else you want, but the more water you drink, the better you feel. And the better you feel, the better your work will be. When I started drinking water regularly with the help of the Plant Nanny app (which I talk about here), I found that my mid-afternoon headaches went away and that I had more staying power during the time I scheduled as work hours. If you live off of coffee then this probably sounds ridiculous, but just try it for a week and see how you feel. Trust me on this one.
Eat Healthy
This one is hard for a bunch of reasons. Time, money, cravings… there are so many reasons to grab what’s quick and easy, but it actually hinders your work more than it helps. If you eat healthy food (which looks different according to your dietary restrictions and body type), then your mind is fueled for the work at hand. To save time, try meal prepping your food at the start of the week or in the morning before you start working. Try to overcome your cravings with healthy substitutes, and drinking water helps you feel full as well. Often when I think I’m hungry I’m actually just thirsty. Another reason to drink more water!
Exercise
This last one is hard and looks different for everyone, but exercising has made a huge difference in my productivity and efficiency as a freelance writer. I’m not saying you have to go for a run every morning, rain or shine (eww), but taking time to focus on your body for a short period of time helps your mind reset and become ready for more work when you return to it. For me, I use a stationary bike in the morning or afternoon (depending if I want to sleep in or not) and I use that time to catch up on Netflix shows and movies. Maybe for you it’s yoga and listening to a podcast, or stretching and catching up on a new album of music that just dropped, or maybe it’s going for a walk and just being outside and away from your computer for a while. Find what works for you, and you’ll be amazed at how it affects your work life.
The Short Version
A mix of hydration, healthy food, and exercise can elevate your work life and make you more productive and efficient as a freelancer. Investing some time in yourself will make you work better but also, hopefully, make you feel better, too.
What do you think? Are you dehydrated? What do you do for exercise? Do you have any Netflix recommendations for my next bike ride? Let me know in the comments!
-Katy
Author Rescue 