GUIDE

How to stay healthy working from home.

Working from home (or, indeed, Anywhere) is no longer a niche business practice. In fact, telecommuting has grown 115% in the past decade. To anyone already working outside the office, this should come as no surprise. A recent FlexJobs survey revealed that 90% of people working from home plan to continue to do so for the rest of their careers.

The benefits to team leaders and their teams are well-known. For instance, according to the FlexJobs survey, 65% of workers stated they would be more productive in a home office than in a traditional office space. Of those already working from home, 75% say they are more productive now than when they worked onsite at a company.

Man working from home and not staying healthy Anywhere

But the benefits of working from home aren’t limited to employees. Fostering a fun, safe and inclusive distributed workplace culture helps maintain team cohesion, increase loyalty and strengthen collective mental health.

Working outside the traditional office environment requires creating a safe, comfortable workspace. Staying healthy within that workspace, however, can be challenging. That’s why we’ve put together our top five tips to stay healthy working from home.

ESTABLISH A REALISTIC HOME EXERCISE ROUTINE

Keeping fit and working from home are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, working outside the office can free you up to pursue an exercise plan that you wouldn’t otherwise.

Try to develop a sensible, safe exercise regime you can follow in your home. There are hundreds of five-minute workout sessions available online to keep you fit during work breaks.

Man running along beach as sun rises being healthy working Anywhere

Exercise doesn’t have to be particularly physical; it could be as simple as taking a walk around your local park. The key focus is to keep routines safe, achievable and manageable. Short exercise breaks also help break up the day, creating a healthy balance between physical and mental activity.

Of course, the benefits of staying healthy working Anywhere extend beyond the team. A recent study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that running 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of depression by 26%. Leaders also gain from the increased happiness and productivity that comes from employees in good physical and mental health.

DEVISE A HEALTHY DIET AND STICK TO IT

Without going into the ‘several small meals vs breakfast/lunch/dinner’ debate, it’s vital to maintain a healthy diet when working from home. The food we eat is a significant factor in our mental and physical health.

Keep food separate from your workspace so you’re not snacking throughout the day. The trick is to make eating a conscious aspect of your daily routine. That means assigning pre-designated times for meals and sticking to them. Of course, if you’re more inclined to snacking than set-meals, try to portion your snacks out in advance.

Make time to eat a balanced diet to stay healthy working Anywhere

The same goes for staying hydrated. Keep a bottle of water by your workspace at all times and remember to top it up throughout the day.

As an employer, you can’t dictate what your team eats. When your team works Anywhere, all you can do is promote the virtues of a healthy, balanced diet. And it’s in both the interest of the individual and the business. In fact, a study by the British Journal of Health Psychology found that people who eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables 4 days a week show 25% higher job performance than those who do not.

STAY SAFE TO WORK SMART

So, you’ve got your diet and your exercise routine down. Now it’s time to make sure your workspace is safe. That means removing trip hazards, ensuring your work area is well-lit and verifying all devices are powered safely.

Safety isn’t limited to protecting yourself from immediate danger. It’s also important to ensure your workspace and equipment are ergonomic. For instance, is your computer at a comfortable height? Does your chair provide proper lumbar support? What might seem like a minor inconvenience now could develop into a long-term health issue if left unchecked.

Safety in the home office while working Anywhere

For team leaders, ensuring the safety of your team when they work from home comes down to one thing: education. Establishing the best practices for safe workspaces fosters trust and creates a more relaxed atmosphere. In turn, this enables people to focus on working to the best of their abilities. This also reduces the risk of physical injury or impairment, meaning less time off.

The easiest way to improve your team’s ability to collaborate when you’re working Anywhere is by using the right tools.

MAINTAIN CONNECTION AND COMMUNICATE ANYWHERE

Buffer, a fully-distributed team, published a report last year into employee attitudes to working Anywhere. 21% of those surveyed say the biggest challenges are collaborating, communicating and finding company. But working outside the office doesn’t always mean sitting at home all day – it means you can work Anywhere!

So how do you stay connected without a centralised office? Setting aside time outside your home workspace offers an opportunity to mix up your work environment and interact with new people.

Woman sat at laptop communicating with her team from Anywhere

Of course, engaging with new people in person might not always be possible. Those in rural areas or specialist industries don’t always have the luxury of regular face-to-face meet-ups.

Thankfully, working Anywhere online allows you to engage with people across the world, without the carbon footprint. Simultaneously, regular online meet-ups encourage team cohesion and decrease isolation (not to mention keep everyone on the same page).

Some companies have taken to pairing up team members in a ‘buddy’ system. For employees, this ensures you don’t spend every day working alone. For employers, improved team communication and increased social interaction creates more efficient processes and happier, healthier employees.

TAKE TIME FOR YOUR WELLBEING

A recent survey by Premiere Global Services, Inc. of their telecommuters found that 82% reported lower stress levels when working from home. But that’s only when employees have a clear idea of what’s expected of them.

Working from home can blur the lines between work time and leisure time, so it’s vital you establish boundaries before starting work. This way, you have clear time frames in which you know you should be at your computer. At the same time, you have a clearer definition of ‘me-time’ in which to relax.

Taking time for yourself as past of a healthy routine working Anywhere

Team leaders must recognise the boundaries between work and leisure time. Sending an email at 11 pm to request work (unless agreed in advance) infringes on other teammates’ personal time. By blurring the boundary between work and leisure, you also risk encouraging the view that working hours are optional. That mentality invariably leads to missed deadlines and inefficient time management.

Clearly defined work and relaxation times ensure everyone knows when they can reach each other while preventing burnout. This way, everyone is happy, healthy and able to work to their full potential.

HEALTHY ROUTINES PROMOTE HAPPY TEAMS

Flexible work can be transformative at every level of a company. But it’s important to ensure people work in a safe, efficient and inclusive environment. When your team maintain and protect their physical mental health, everybody benefits.

No wonder the FlexJobs survey found 77% of people said having a flexible job would allow them to be healthier and 86% said they’d be less stressed.

SUMMARY

Find time to exercise – Try to develop a realistic routine and stick to it!
Healthy diet = healthy outlook – Maintain health in mind and body with a varied, balanced diet and lots of water.
Stay safe to stay fit – Take time to prepare your workspace with safety checks and an ergonomic layout.
Take time to stay connected – Interacting with teammates and engaging with the world outside is essential to maintaining mental health.
Establish a real work-life balance – Avoid fatigue by creating clear distinctions between work and personal time.