Upon hearing the words "work from home" or "working remotely," one may automatically think that it becomes easier to pull yourself away from work. However, that is hardly the case. With many of us working from home, you may have discovered that it's become harder than ever to balance your work and home life to achieve a healthy lifestyle. With Zoom meetings now taking place in the backyard and emails being sent at all times of the day, you may be struggling to find time to squeeze in a healthy meal. If you're having trouble balancing your ever-changing work schedule with a healthy diet and lifestyle, then you've stumbled on the perfect article. Keep scrolling as we cover a few of our favorite tips and tricks to regain this balance and ensure that you're living healthier than ever.
Make Time for Breaks
Whether you're working out of an office or at home, it's essential to make time for yourself. To ensure that you remain efficient at work, make sure that your time spent working isn't interrupted by personal issues. Just as you would in the office, continue to schedule a time for breaks and lunch. Even just a five-minute break can be the refresher you need to finish the workday off strong. While it may be a bit difficult at first, by creating a schedule and sticking to it, you'll find that it's much easier to define the line between work and home life.
Prioritize Your Health
Part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to establish priorities both at home and at work. By defining what's most important to you (drinking enough water daily, eating a healthy lunch, packing healthy snacks), you can designate time wherever you are to accomplish it. For example, if eating a healthy lunch is a priority, set aside time at home to make it and block off a portion of your work calendar during the day to enjoy it. Many healthy meals can be made the night before and grabbed while heading out the door in the morning.
For a nutritious pack-along healthy lunch recipe, make these Mediterranean Farro Stuffed Peppers.
Set Health Goals
When striving for a balance between work and a healthy lifestyle, it's imperative that you first know what you want. If you feel like your current routine lacks exercise, make it a goal to block off 5-10 minutes for a daily walk during work hours. Conversely, if eating a nutritious breakfast is crucial to you, create goals that will allow you to achieve that. Waking up 30 minutes earlier or pre-making healthy grab-and-go breakfast treats like this Banana Almond Overnight Quinoa with Chia Seeds will ensure that you're making your health a priority.
Know the Importance of "Me Time"
Working late hours some nights may be inevitable. However, it's essential to take time for yourself. If your job is one that you can easily bring home with you, it may be time to establish clear boundaries to ensure that you're putting your health first. Take a few hours to put your phone away and relax when you get home. Doing so will allow you time to unwind and prepare physically and mentally for the next day. And don't be afraid to indulge now and then! Decompress in the kitchen by making a large batch of Apple Spice No Bake Cookies or Sweet Potato Haupia Bars to enjoy as a sweet treat before bed. Or, pack some with you to take to work and enjoy on your lunch break.
Establish Healthy Eating Habits
One of the easiest ways to improve your lifestyle is by eating more nutritious foods. Remember, food is fuel, and what you fuel your body with ultimately determines how you feel throughout the day. When working, it's not unusual to snack throughout the day. To ensure that you meet all your health goals, keep an array of healthy snacks close to your desk. Snacking on treats like these Chocolate Amaranth Protein Bars will provide you with energy, help curb cravings and keep you full until your next meal.
Work at an office? To avoid forgetting to bring your snacks with you, opt for healthy options like Bob's Bars. Convenient and delicious, these bars are a nutritious snack that you can keep at your desk all week long!
Meal Prep
One of the most common struggles for balancing work and a healthy lifestyle is not having enough time. By setting aside a few hours at the beginning of the week to meal prep, you can guarantee that you have a lunch to dig into every day of the week. Planning and prepping your meals in advance allows you more time during the week for other tasks. Plus, knowing that you have a healthy meal waiting for you will help keep you from reaching for unhealthy options.
By taking the time to apply these six tips to your own life, you'll make balancing work and a healthy lifestyle look easy. Taking care of yourself and your health is extremely important, and doing so will not only make you happier, it may even make you more efficient at work. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, have a happy and healthy day!
