3 tips for staying healthy while working from home

Working from home seems like a pretty great deal. The flexibility and and comfort is tempting, not to mention avoiding the commute. 

But if you've worked from home before, you know it has it's challenges. 

Without interruptions, you may find yourself working more. Maybe you don't stop for lunch, or maybe you snack all day. The comfort of working from home comes at the loss of structure the office provides. 

If you're already working from home (or are about to start) and want to add structure to your work day, check out these tips to stay healthy when ditching the office. 

take breaks

Taking breaks is important for your overall health and your productivity. Working for 25 minutes, take a 3-5 minute break, repeat, and after 4 or 5 rounds of productivity, take a longer break (15-30 minutes). If you work on a computer, take care of your eyes by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds during your breaks to let your eyes completely relax.

drink water

Keeping a pitcher of water or a water bottle with you when working from home is just as important as working from the office. If you find yourself feeling hungry out of boredom, or experiencing headaches, you may not be drinking enough water. 

One advantage of working from home is the opportunity to practice regular health habits, like brushing your teeth and flossing after lunch, or keeping your skin moisturized with specialty creams. For example, I have psoriasis, and whenever my psoriasis symptoms flare, it's much easier to manage them when working from home.

exercise daily

Use your regular breaks to stretch your legs and take a break from sitting. 

Switching browser windows from work to social media isn't good for your heart or your eyes. Take the dog for a walk, or go for a stroll on your own. Enjoy the fresh air and let your mind wander. 

Another advantage of working from home? You can use your lunch break to hit the gym without worrying about changing back into work clothes. Or you can have a late start to the day.