Keeping a clean bathroom and maintaining good hygiene are two of the most important aspects of staying healthy while working from home. Because of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, half of the workforce has been strongly advised to work from home.
That’s a lot of individuals who will have to rethink their working conditions and think quickly in order to establish the ideal working environment for their health and productivity. Whether you’ve worked from home before or never, we’ve compiled a list of 10 strategies to keep you healthy, clean, and engaged while working remotely.
Create your own schedule
If you’re not used to working from home, it might be difficult to get back into a routine after being in one for so long! Human beings thrive on routines as creatures of habit, so one should be established when working remotely in order to remain productive.
You should, however, develop a regimen that works for you and stick to it. Set your “working hours” when you know you’ll be most productive—some people work better in the morning, while others work better in the evening. Plan your pre- and post-work activities; whether you decide to eat breakfast at the same time every morning or to do yoga in the evening, stick to your schedule!
Another piece of advice is to ‘fake your morning commute.’ If you’re used to getting up and using the time on your morning commute to get ready for work, it can be unsettling to not have that option suddenly. Fake a morning commute by getting dressed and going for a walk around the block or garden before settling into your workstation for the day.
Socialize with others
It’s easy to get trapped in your work bubble and not talk to many other people during the day – especially if you work from home. Humans crave social interaction, and its absence can have a severe impact on our mental health.
While you may not be able to talk to individuals face-to-face, picking up the phone or scheduling a video call with others might help you maintain your mental health and thrive.
Include exercise in your daily routine
Physical activity and happiness go hand in hand. Regular exercise has been shown to improve mood and productivity by releasing endorphins, which cause a happy feeling in the body and brain.
Working in the same place all day with minimal human interaction can have a negative impact on your mood, so making exercise a part of your daily routine can help.
You also don’t have to engage in strenuous, high-intensity exercise. Low-intensity workouts like walking or yoga can provide significant mental and physical health advantages.
Clean your workspace every day
Bacteria and dust can accumulate on surfaces more than you realize when you sit at the same workstation all day every day and live in the same surroundings. A computer keyboard can have roughly 3,295 germs per surface, while a mouse can have 1,676 bacteria per surface. Because it is not apparent to the naked eye, it is easy to overlook, yet cleaning your workspace at home is critical.
Cleaning up your workspace gives you a lot of satisfaction and makes you feel more in control of what you need to get done during the day. Keeping your space tidy not only benefits your productivity, but it also mentally prepares you for the day ahead.
Get some fresh air
When working from home, it is easy to become engrossed in your job for hours on end without venturing outside.
It is critical to get out and get some fresh air in order to maintain attention and productivity – even if it is as simple as strolling around your garden a couple of times.
Maintaining good food hygiene
Working from home allows you to be more flexible with your time, allowing you a wider range of meal options throughout the day. If you didn’t have to commute, you could have had more time to cook instead of relying on the workplace cafe or pre-packaged meals.
However, you must remember to use excellent hand hygiene procedures while handling food and to thoroughly clean your eating area.
Take frequent breaks
If you’re staring at a screen for hours on end, it’s critical to take regular breaks throughout the day. Staring at a screen all day might be unproductive since your mind can grow numb, leaving you with little creativity or “brain juice” to complete your work properly.
Maintain your home’s cleanliness
Even if you are pressed for time at work and have little enthusiasm to clean in the evenings, it is critical that you create a daily routine of cleaning your home thoroughly. Make a list of different locations to clean each day so that you can work efficiently and without interruptions.
Yes, it is necessary to keep your home tidy, but there is a distinction between tidying and thoroughly scrubbing, which eliminates hazardous bacteria lying in and around your home. Keeping your living and working environments clean and sanitary is critical during a particularly vulnerable time.
Take care of yourself by practicing good personal hygiene
Last but not least, make sure your personal hygiene is in order. Good personal hygiene will aid in the prevention of illness and infection, keeping your household free of illness. Poor hygiene can cause a variety of concerns, including unpleasant body odor, greasy skin, terrible teeth, and even more significant health problems.
Avoiding a trip to the doctor by practicing the basics, which we all know include properly washing your hands and cleaning your teeth, Staying safe and healthy will allow you to stay productive and avoid taking time off!