13 Wellness Tips for Working from Home

Working from home has been a game changer when it comes to my wellness journey. Less time commuting means more time to balance other areas of my life. Plus, I’m at home for more meals, making cooking more appealing and convenient. Looking for wellness tips for working from home? I’ve got some great ones coming your way:

There are a few challenges to WFH. Spending more time at home might mean blurred boundaries between work and your personal life. Also, it can sometimes be difficult to disconnect from work, even for short periods of time.

Then there’s the physical aspect of sitting at a desk with poor posture for long periods. Despite our best efforts, most of us end up craning over our keyboard. As a result, you’re likely to experience some aches and pains in your upper body and poor breathing.

There’s also the issue of the strain on your eyes from staring at a screen for hours every day.

These tips will help you with your wellness while working from home by creating boundaries and a comfortable environment.

1. Create a Morning Routine

Starting your day with some healthy habits is a setup for productivity. In fact, being in a healthy state of being is one of the top productivity hacks. After all, the better you feel, the more concentration and energy you have.

There are lots of productive ways to get your day started. Some of my go-to’s are prayer, meditation, exercise, and using my panda planner to create my to-dos for the day.

Waking up early and getting these things done helps you move closer to your goals spiritually and physically and allows you to walk into your work day focused and prepared.

When working from home, your morning routine is even more important because there are so many distractions. Between other people, chores, and home projects, it’s easy to get sidetracked.

2. Prioritize Breaks 

Schedule move breaks at least every hour. Even if it’s just a trip to the kitchen for a snack or a moment to stand up and tidy up your workspace. Use a timer or even add these breaks to your agenda for the day. 

A few more tips for taking breaks while working from home:

• Pro tip: Keep a glass of water. Note I didn’t say a bottle. Here’s why: You want just enough water to remind you to hydrate. But you also want to have another reason to get up more frequently.
• Avoid eating lunch at your desk. I can admit that I’m guilty of this one. Make it a point to take an actual lunch break away from your desk.
• Get out of the house. Whether it’s taking a walk or going to your favorite gym during unfavorable weather, getting some physical activity in a new scenery can be a mood booster.

3. Spruce Up Your Home Office Space

Your environment plays a role in how you feel and your productivity. Take the time to set your space up in a way that’s comfortable and even inspiring. Use these tips to set up your home office for optimal well-being.

4. Choose your space carefully.

Ideally, you’d like to have a sectioned-off space with privacy. If this isn’t possible, temporary room dividers can section your space to block off distractions. 

5. Let the light in. 

If possible, situate your workspace near a window for some natural light. Sunlight can help boost your mood and improve your circadian rhythm.

6. Have a (good) seat.

A good office chair will support your back and spine to help improve posture and breathing. High-quality office chairs can be really pricey. I don’t recommend getting a cheap chair if you work more than four hours a day. Stick to something with good reviews.

Budget-friendly option: a lumbar support cushion that can level up your current chair.

Better option: an entirely new chair with great support.

7. Get the right office accessories.

Laptop riser:  if you don’t have an adjustable desk, having a riser can help with neck strain and posture.

Mouse: this mouse was made for comfort. If you have the room to splurge, get it. It takes a little time to get used to, but once you do it’s awesome.

Monitors: If your company offers additional monitors, get as many as they’ll allow you to have. Having at least one additional screen helps to keep your digital space organized. Just remember to close all those tabs.

8. Get inspired.

A vision board, your favorite quote printed out, or a photo of a favorite family moment can give you the inspiration you need. Keep these things in a spot that’s easy to see.

9. Set the mood.

Create triggers for productivity. A diffuser with an uplifting essential oil blend or a personalized work playlist can get you in the mood to get things done.

10. Have a Hard Stop

Slam that laptop shut. Even close the door if you have to. Make the commitment and honor it.

Wellness requires boundaries. One of those boundaries has to be knowing when to stop. 

Also, if you absolutely must have work-related apps on your phone, mute those notifications five minutes prior to your stop time. Working from home doesn’t mean that you should live with work all day.

11. Limit Screen Time

Now that your nosey cubicle mate isn’t a factor, you may find yourself scrolling through social media more often. Curb this by using your phone’s digital well-being timers to cut back on your screen time. 

Also, if you usually work past 6pm, most laptops have a setting to turn off the blue light. Or you can just grab a pair of blue light glasses.

There are also apps that you can use that lock you out of your phone’s other apps. One of these is Flora, which is free.

12. Have a Planner

Using this Panda planner is such a game-changer for me. Being able to check off my tasks as I do them is super satisfying, and staying organized with my planner allows me to stay on top of my work, relieving my stress in the process. 

13. Phone a Friend

If you’re like me, your social interactions have decreased dramatically. And sometimes a trip to Target is just not enough. Make it a point to call a friend or family member every week. Lunch dates are even better if you can find someone whose schedule aligns.

Remote work is here to stay, and with good reason. So it’s important to leverage working from home to create better wellness habits. Let me know in the comments if you have more tips to add and how your experience has been working from home.

I hope this list helps you upgrade your current WFH situation so you can maximize your productivity while also making a huge step forward for your wellness. Which one of these tips will you implement first?