Wake-up Call for Those Working from Home

It started off just like any other January 1 for many people – engaging in New Year’s celebrations while making weight loss goals and renewing resolutions.

Many set goals, but do not make a true effort to change, which makes it impossible to reach them. I believe that the events of 2020 are happening as a wake-up call to humanity. We need to do better so that all of our lives can be better. True change comes when you make a commitment to achieving goals, and taking the necessary actions to make them a reality.

Being in quarantine and working from home has been super overwhelming for some, as they are still working their full-time hours and homeschooling their kids.

But others are loving the changes in daily routine. They have found balance in being able to wake up and get work started, fit in a workout, sleep better and eat well because they actually have the time to plan out better meals.

Coming from a healthcare perspective, I see these changes in lifestyle and eating habits as necessary in order to generate genuine results.

If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that health is the key to our livelihood. So, what does this health picture look like for the person who is working from home more than going into the office? Here are my thoughts:

• Wake up and start your day with setting intentions and meditation.
• Eat a healthy breakfast, mindfully.
• Plan out your meals ahead of time so that you are not making poor choices at the last minute. Take a pre-prepped lunch with you, if you’ll be out during mid-day hours.
• HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE.

• Take a mid-day break where you can go outside and walk or sit quietly for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Eat dinner ideally two hours before bedtime; you don’t want to be sleeping and have your body working to digest at the same time.
• Have a bedtime routine where you start to wind down: dimmer lighting and no screen time an hour before bed, drink a calming cup of tea, read and journal or practice gratitude for the day. Go to bed early enough to wake up 7-8 hours later.
• Find the best time of day for you to move. Whether it’s morning or evening, make time for at least 30 minutes of some form of exercise daily.
• Make time every day to do something you love – gardening, listening to music and reading to your kids are just a few ideas.

I see these difficult times as a wake-up call to do better and establish health as a priority. To get different results, we need to show up for ourselves and change old routines. When we can show up for ourselves consistently, we are better able to fulfill our purpose, be more productive and see a great difference in our overall health.

For those who are overwhelmed by this new normal, slow down and breathe, talk it out, and refocus. One of the best tools for healing is the practice of gratitude and love. We all need to cheer each other on, celebrate the little accomplishments and find joy in our daily lives.

Humanity’s WHEN is Now!

WHEN takes a holistic approach to health by addressing three major parts of our lives: Health, Being, and Career. WHEN these three areas are balanced, we feel great! Let’s make life better together through the WHEN Way of Life!

Dr. Monica
Director, and WHEN Health Advisor®

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for advice about a specific medical condition.