5 Working From Home Tips That Will Help You Slay The Day

Many of us are working from home right now, and it can be an adjustment. Whether you’re sharing your space with others in your family, you’re struggling to stay focused, or both, being in the house presents different challenges.

Colette Heimowitz, the VP of Nutrition Communication and Education at Atkins, works from home full-time — and she’s an expert at managing the lifestyle to get all her tasks done and be successful. We asked Heimowitz about how she stays organized, focused, and motivated as a full-time remote employee. Here are her top tips.

Adopt a routine.

Being in the house all day can be disorientating and lower your productivity, but Heimowitz has a way she beats it. “Setting up a routine is key,” she says. “I wake up at the same time each day and do my morning ‘getting ready’ routine, which is walking and feeding the dog, 30 to 60 minutes of exercise, making breakfast, and getting dressed. Then, I sit down at my desk with my breakfast and write down what I hope to accomplish for the day.” 

And Heimowitz isn’t the only one. Many successful women, like Dolly Parton and Kathie Lee Gifford, swear by having a morning routine. Don’t know where to start? Check out this guide.

Get dressed.

It’s tempting to roll right out of bed to your workstation, but changing into other clothes can help your mind prepare for the day. “Just because you are in your house, don’t stay in your pajamas, you should still get dressed – even if it’s just casual clothes,” Heimowitz says. “I find it helps to tell my brain that it is time to get to work and focus for the day. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it comfy.”

Plan activities for the kids.  

Many kids are in school virtually now, and having them home is majorly distracting. “If you have kids at home, especially during this time of uncertainty, it’s important to set times for study and play, and setting them up with activities to help keep them busy too,” Heimowitz says. 

Prevent them from bothering you (as much) by planning activities for them to do while they’re not busy with school work. Need some ideas? Check out 50 right here. 

Take breaks.

When you’re working from home, it can be really easy to lose track of time and get lost in your work. “Whether it’s to get up for lunch, walk to get your mail or to take the dog out, make sure you are getting up away from your computer and letting your brain ‘breathe’ for a bit,” Heimowitz emphasizes. Stand up once every hour just to stretch your legs, maybe even try this one-minute trick for more energy and focus. 

Sit up straight.

Heimowitz also emphasized the importance of watching your posture as you’re working from home. Some of us may have desks at home, others may be working at the kitchen table. No matter your situation, taking care of your back is key. “Watch your posture,” Heimowitz says. “Sitting in front of the computer all day tends to make you slump.”

Keeping active can also help to keep your muscles strong and your posture upright. “Get moving, and keep moving!” Heimowitz says. “Exercise will help get you away from your desk — whether it’s a walk around the block while proper social distancing, or doing a workout class online, exercise can help level out stress eating, too.”

As we already know, keeping active is important for maintaining a healthy body. If you need a few low-impact moves to get you started, check out this at-home functional fitness routine you can finish in just 15 minutes!