One of the dangers of working from home is skipping break time. These 6 tips on being mindful can help sustain your energy throughout the day and ensure you’re working efficiently, not constantly.
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1. Schedule a Mid-Day Break and Other Smaller Ones
Like an in-office lunch hour, your mid-day break is a great time to walk away from your work and eat a tasty meal. You can either prep your lunch ahead of time, or incorporate fixing a simple meal as part of your break. Good, healthy food will keep your energy up for the second half of your day. Just be sure not to eat at your desk! Aside from possibly making a mess and getting crumbs in your keyboard, eating in another room gives your eyes a break from screens.
By scheduling when you take your breaks, you can keep focused on your tasks during work-time and stay positive while looking forward to break-times.
2. Stay Hydrated
Keep a glass, cup, or reusable bottle of water on hand and drink throughout the day. In addition to the well-known benefits of drinking enough water each day, staying hydrated while you work staves off tiredness and headaches that can keep you from concentrating. Getting up to top off your water also makes sure you don’t spend too much time sitting.
3. Bend, Stretch, Set a Movement Break
Take a movement break within your physical comfort level after every hour or hour and a half you spend sitting. If you can’t go outside for a walk, just walk around your home and visit every room or every window — making a little game out of it can help you not feel silly.
If you want to get more active, there are an endless number of five-minute workout videos on YouTube that range from cardio to yoga to some basic stretches. Get your blood flowing to stay energized, and help reduce your risk of developing conditions from sitting too long.
4. Perk Up With Something Funny
Get a funny desk calendar, keep an amusing picture by your desk, visit an entertaining social media page, or watch a fun video. Smiling and laughing is a great stress reliever. Plus it’s good for your mental health to remember there’s more to life than work. Just don’t fall down the rabbit hole and lose an hour to TikTok!
5. Find Your Mental Sorbet
Just as sorbet cleanses the palate between courses in a meal, you can refresh your mind with a special treat. Read an article or a blog post that will get you thinking.
6. Pick a Quiet Place to Unplug
Even when you’re not in a typical office, things can feel hectic and overwhelming. Find a place inside or just outside your home where you can take some time for yourself. You can go there during your mid-day break, or after hours as part of your “commute” out of work mode.
Your happy place at home should be silent and free of disturbances. This is not the place to look at your phone. You can meditate, read a book, doodle, or color in a coloring book. Take a few deep breaths and relax.
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