Corporate Wellness: 5 Tips for Happy and Healthy Remote Work

Working from home and hybrid work aren’t going anywhere… at least for the foreseeable future. Whether you’re the boss or a solopreneur, there are simple things you can do to improve your wellness while working remotely.

5 tips for healthy remote work

1) Set boundaries

When you work from home, it’s easy to work all day and lose track of time. You might forget to do important things, like eat lunch… or dinner. Working 14- to 16-hour days is a recipe for physical and mental exhaustion.

Pace yourself. Set a time to stop working every day, as well as a cutoff for looking at and replying to emails. While you’re at it, schedule breaks for lunch, self-care and social interactions throughout the week. Take time off on the weekends, too. The work will still be there when you get back, and you’ll feel much more refreshed.

2) Find a hobby or passion project

Is there a hobby that’s always interested you? A passion project that relates to – or is independent from – your work? Whether you want to start a podcast, take up cooking or write “the next great American novel,” there’s no better time than now.

This is one of the best ways to use “found time,” or swapping your usual commuting time with project time. Even if you can only commit an hour a week toward this endeavor, it adds up. Plus, that enthusiasm and feeling of accomplishment will positively impact other areas of your life.

3) Stay social

There are plenty of opportunities for social interactions in the virtual world. Conferences, mixers and coffee follow-up meetings have all gone online. While Zoom overload is definitely a thing, look for ways to stay sane and social simultaneously.

For instance, start a group chat, so your team can touch base, ask questions and offer motivation throughout the day. Think of it as the text version of watercooler time. For follow-ups with your team or long-term clients, when appropriate, turn a Zoom call into a phone call. There’ll be less pressure to be “on,” so you have the benefits of being social without the performance stress.

Read Remote Work Morale: Keeping the Virtual Water Cooler Going.

4) Prepare for your future

The way companies function may have changed. Still, that doesn’t mean you need to remain stagnant. Think about your goals for your career and your business. What do you want to achieve?

Start making plans! Educate yourself on the possibilities. Take some courses to improve your skills and set yourself on a growth path.

5) Have fun

Having fun is one of the best things you can do to lift your spirits, especially when there is stress swirling around you. Find ways to incorporate fun into your day through your work, projects and quality time with loved ones.

Final thoughts

Unless you choose to, you will not be working from home/hybrid forever. Make the most of your time. Try to enjoy it! And remember: just because it’s “easy” to work all the time when working from home, doesn’t mean you should. Instead, prioritize wellness and self-care. When you do so, you are a much better asset to your business and yourself.

What’s your best healthy remote work tip? Please share in the comments.

Editor’s note: this article was originally posted on LinkedIn.

About the author

Goal-setting expert Debra Eckerling is the creator of The DEB Method, a system of goal-setting simplified. She is also the award-winning author of “Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning, and Achieving Your Goals.” A corporate consultant, workshop leader and panel moderator, Eckerling is on a mission to change goal culture in and out of the workplace. She is the host of the #GoalChat Twitter Chat, #GoalChatLive on Facebook and LinkedIn and The DEB Show podcast.