Are you taking care of yourself, you determined, beautiful, hard working ninja warrior?
Yes, we are all warriors, with daily challenges, victories, goals, and dreams. We get so busy taking care of what needs to be done, it's often difficult to find time to stop and listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us. This is especially true when the line between home and office can so easily be crossed.
Here are some simple wellness habits that I've implemented into my daily and weekly routine, to balance the impact of long stationary hours on the phone and computer.
* Stretch Morning and Night
Stretch before you touch that computer! I also recommend scheduling a reminder on your calendar to stand up and stretch your entire body at least once an hour, whenever you get up to use the restroom, or refill your glass of water. Making sure to stop and take breaks consistently, and take care of your sedentary body is so important. You may be able to ignore body warning signs and push forward, until a nasty headache, migraine, ache or pain smack you in the face, and force you to stop and take notice.
If you want to create a dedicated beautiful space to stretch at home, here are a couple simple items that I use daily, and may inspire ideas for you!
The best thing about this rug is that you can throw it in the wash. The bottom layer has a nice non- slip rubber base w/ Velcro to hold the washable top layer. Super soft and wonderful for dedicated daily stretching, meditation or yoga. You can even take it outside and put on a deck, patio, or yard if you want something underneath you.
* Adding a Himalayan Salt Lamp to the room you are stretching, is an easy and low-cost way to help create a peaceful feeling, in addition to purifying the air, raising energy, concentration, and your overall mood.
* Start the Day in Gratitude
Each morning focus on what you are thankful for and say thank you to God, the Universe, your Angels, whatever speaks to you. If you are struggling to find something immediately to be thankful for, it can be as simple as the sky is blue, or the birds singing outside your window.
* Get Dressed
You do not have to live up to the 1950's perfect hair, clothes, makeup, stay at home persona, but getting out of that robe and pajamas is a must! People can sense your confidence, tone, and energy when you interact virtually or over the phone. How you feel contributes to that experience, and your clothes are a contributor to how you feel. If you find yourself shuffling to your desk in your bathrobe and slippers with coffee or tea in hand, give yourself a time limit, and then get yourself dressed and ready to tackle your day like a boss!
* Diffuse your Favorite Essential Oil
It's such a simple and effective way to contribute to ease and peace of mind. You can diffuse in your office, home, and even in your car.
Young Living Essential Oils are my daily go-to, and a couple of my favorites are Orange and Peppermint. If you have any questions on Essential Oils, you can email me or visit my distributor page
HERE.
* Schedule weekly time away from the house!
When your work environment is part of your home, you may find yourself taking constant mental note of everything that needs to be done. While being a multi-tasking Ninja has its benefits, the downside is your spare time may be dominated by household tasks vs. taking time for your interests and hobbies.
Getting out of the house to explore your creativity and interests is an important way to feed your soul, and contribute to a healthy balance. While options may be limited during this time, a simple walk around the neighborhood or park can do a world of good.
* Ground and Walk barefoot in the grass
When you have a break between meetings, calls, or even during lunch, walk outside and put your toes in the grass. There is a lot of great information out there on why taking off your shoes and connecting with the earth every day has health benefits. I live in the PacNW, where going barefoot outside isn't always practical, so I've invested in a couple grounding mats to have at my desk, as well as a grounding sheet for my bed. If you are working on a computer all day, this can be especially beneficial.
* Listen to Relaxation or Meditation Music.
It can be difficult to calm the freeway of thoughts in your head at night and listening to calming music vs. watching television is a great way to prepare yourself for a peaceful sleep. Light a candle w/ a particular intention in mind, run a nice hot bath, sprinkle in some Epsom salt, play your favorite music, and let yourself focus on your body and relaxation.
Here is a link to my favorite: (1 hr Reiki Zen Meditation Music)
* Ask a Friend to be a Talk & Walk Buddy
Consider asking a friend to schedule a weekly or bi-weekly time to call each other and walk & talk outside, walk on your treadmill or use a stationary bike depending on what you have available.
Another Tip: If you have a long conference call or training session where you do not need to speak, I recommend hopping on your stationary bike, desk elliptical, or treadmill.
I ordered a stationary bike similar to this, and love it. My husband also purchased the Cubii under desk elliptical for me a few years ago, and I use it sometimes. I found it challenging to use if you have an office chair with wheels.
* Separate your work space from living area.
I know this can be a challenge but try and segment your work zone from your family's common living areas. Having the ability to close a door and separate from the noise of household activity is key to keeping productivity up and distraction down. This can be tricky with kids at home who require assistance with remote learning. I found communicating my availability and planning a schedule with the kids helps eliminate distraction and improves productivity during the day.
* Create an ergonomic workstation
So often I see people hunched over a laptop and wonder how they sustain long hours without pain. Ensuring your workstation is set up properly can have enormous health benefits. This is also true for our kiddos at home who are plugged in for distance learning!
Thank you for reading, and I hope these simple suggestions bless you and contribute to your daily wellness! Have a beautiful day, you determined, beautiful, hard-working warriors!
--Work From Home Ninja
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