Stay on track with your health goals while working at home

With so many of us working from home, our routines are no doubt “off.” Work time can easily bleed into leisure time and before we know it, it’s 8 p.m. and we have snacked the day away and haven’t moved much. What to do? It’s all about setting boundaries. Here are a few tips to do just that:

• Carve out a dedicated space for work. Whether it’s a home offie or a corner of the house, confining work to one place can help you stay sane. Work will always be there. Out of sight, out of mind! Shut down the laptop at a set time and remain faithful to a reasonable work schedule. Your family will thank you.

• Move. While you can’t go to the gym right now, that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to being sedentary. Try working out at home and/or taking walks. Learn some yoga moves in your living room. Set alarms on your phone to alert you when it’s time to get up and move.

• Eat healthy meals and limit snacks. It may be tempting to snack all day, especially during these uncertain times. Hello, temptation! But snacking can add up to a lot of empty calories. Do your best to eat regular nutrient-rich meals regularly while keeping your water intake up, too. Sometimes, when you think your body is telling you that you’re hungry, you’re actually dehydrated. Every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to work properly. Women should generally drink about 9 cups of fluids a day, while men should aim for 12, according to the Mayo Clinic, although individual needs vary depending on your level of activity and type of foods you consume.

• Connect. Human connection is important. And studies show that a support system can be key in achieving goals. So hop on FaceTime and get social! Kids driving you crazy? Have a zoom meeting with other moms.

• Breathe. It seems like everyone is stressed out and unsure about what the future holds. Give yourself some grace right now. Know that slip-ups happen, but what matters is that you get back in the game. You’ve got this!