Employees who have worked from home for over a year now know how much it mutes any sense of conscious eating choices. Initially, they tried to stick to a fixed meal interval only to find themselves sneak in bites from their lunch bowl as they stretch their working hours to meet deadlines. Others developed a snack run habit in between tasks with how accessible their fridge is.
Sadly, the home, which was supposed to serve as a haven for employed individuals, has grown to become a breeding ground for silent-killing bodily disorders. People are well aware of the consequences their unhealthy eating habits may have. But, having to work in such an unusual setup that for so long was meant for rest after a workweek blurs the distinction between vital activities including work, socialization, and leisure, so much that they cope
For sure, there are remedial actions that can be done for packing on a few more pounds than normal for one’s height, among other health issues that may arise after a significant period of working from home. Here are some solutions that any WFH employee can incorporate into their lifestyles now:
Meal Preparation
Overlapping responsibilities such as having to decide what to eat when the clock is nearing noon on a workday is a leading cause of stress. A fool-proof way of getting over this struggle and to help you stick to a healthy diet of 3 (or 2 if you will) well-portioned meals is to allot time on your weekend to prepare meals. Now, you can put those food containers in your cupboard to good use. The prep work will all be worth it knowing how convenient it is to pop your meal into the microwave just when it’s mealtime.
Subscription Boxes
However, some may not at least be decent cooks or just don’t have enough time in their hands to whip up dishes, and unique ones to satiate their cravings at that. Luckily, many food companies now offer subscriptions to either pre-portioned ingredients with cooking instructions or ready-to-eat meals. While it could cost you money, at least you’re in for more free time to unwind from a stressful workweek.
The Deal with Snacks
Processed sugary snacks may have been your go-to comfort food during this pandemic, but going overboard with it that you barely supply your body with fresh fibers from fruits and vegetables anymore will eventually be detrimental to your health. While munchies are notoriously painful to resist, know that there are equally yummy but healthy alternatives to candies and cookies.
And so, make it a point in your grocery shopping to consciously pick fruits, unflavored nuts, dried or frozen berries, whole grains, and fat-free dairy products over snacks packed with trans fats, artificial ingredients, and processed sugars. Not having unhealthy options in your pantry will deter unhealthy snacking behaviors.
Keep the Team’s Health In Check
Workmates who, likewise, have been working from home will understand your eating struggle the most. Dedicating some time in a week for an online checking-in meeting is one way to concert efforts in adopting a healthier lifestyle. Have a show-and-tell on everyone’s lunches, find time to praise a colleague’s healthy food choices, or even have virtual group workouts from time to time. Feeling less alone in overcoming WFH health issues and surrounding yourself with healthy diet influences will help lessen the mental burden.
Diet Tracker
A busy work life often sidetracks you from maintaining a healthy diet. For this, you can spend a portion of your idle time assessing how you have been eating in the past week or couple of weeks. You can keep a log of the food you have been eating so you stay conscious of your goal to eat healthier moving forward.
Likewise, the food diary could help you reflect on times you ran to food as a coping mechanism and figure out ways to tackle internal issues more healthily such as meditating, hydrating, praying, and regularly taking breaks.
In Case of Disease or an Eating Disorder
Unfortunately, the health of some people deteriorated to the point of chronic disease or eating disorders. In the case of disease, medical attention must be sought. Eating disorders, on the other hand, are treated by enrolling in a partial hospitalization program. Through this, a patient is initially scheduled to eat meals and be monitored within the center and will eventually be handed over to an eating disorder inpatient team to usher him back into a healthy eating lifestyle.
Having a balanced lifestyle involves giving equal importance to one’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. These three come hand in hand and if the physical aspect, for instance, is neglected, the other two will suffer too. Working from home takes some time to get used to, but working on one’s diet is a sure step to getting back on track in life.
