Working remotely comes with its own set of challenges. While you will typically have more control over your daily schedule, working remotely makes balancing healthy habits seem difficult at first.
As an insurance agent, it’s important to take care of yourself while working remotely. Whether that’s avoiding strain on your eyes, taking a break to get outside or just making sure your workspace doesn’t blend into your home life too much, there’s a lot to keep in mind.
In this blog, we are breaking down 10 healthy habits that will improve your remote office and keep you feeling good!
#1: 20/20/20
Staring at a computer screen for any amount of time can be stressful for your eyes. This means that helping your clients secure coverage remotely should involve the 20/20/20 rule.
Every 20 minutes you spend at your computer, try and take your eyes away from the screen, and focus on something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This will reduce any stress the screen will have on your vision and help you avoid headaches and strained eyeballs!
#2: Take a stretch
Sitting at a desk all day can make you feel stiff. While working remotely, consider scheduling some time to fit in some good stretches. Whether it’s a yoga pose, reaching for your toes or just putting on a good song to dance to, it feels good to stretch those limbs and shake away any stiffness sitting at a desk can cause.
#3: Food prep
Another key component to working remotely is meal prepping. Long gone are the days of worrying about what fast food restaurants were in between your client appointments. Now that agents are working remotely, they have more time to be intentional with the food they’re putting in their bodies.
Pick a day that works best and plan out your meals for the week. Be sure to include foods that will keep you energized and not leave you feeling bloated. You can consider rationing out some yummy veggies to munch on or some fresh fruit to start your day.
#4: Get some fresh air
Being inside all day can get to even the most resilient remote workers. For insurance agents who were previously used to driving for work, this can be especially true.
Be sure to set aside some time in your day to get outside and experience the great outdoors. It could be a walk with your pet or just sitting in your favorite patio chair. The point is to get some natural Vitamin D and take in that fresh air!
#5: “Commute” to work
For a lot of people who’ve switched to remote work, the commute is one of the things they miss most. To remedy that, consider driving to and from work — just a trip around the block before you start your day can help you ready yourself for the workday and set boundaries between home life and work time.
We suggest simple drives around your remote or home office, but if you are craving the feeling of being stuck in rush hour traffic, all the power to you!
#6: Mindfulness
Finding your inner Zen is crucial to balancing a healthy remote work life. It’s very easy to get caught up in work thoughts and forget to take care of your mental health. Taking the time to be mindful can make a world of difference.
Whether you’re using a meditation app, or just finding some time to sit with your thoughts and focus on your breath, setting aside the time for mindfulness is important.
#7: Ergonomics
When it comes to creating your workplace, ergonomics is key to creating an environment that is comfortable and efficient. Take into consideration factors like the height of your chair, the distance from your monitor and the positioning of your wrists and hands while typing.
You can invest in desks, chairs and keyboards to help improve how comfortable your workstation is, but by simply being intentional you can make a big difference without spending more. This short guide by the Mayo Clinic is a great resource for planning your time behind your remote desk.
#8: Stay hydrated
Forget sugary sodas and energy drinks, the best thirst quencher is a tall glass of water. The average adult needs anywhere from 2.7 to 3.7 liters of water a day.
Staying regularly hydrated can help with everything from flushing bacteria to regulating your body temperature. It’s easy to forget to hydrate while working remotely (especially if you were used to an office’s water cooler), so invest in your favorite water bottle and get those daily liters in.
#9: Create a space for work only
One of the hardest things to balance when working remotely (especially if it’s a home office) is toeing the line between work time and home time. That’s why it’s important to create room in your living space that is designated for work only.
Doing so will help you to unwind and know when the workday is finished without lingering work anxieties that might creep in if the two spaces were mixed.
So don’t schedule your client calls from your living room couch; find a corner to set up a desk that is purely meant for work.
#10: Create a Ripple
The Ripple Model is a directive we’ve developed as an organization that gives our agents a chance to make a ripple of impact in their communities and across the nation. This initiative combines heart and data to create opportunities for Symmetry agents and corporate staff to better themselves and their communities.
Stay healthy at Symmetry
The health of our agents and corporate staff is paramount to a positive work environment. We hope that you learned a new tip or trick from this list that will help you get more health benefits out of your remote workplace.
