Okay, we’ve all been there. We’re stressed because clients owe us money. We’re stressed because our supplier just went bankrupt. We’re overwhelmed because we have a deadline looming, or we’re fretting about getting more business. Ugh. It’s enough to make you reach for a box of Ding Dongs. Or a gallon of ice cream. Or both. Stress at work is hard enough, but it also caused some of us to reach for the junk food. In fact, when we’re facing a particularly difficult week, we often skip meals, go through the drive-thru to save time, or pig out as a way to cope. Which leads to weight gain, an unhealthy body, and sometimes depression over gaining weight and feeling unhealthy. It’s a vicious cycle. Here are some tips to help battle the stress bulge, and stay healthy while remaining productive: - Clean your cupboards. When you work at home, you have immediate access to all the junk you have in your cabinets. That bag of chips is just too easy to get to. So if you have ice cream, candy bars and all the other items that a trainer would have a heart attack over, get rid of them and keep healthy food items available for snacks.
- Take a walk. Schedule a couple of twenty minute walks in your day. Take your cell phone and make a quick call while you walk. Or dictate a to-do list as you strut your stuff. Find ways to get active, and substitute activity for stress-eating.
- Cut down on caffeine. Oh, it’s so hard to pass up that third cup of coffee or can of soda when you’re running on fumes. But all those servings of coffee, tea or soda contribute to frayed nerves. Try to back down on the amount of caffeine you’re taking in, and substitute with flavored water or caffeine-free versions.
- Get some sleep. Yea, right! Sleeping is a coveted luxury, isn’t it? As hard as it might be, allow the time you need to get a full-night's sleep, as often as you can. Sleep-deprivation not only takes a toll on you physically, it can affect your perspective and good-judgment.
- Socialize. It’s easy for entrepreneurs to get so busy and caught up with meeting deadlines and sealing deals, that we become isolated. Stay in touch with colleagues and friends. Schedule social outings or lunches. By maintaining contact with others, you’ll be able to get out of your office and feel connected to other humans.
Working out of your home can have so many benefits, but as with anything else, there are downsides as well. Succumbing to stress and the negatives that come with it is a trap that you can’t afford to fall in. |
