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While you’re on lock-down you might find your health and fitness suffers, with limited access to the outdoors and a cupboard full of snacks taking its toll on the waistline. There’s a solution though, in the form of fitness trackers.

Fitness trackers or health-focused smartwatches can help you track your exercise and overall activity levels, both when you’re outdoors and stuck inside, and keep you thinking about your fitness without breaking the bank.

They let you maximize workout time

Most fitness trackers have different modes for running, walking, cycling, and usually plenty of others too, so no matter what outdoor activity you’re doing, fitness trackers could be really useful to keep on top of your fitness.

They can help you improve fitness

Exercise bands and fitness-centric smartwatches don’t just track your workouts, but can provide feedback, activity logs and advice to help you actively improve the way you get fit, and that’s going to be doubly useful if you’re working your way up from locked-down couch potato.

They can provide some needed company

Exercising alone can be a challenge if you're used to working out with a club, but check out smartwatches with Bluetooth accessories. While you'll use your phone for communication and connectivity more than an fitness tracker, some bands and watches can give you a sense of exercising together with community features.

For example, Fitbit devices are well known for their accompanying app, which lets you see the weekly or daily steps, and other stats, from your friends and family, letting you compete in some friendly rivalry to see who can walk or run further.

You can use fitness trackers indoors too

Your fitness tracker isn’t just going to assist you when you’re out and about exercising, but they can also be a huge help when you’re indoors.

As well as all the features they have like telling the time, passing on notifications and counting all those steps between your bedroom, the kitchen and the bathroom, many have indoor exercise modes.

Fitness trackers don’t break the bank

One of the best perks of a fitness tracker (as opposed to a smartwatch with exercise monitoring functions) is that most of them are pretty affordable – in fact, the majority only cost double-digit sums.

Check out our latest fitness trackers and Fitbits Here. 

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The current situation has caused fundamental changes in the ways we work. You’re likely working from home and navigating new terrain in terms of how to get work done, collaborate and perform in the face of plenty of new constraints.

You’re also likely to be exhausted, but you may not understand why. After all, you’re not enduring your commute and you’re “just” sitting at home on video-conference. You have access to snacks from your pantry anytime and you’re not rushing from meeting room to meeting room at your company or driving from customer site to customer site day-after-day. What gives?

It turns out, there’s actual logic behind your exhaustion. Here’s why you’re so drained, and perhaps more importantly, what you can do about it:

This isn’t your choice. One of the fundamental elements of good mental health is autonomy, self-expression and a sense of control. Many of us have been sent home and no longer have the choice to go to the office or work in our usual ways. This lack of choice can be frustrating and even disorienting.

The fix: Find ways to infuse choice into your day. As much as possible, set your meeting times and retain control over how projects roll out. Perhaps you can control the sequence of your tasks or the flow of your day. Even planning breaks can give you a sense of some control over how your time is managed.

You have to think about things that used to be automatic. Exhaustion can also occur because of points of friction in your day. When you were in the office, you were able to flow from one meeting room to the next and it was easy to scribble thoughts on a white board to keep the discussion moving forward.

The fix: Keep at it. As new ways of working become the typical, and as you learn new technologies, they will become more automatic and your brain will be able to put less effort into them.

You’re distracted. Children and spouses or partners can obviously be distracting, especially if you don’t have a dedicated place to work at home. But in addition, you may be distracted by the laundry you know needs to be done or even by the walk you wish you had time to take.

The fix: Make time for the distractions as part of your day. Plan to spend your lunch hour with your family or by getting a breath of fresh air.

You’re living a more intense life. One of the challenges of video conferencing in particular is its intensity. You’re looking at faces all day without being able to take visual breaks. Your eyes are focused on what is in close proximity, which is physically exhausting, but it can also be socially exhausting.

The fix: Avoid dwelling on yourself. Instead, focus on others, on the work and on the contributions, you’re making to your team. Also ensure you’re looking away frequently enough—and focusing on things in the distance (the view out the window or the artwork on your wall), rather than exclusively on what’s up close.

Working from home is tough—for many good reasons. But you can stay sane and effective by keeping as much control of your work as possible and maintaining your processes by learning new technologies. Keep perspective and give yourself permission to prioritize information flow.

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As social distancing and self-quarantining continue, some of us may be going crazy not able to go and do the things we’re used to.

Now is the time to relax, but when you’ve been cooped up for weeks, and still can’t hit the shops or movie theaters, how can you spend your time?

There are a lot of options out there:

Connect with friends virtually

We use virtual meeting apps for work all the time, but why not use platforms like Zoom and Skype to hold a virtual party or a virtual happy hour?

Learn to draw

Just like every other activity, your skills will be improved as you learn basic principles and get some practice. The key to learning to draw, just like learning to write, is working until you own it. No one said it would be easy, nothing worth doing is. Yet just because it is challenging does not mean that, with time and hard work, you will be excellent.

Participate in a scavenger hunt in the house

Scavenger hunts are fun! They're easy to create and can be tailored to any theme, any age, any place. Scavenger hunts are usually thought of for parties or other large groups, but they're just as fun for small families or even individual children

Train your dog

You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Every dog needs to learn how to live successfully in a home environment. Domestic dogs might seem to have an easy life compared to their wild counterparts, but living in a human world comes with certain unique pressures. Teaching your dog basic manner skills and providing her with enough mental enrichment and physical exercise will prevent her from developing anxiety and other stress related behaviors such as destructive chewing, barking and aggressive displays.

Meditate, Do Yoga

It’s time to roll out your yoga mat and discover the combination of physical and mental exercises that for thousands of years have hooked yoga practitioners around the globe. The beauty of yoga is that you don’t have to be a yogi or yogini to reap the benefits. Whether you are young or old, overweight or fit, yoga has the power to calm the mind and strengthen the body. Don’t be intimidated by yoga terminology, fancy yoga studios and complicated poses. Yoga is for everyone.

 

Learn a new craft, hobby

From knitting and crocheting, through paper and clay craft, to soap and candle making, ideas for craft hobbies projects are endless.

If you are good at drawing or painting, choose something that involves decorating, like making cards or charcoal drawings. If you find that working in three dimensions and modelling things in your hands is what makes you tick, then go for clay, candle, or soap projects.

Finally, if you are patient, and find repetition soothing and relaxing, then there is nothing better than crochet or needlework. Some projects may take hours, others weeks, but all of them can be done for pennies if you engage your creativity.

Build a Lego

If you have kids, and they have a bin of Legos, dump them out and build. See what you can come up with by free-building.

Play board, card games

Turn off the Switch, XBox, PS4, iPads and dig out one of the board games that are stashed in the hall closet. See if you can beat your family at Trivial Pursuit, or how about an epic game of Monopoly or Risk. There’s no need to play the short versions since we all have hours to kill.

Binge-watch a series

Want to find out why everyone’s talking about Baby Yoda, but you haven’t sat down to watch “The Mandalorian?" Now is your chance.

There’s a bunch of shows that are perfect for binge-watching while you’re still home.

Maybe you’ll want to start new shows like “Jack Ryan” or catch up on those classic “Seinfeld” episodes.

Get some culture

Many Opera, Ballet and Theaters are placing their shows on YouTube, is streaming nightly. You can also visit a many Museums and Galleries without leaving the comfort of your home on a virtual Tour.

Go on a safari

Some Zoos are putting up their animal cameras and live streaming, or perhaps you could take the kids on a Safari using Google Searches for Animals etc.

Read a book

Surely you have some books on the shelf that you have you have always wanted to read but never had the time, well now is the time.

Write, journal

We are living in an unprecedented time. Write about it; Or if you always wanted to write a book, start writing,

Listen to podcasts

Find your favorite topic and listen to a podcast on it.

Cook

See what you have in your pantry and whip up a new meal !!!

 

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Working from home offers many advantages, including the flexibility of setting your own schedule, saving time and money by eliminating your daily commute, and allowing you to start a business with minimal overhead. However, being successful in a home office requires creating an office space that promotes efficiency in a non-traditional work environment.

Whether you are self-employed or telecommunicating, take time to define a professional working space that separates your work from your personal life.

Identify What You Need

What you need will depend on the type of work you do.

If you are a graphic artist, for example, you may need both a small desk for your computer and a larger table or work-space for your artwork. A consultant could require additional space for file cabinets or space to meet with clients. A photographer may need an in-home studio or storage space for props and lighting equipment.

If you are telecommuting, rather than running your own business, your employer may have specific requirements about the equipment you need to have, such as dedicated electronics or industry-specific equipment.

Before claiming a corner in one of your rooms and calling it good enough, make a detailed list of your needs for a home office and set up a space that meets those requirements.

Choose a Dedicated Area

Ideally, your office should be in a quiet area with some privacy. This is especially important if you share the house with a spouse, children, or roommates.

You may find that a spare room with a door can reduce noise from the rest of the house if you'll be on the phone frequently. Or, if you'll be meeting with clients in your home office, it could make sense to choose a room near the front entrance of the house. If you need space to spread out design or tech equipment, you might need a dedicated studio that is separate from the rest of your home.

If you telecomute, your employer may require you to have a dedicated area that you use for work, or even to have a door that closes and locks for reasons of confidentiality. But even if you are self-employed, consider having a dedicated area that you use just for work.

Consider the Light

Set up your home office with plenty of light for work; you'll do your best work if some of that includes natural light.

Windows and exposure to daylight can impact office workers' physical and mental well-being. Working in a space with natural light can reduce headaches and eyestrain, allowing you to be more productive on a day-to-day basis and healthier in the long-term.

An added touch that can improve your work and well-being: Keep a plant or two in your work-space. Research has shown that having plants in an office can improve both your productivity and make you happier while your work.

Use a Dedicated Phone for Your Home Business

One of the many benefits of working from home is having reduced overhead. However, the initial savings from sharing a phone line between your home and business can ultimately cost you.

A shared voicemail can sound unprofessional or confuse clients who expect a message specific to your business. And if you use the same landline for your home and work, you risk having a child or other family member answer the phone.

Having a dedicated phone from your home office, including a cell phone or a VoIP (Internet-based) phone, can allow you to separate your work and personal life, maintaining boundaries that help both you and your customers.

Have a Place for Gadgets

When you don't have a supervisor or manager looking over your shoulder, it can be easy to get distracted during the workday. This is especially true if you keep your gadgets with you in your home office.

Research has found that having smartphones accessible reduces workers' productivity, especially if they are already prone to overusing their phone.  A survey by staffing firm Office Team found that workers can spend more than eight hours per week on their smartphones doing tasks unrelated to work. 

When you are self-employed, you often can't afford those wasted hours. And if you telecommunicate, your employer will likely scrutinize your work carefully to make sure you aren't doing other tasks while getting paid for working.

You may occasionally need to use your devices for work. But when they're not in use, your home office will be a more productive space if you have a dedicated spot where you store your smartphone, tablet, and other gadgets.

Separate the Professional From the Personal

When working from home, keep your personal life from spilling over into your business life (and vice versa). Setting up a business bank account is the first step in helping you avoid mixing personal expenses with your business expenses. Store personal checks, mail, and client records, and financial records in a dedicated spot in your home office, rather than with personal documents.

Have a Way to Keep Time  

Research has found that you'll be more productive if you get up and move throughout the day. These brief mental rest periods break up the workday and improve your focus.

But when working from home, it's easy to forget about time. Before you know it, you've worked 14 hours for the third day in a row.

Workers in a home office are more likely to overwork than those in a traditional work-space.  Whether you choose to hang a clock on the wall or use the alarm on your phone, have some way to track time in your home office.

Tracking time won't just encourage you to break up your workday effectively. It will also help you maintain regular work hours. Even though your work is at home, there still comes a time when you have it to call it a day and shut the door to your office.

 

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Countless people have suddenly been thrust into the world of remote work. And with increased encouragement to maintain social distance, many are forced to work from home. We have compiled 7 Tips for Productively Working from Home and will be sharing them with you over the next few days …

Tip No.1 - Make yourself an office, or at least a work “station” area. This will be the spot that you do your work. If you don’t have a room that you can turn into a home office, you can set up shop at the kitchen table, although this is not ideal. Taking your laptop and plopping down on the couch in front of the television will present many temptations. You’ll want to make sure that your home office has everything that you need, and that may even mean getting an extra phone-line, be it a landline or a Skype account where you can be contacted at. Invest in a good desk, chair, and computer so you’ll be comfortable working, but not so comfortable that you’ll be tempted to slack-off.

Tip No. 2 - Try to set aside long periods of time for work. Working from home can give you much more flexible hours, but if you’re constantly interrupted it’s going to be a lot harder to get things done. Try to make sure you get a few large blocks of time. For example, if you need to get in 8 hours of work, make 3 blocks of 3 hours, 2 hours, and another 3 hours. If you need to run errands or take care of other things, do them outside of the blocks of time during your “breaks.”

Tip No. 3 -Try to leave the house each day. Nothing will drive you crazier faster than being at home 24/7. It’s a great opportunity to go for a walk outside, clear your head, and get your bearings.

Tip No. 4 - Create a to-do list for the tasks you need to accomplish each day. Because it is so easy to get off task while working from home, having a checklist of the things you need to get done will help you visualize your progress.

Tip No. 5 - Minimize distractions and set limits online. If the bulk of your work is done on a computer, you probably know all to well the distractions of the internet. It’s easy to fall into the trap of Facebook or other sites if you keep it open on one of your browser tabs all day. Allow yourself to check in before you start your work and on breaks only. When it’s work time, close any non-work related tabs and websites. If you keep Facebook open, you will undoubtedly keep flipping back to it to see if there’s anything new posted.

Tip No. 6 - Don’t procrastinate. Look at your to-do list and actually do everything on it. Don’t do 90 percent of it and tell yourself that you’ll just make it up and do it tomorrow.

Tip No. 7. Take care of yourself. Make sure you eat a good breakfast so you don’t have to stop working when the hunger pangs kick in, and schedule yourself a reasonable lunch break. Some also find it helpful to dress as if they were going to work. It’s not necessary to put on a suit, but something more than sweatpants and a t shirt might help you feel more on-task.

Working from home takes discipline. If you’re just starting out, it may take you a little time to find your groove, but if you follow the tips above you’ll find it a lot easier. The key is to keep a good work-life balance, establish boundaries, and take care of yourself.

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