If your home office has become your full-time workplace in recent months or years, you may be searching for simple ideas to help you take better care of yourself and maintain a good work-life balance. Although working remotely and dabbling in different virtual office backgrounds has its perks, many remote workers find that making time for self-care can be more difficult when working from home than when working in a typical corporate office setting. Thankfully, there are several ways to prioritize your self-care while working from home. Here are a few changes to implement in your workday and look after yourself even when you’re in the home office for eight hours a day.

Hygiene Routines To Feel Your Best

Even if you enjoy your remote job and are the company expert in how to add virtual background in teams, you should still make some time in your day for self-care. Just ten to fifteen minutes of personal time a day can help you:

• Cope with stress
• Take a break from your work schedule
• Focus on your needs
• Address your personal health concerns
• Nurture mental wellness and resilience

One fun and often relaxing way to feel your best during or after a long workday is to revamp your hygiene routine and treat yourself. You can easily combine a deep conditioning hair mask with your usual shower routine, for example, or take ten minutes during your lunch break to put on a scented moisturizer. Other ideas for workday personal care that could help you unwind from the stress of remote work include:

• Taking a bubble bath or using bath salts
• Hosting at in-home spa day
• Taking ten extra minutes to pamper yourself in the shower every morning
• Getting your hair and/or nails done professionally
• Treating yourself to a soothing massage
• Doing a face mask or indulging in another skincare treat

Project A Positive Image

No matter how proficient you may be with remote conferencing tools and branded zoom backgrounds, you may occasionally find yourself feeling a little down. Remote workers often report feelings of isolation and stress, so you’re not alone! Thankfully, you can lift your spirits and take care of your mental health by focusing on the positive and projecting a more upbeat image. It’s important that you:

• Understand your own work-life boundaries and take breaks as needed
• Organize your workspace regularly to avoid feeling cramped and/or cluttered
• Keep your work tools in a separate area from your personal belongings
• Work out a few times each week to boost endorphin levels
• Get more rest to feel more upbeat and positive
• Pinpoint work concerns and communicate them to your boss

Just because you’re working from home full-time doesn’t mean you have to give up personal space and time for self-care. In fact, for many remote workers, it may be more important than ever before to squeeze in some self-care and set clear-cut work-life boundaries. If you enjoy your remote job but you struggle to weave personal care into your day, making a few key moves might help. Adopting a more luxurious hygiene routine and reminding yourself to focus on the positive are just a few of the strategies you could start implementing into your remote workday right away.