Whether you like telecommuting or not, it is now part of our daily lives, and will be for some time to come. Many companies have even decided to adopt it permanently! Whether it's a hybrid or a full-fledged solution, telecommuting offers us a wide range of advantages... and its share of stress!
At Maison Orphée, we fundamentally believe that wellness is not only about healthy eating, but also about balancing our of our daily lives. That's why, in collaboration with the Augustinian Monastery, we are offering you a few tips to reduce your stress level when you work from home. You will then have all the tools in hand to benefit from the many advantages of telecommuting!
#1 PLAN AND PREPARE YOUR MEALS IN ADVANCE
Eating well is serious business. And there's nothing better than planning and preparing your menu in advance to ensure that you make healthy and balanced choices throughout the day! Our advice? Take some time on the weekends to cook your favourite snacks and plan your meals for the week. And if you feel like it, why not cook an extra dish or two to start the week off right! The result? Less time in the kitchen and more time for your daily activities!
#2 MAKE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PART OF YOUR DAILY ROUTINE
It is no secret thatPhysical activity is one of the best ways to reduce stress. Working from home, you can make time in your schedule for a quick workout or a simple walk around your neighborhood without cluttering your day. Intense physical activity or not, the goal is to take time for yourself and focus your attention on something other than work. Perhaps this little moment of escape will even allow you to approach certain projects in a more serene way thanks to the endorphins that your body will have secreted.
Moreover, the platform The Monastery at home platform offers you a panoply of online courses and workshops allowing you to move every day, at your own pace : yoga, qi gong, stretching routineyoga for runners, and much more.. It is a real toolbox for self-care with informative and practical content, each as inspiring as the next. So go take a look, you won't be disappointed!
#3 HAVE A DEDICATED AND COMFORTABLE WORK ENVIRONMENT
When you work from home a lot, it can be hard to tell the difference between being at work and being at home. That's why it's essential that you have a dedicated space during work hours. This way, it will be easier to disconnect. The opposite is also true! You will be more focused when you are sitting at your desk. Speaking of your desk, don't forget the value of a clean, ergonomic and comfortable environment. If you haven't already done so, we strongly encourage you to get a work chair that offers a multitude of adjustments (arms, back support, etc.). If you need help, don't hesitate to ask an expert.
#4 TAKE TIME TO BREATHE
Have you ever heard of cardiac coherence? It is a technique that advocates that "breathing and heart rate can be in sync, that the heart and lungs can talk to each other, that they can serve each other, resulting in many benefits for health, vitality and mood"! A typical cardiac coherence session is quite short: six breaths in and out per minute for five minutes, preferably three times a day. The inhalations and exhalations are of the same duration, five seconds each. They alternate without a pause. A brief, simple and effective approach that increases the variability of the heartbeat and brings it into coherence.
Studies show that the long-term benefits of this practice can counteract the physical, emotional and social effects of stress. And that's not all! The immune system also benefits!
To learn more about cardiac coherence and its good practices:
https://info.monastere.ca/coherence-cardiaque-coeurs-respirent/
#5 BE GRATEFUL
Working remotely, it is possible to feel like you are losing a portion of that "camaraderie" with your colleagues. Encouragement and recognition through a screen certainly have less impact than a "good job!" in person. However, did you know that taking responsibility for recognizing yourself can ensure that this universal need is met? That's right!
One way to do this is to look back on your day every day, like a personal "standing ovation" to congratulate yourself! It's about reflecting on an attitude, a gesture or a word that brings a sense of personal pride and for which you can say bravo!
To learn more about the benefits of recognition:
https://info.monastere.ca/soffrir-de-la-reconnaissance-au-quotidien/
THE FINAL WORD
If there is one thing to remember, it is the importance of integrating into your daily life activities that will make you feel good. The objective is not to apply all of these tips tomorrow morning. It can be, for example, just one new habit per week. In fact,go at your own pace! Hopefully, these tips will make your workday at home a lot more enjoyable!
About the Augustinian Monastery
The Augustinian Monastery is a heritage haven of culture and wellness. It occupies the old wings of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery, which was the origin of the first hospital in North America. Through its cultural and social vocation, the Augustinian Monastery bears witness to the way of life and the social and spiritual mission of the Augustinian nuns in this country. Inspired by the fervor and compassion that animated the nuns, it continues the function of welcome, hospitality, memory and renewal of these founding places.
The Monastery offers visitors a a unique healing experience experience: accommodation for relaxation, aa healthy restaurant, a museum rich withnd a museum with nearly 400 years of historyhistory, specialized care, a program, a boutique and much more.
For more information on the Augustinian Monastery and its services: https://monastere.ca/
Photo credit: Jason Strull, Unsplash