It can be a challenge to find the motivation to keep fit at the best of times, however, this is even more of a struggle amidst a global pandemic. With gyms closing for several months, and a ‘stay at home’ order being enforced throughout the country, it’s no surprise that many of us have seen the pounds creep on in recent months.
A large proportion of the population are still required to work from home (WFH), and it’s likely that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future. This begs the question, how can you keep fit whilst working from home? Solution-focused hypnotherapist, Steve Dell of Steve Dell Hypnotherapy, says the key lies in the mind. Below, he’s offered his expert tips to help you combat the WFH weight gain and lead a healthier lifestyle as we head closer to winter.
Reinforce your willpower and control
Unlike at the office, you have unlimited access to food, snacks, sweets and drinks whilst working from the comfort of your own home. This can cause us to overeat or consume too many snacks.
A significant amount of weight problems are linked to one simple concept: control. The conscious and primitive parts of our brains are constantly in competition with one another, and this can be a problem when it comes to controlling our weight. The conscious part of the brain encourages us to make healthy decisions, whereas, when the primitive part of the brain takes over, we’re more likely to give into temptation.
To reinforce your control whilst working from home, you should write down your goals or say them aloud when you get tempted. For example, say to yourself “I know that chocolate bar looks good, but it’s unhealthy for me. I am in control, I will reward myself on my treat day.”
Avoid stress
This is easier said than done given the unprecedented times we are in, however, stress is one of the main triggers that causes people to overindulge whilst working from home.
When working, eating, sleeping and exercising in the same space, it can be difficult to switch off and unwind after a long day at work. However, this is essential to help you avoid reaching for the snacks in the evenings, and to help your overall mental health.
Take days off when needed, meditate and try to get a restful sleep each day to avoid becoming too stressed.
Ditch the diet
Diets can be an effective means of losing weight in the short term, however, going on a diet doesn’t always result in a long-term change in eating habits. As many of us are going to be working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s important to create a mental long-term strategy for your weight loss, rather than focusing on the here and now.
You can use visualisation techniques to picture yourself at the end of your weight loss or maintenance journey. This can help you to stay motivated and stay on-track to achieving your goals. However, in a more practical sense, whenever you get tempted with unhealthy snacks, you can remind the primitive part of your brain to select a healthy alternative instead.
More than anything, it’s important to remember not to be too hard on yourself whilst working from home. It’s not unhealthy to reward yourself from time-to-time, especially given the situation we are in at the moment. Take it slow and you’ll reap the rewards of a healthier lifestyle naturally.
