Working from home. Maybe you’re completely used to it now or maybe you’re still finding your rhythm. Whatever the case, it’s important that you try and stay fit during this crisis. Our colleague Annemarieke spoke previously to RTL Nieuws about how she was now keeping fit, but would you like to find out what else you can do? Our HR specialist Frank Hielckert gives you 5 tips in this article.

1. Healthy posture

You’ve probably heard it many times before but watch your posture. You don’t move much when you’re sitting at a computer and the movements you do make are often repetitive. So, whether you’re at home or in the office, keep your back straight, your arms at a 90-degree angle and place your screen or laptop at eyelevel, so as to prevent neck and back complaints. Watch this film for clear instructions.

2. Plan your breaks

When you’re at the office, you get lots of little breaks as you pop to the toilet, chat with colleagues, or have lunch together. It’s different at home and you probably have less incentive to take a break. Most meetings last an hour and sometimes your appointments are planned in straight after each other. One solution is to not let meetings take an hour, but 45 minutes. This means you get a 10 to 15-minute break for yourself to do something else before the next meeting starts. Treat yourself to an extra cup of coffee or a short walk. You deserve it!

3. A healthy lifestyle

With your home now also being your office, you might not be giving yourself the chance to relax as much. Yet it’s important to do this. Maybe you feel a little limited in ways to relax and your work may be causing new tension. Stress-related problems can then lurk so reducing stress is important. Do a quick vacuum between meetings, have an extra-long lunch break and make a healthy meal, or plan a workout at the start or end of the day. Need inspiration for an effective workout? Download the ‘7 minute training’ app by clicking on the link below.

4. A breath of fresh air

Exercise isn’t just good for your body, it’s good for your brains too. It keeps you focused and productive and lowers stress levels, but you might not always want to exercise intensively. Walking is a great way of getting your daily dose of exercise and you can take a walk in many different ways. Meet up with a colleague that lives nearby and take a lunchtime walk – keeping 1.5 metres apart of course. Or opt for an alternative to video conferencing: a telephone meeting that you combine with a walk. And if you’d rather be alone, you could always find a good podcast to listen to while you walk.

5. Breathing exercises

As we settle into the routine of working from home, you need to watch out for symptoms of stress that such a change can cause. Which is why it’s a good idea to create relax time every now and then. Visit this link for calming breathing exercises that will get you ready to face the rest of the day. Or download the ‘Headspace’ app here. The app offers mindfulness meditations and teaches you to be more aware of the present moment.