How to Keep Yourself Moving When You Work at Home

HomeatWDW
HomeatWDW Posts: 121 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
One reason I joined MFP was that I work two jobs at home, so I have no immediate co-workers and not much incentive to get my butt moving. It's easy to get into a rut staring at the computer. I got a Garmin Vivosmart HR which bugs me to move every hour and guilts me into getting up with a growing inactivity meter. I also have a dog who forces me to get up eventually, and I'm keeping MFP open in a browser tab as yet another reminder that I need to periodically move.

I'm sure there are other work at home people here. Any other good strategies to make sure you do some exercises, or at least a few steps, during the day? Although I do have meetings, my schedule is pretty flexible.

Replies

  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    I added a platform to my desk so I can stand and shift my weight around while I work. It's removable so I don't have to stand.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I get out and walk 2-3x day to get 8-9000 strips. Otherwise I can get less than 1000 staying at home. I have an elliptical & trx in my home workout area (woman cave)! I go to nearby fitness classes a few times per week. I do Leslie Sansone walk at home, 5-40 minutes, check out you tube. You definitely have to make a conscious effort.
  • HomeatWDW
    HomeatWDW Posts: 121 Member
    Leslie! I love her! I actually have some of her DVDs buried somewhere. I need to dig those out and clean up some space in my office. I'm so glad you mentioned her. I forgot I had those because they got shuffled away after we recently moved.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,255 Member
    edited March 2016
    I just go to the gym, usually "after work," like everybody else. Meaning after normal business hours, when clients are less likely to call/email. However, working from home also gives me the flexibility to go in the morning or in the middle of the day if I want. Monday I took a spin class from 8:30-9:30 am, for example, because I know Monday mornings are always slow...clients don't usually start calling/emailing until after lunch on Mondays. Then I just work later into the evening if I need to.
  • hermajestee
    hermajestee Posts: 28 Member
    I work from home a couple of days a week. I make sure to get out and walk the dogs at least once, maybe twice. Now that the weather is improving, I've been walking to get my lunch. It is definitely difficult to stay motivated!
  • MarvelGrrl
    MarvelGrrl Posts: 622 Member
    I work from home and have to schedule and incorporate exercise into my day or my
    Fitbit takes a ton of calories away from me :neutral: I try to exercise before work and just think of it as "my commute", if there's a bit of downtime I try to hop on my elliptical for a few minutes, getting to a yoga class a few times during the week helps me to counteract all the time I have to spend in front of my computer , and honestly after being stuck at home all day it's nice to get out :smile:
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    I walk around the block several times a day.

    In the past, I also used my Zumba Wii and Zumba videos and did stretching or circuit training games and videos, as well.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    edited March 2016
    lithezebra wrote: »
    I added a platform to my desk so I can stand and shift my weight around while I work. It's removable so I don't have to stand.

    That's what I did. I spent about 5 hours today. I take sitting breaks.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
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  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Oh, I also hula hoop. It helps me think.
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    I work from home but I get up every morning and workout for 60 - 90 mins. I take breaks periodically and throw the Frisbee in the backyard with the dogs but my workout is at the gym in the mornings
  • mk2fit
    mk2fit Posts: 730 Member
    I, too, work from home. I have a rowing machine handy...just put the phone and paper and a pen close when on it. I am a huge fan of jessicasmithtv on youtube. Way more versatile than Leslie Sansone - walking, weights, lots of variety and some workouts as short as 5 minutes! I also hop onto the elliptical every morning and get a walk or run in every day around lunch time. The beauty of the home office!
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    I work from home. I walk/hike for an hour at lunch on days that it's not raining and still don't get to 10,000 steps. It's not like I can park farther away or use a bathroom farther away. However, as we're heading in to gardening season, I'll be back and forth to that.

    I practice being less efficient - instead of taking out the trash and recyling, and getting the mail, I do this in three separate trips.

    I also go to the gym 2 night per week and sometimes on the weekends.
  • HomeatWDW
    HomeatWDW Posts: 121 Member
    Thanks for all the great suggestions. I was away at a conference, but now that I'm back, I'm going to take a look at Jessica Smith on YouTube. I find that my Garmin Vivosmart nagging me is a great motivator so far. It's inspiring me to take the dog out more, just to get in some steps. I need to get into the habit of getting up early and working out before I plunk my butt down for work.
  • lexykassan
    lexykassan Posts: 19 Member
    I also work from home and had a decided lack of motivation for moving around. I built a treadmill desk out of parts from IKEA and have a setup for my work laptop there. I find that if I set up my computer on the treadmill desk in the evening, I am more likely to use the treadmill because I'm somehow too lazy to bother moving the laptop to my seated desk but not too lazy to put on workout clothes and walk for a bit. After I do a "set" (my treadmill automatically shuts off at 99:59) I usually sit the remainder of the day. I find that this gets me close to 10,000 steps by walking around 2 - 2.5 mph for that time.
  • CareyAnne55
    CareyAnne55 Posts: 12 Member
    I stared working at home in March aND this has been an issue. I have come up with the following: I alternate between a desk chair and fitness ball (I have one that has a ring to keep it in place when not in use and resistance bands attached for when I am in boring meetings!); a high table I can stand at an work (like a kitchen counter height); a desk that attaches to my treadmill (I got on from Dr McBabe for $70 on amazon but a handy person could probably make their own). I have also started taking an after dinner walk with my kid too! I am "new" on MFP (a rejoiner) and need some friends! Please feel free to to add me!
  • i_ge_w94
    i_ge_w94 Posts: 30 Member
    i try and do a home workout video (there's loads of ones on youtube etc) everyday, and often use flex as the workouts are live-streamed classes so i find i'm more likely to commit to them because there's an actual instructor leading the class :)
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Take a 30 min walk at beginning and end of day, in place of s traditional commute. Take a shorter walk at lunch time. Do a 5-10 minute routine like Leslie Sansone walk at home mid morning & mid afternoon.
  • OneWayOnlyCycles
    OneWayOnlyCycles Posts: 67 Member
    I have to get up from my desk at least every hour and walk around for 10 minutes. Then I set aside a couple of hours for my workout. There isn't much time left after that.
  • jamosanna
    jamosanna Posts: 9 Member
    a lot of good ideas for sure. I work from home also and find it very hard to get moving because i take calls in a very busy virtual call center. On my 15 min breaks I like to do what I call upper torso twisties where I keep my lower section still and swing my upper torso from right to left, not sure if there's an official exercise like that but it works. I unfortunately am a pretty sedentary person so moving around is a motivational challenge for me. Not sure how to "get motivated" I have been losing weight though, this garmin vivofit 2 has certainly been a blessing in my life for sure. Helps me to "remember" that I'm trying to lose weight and get in better shape.
    Funny my mom found a quarterly report card from kindergarten and my teacher mentioned my motivation issues, hmmm not quite sure how you get past that at 51 LOL.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Don't wait around for motivation.

    Just do it.
  • typeitdaily
    typeitdaily Posts: 3,322 Member
    I do squats, pushups, jumping jacks etc while waiting for my jobs to download and walk on my 15 minute breaks,and lunch.
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    You just have to get up and do something.
    I started off with 30 day shred moved onto Hasfit.com and fitnessblender
    Now go to classes at lunchtime at the gym. If I don't go to a class I make sure I walk somewhere

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