How to stay active while working from home

It's 2025: most of us know at least one person--if you aren't that person yourself--who works from home. As wonderful as it is to cut out commute time and to not have to change out of your pajamas, working from home can make it feel really difficult to get a good amount of activity. Today, we will be steering clear of the obvious solutions (such as adding in personal or small group training sessions at M3 Performance + Wellness) to focus on the "small things" that can be done to help you or your loved one improve activity levels, without having to drive to the gym!

1. Standing desks/walking pads: A really great solution if your office area allows for the space. Using a desk that can adjust from low for seated and high for standing positions is a great tool to keep your hips from getting tight and weak from sitting for hours on end. Try an alarm every 30-60 minutes to remind yourself to get up, have a stretch, and switch your position. Bonus points if you have a walking pad that can be a companion during those "stand" times!

   
   

2. Lunchtime walks: Setting boundaries can be difficult when you've got a deadline here and an "urgent" email there, but it's also a necessity to take care of YOU! If you have the time during your lunch break (I'm hoping it's at least 30 minutes long) to eat and then get a 5-10 minute walk, you'll be helping your digestion, reducing stress levels and getting in some of your steps for the day.

   
   

3. Before/after work stretching : It's easier to pick up a new habit when you pair it with an existing one! Most people start work at roughly the same time and end at roughly the same time each day; if you are able to be ready for work 5-10 minutes earlier and can commit 5-10 minutes as soon as your day ends for a good self-stretching or yoga session, your body will thank you for it! Sitting (or standing) and working usually involves being faced straight ahead at all times; try to get some rotational stretches in during that short time before and after work, and see if you feel better throughout your day/week.

Hopefully you or someone you know finds at least one of these little tricks helpful or inspiring for getting more activity in throughout the day and week! Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to keep an eye out for the next recipe of the week.

Margo