Improving your eating habits while working remotely
For many of us, working in an office all the time was helpful in the sense of having a somewhat predictable schedule. Today, with the flexibility of working 100 percent remotely or hybrid work, we encounter other challenges that could impact our eating habits.
To continue improving our overall diet and eating habits while continuing to work remotely, here are five tips that you can practice right away.
1. Intuitive eating: This is also known as an anti-diet approach. It takes you back to eating as you did when you were a little kid, before dieting got involved. Its simple: eat when you are hungry, stop when you are full.
It’s an approach that sounds remarkably simple, but for anyone who has done diets in the past it can actually be quite hard to get used to, because you will be fighting against the idea that there are “good” and “bad” foods and that you should feel guilty if you’re not eating perfectly all the time.
Diet culture has contributed a lot of misinformation and affected our intuition when it comes to food choices. These messages can be tough to fight against. If you need more support, I’d encourage you to see a therapist as well as a dietitian who can help you on your intuitive eating journey.
2. Stop judging yourself for your food choices. It is important to remember that there is no perfect way of eating – while working from home or otherwise. If you have been using intuitive eating or are looking to start, you will find out that some days you will be craving a veggie-filled kale salad and others you will want to eat your favorite burger. Some days you might want both! Either way, it’s a great choice because you are listening to your body.
3. Create an enjoyable space in your kitchen. If your kitchen is a mess or you just don’t like it for one reason or another, you’ll feel less inclined to cook your meals there. And, when you don’t want to use your kitchen, you will likely end up ordering meals that are not well balanced–or, you skip meals. As much as it is OK to enjoy all foods, it is important to do it in a balanced way. Therefore, making your kitchen an enjoyable place will enhance the chances of your preparing your own meals on a regular basis.
4. Optimize your grocery list. Make sure you plan ahead what you will be preparing for the coming week. This helps you stay on track with your nutritional goals and also gives you the opportunity to plan for more variety.
5. Create a schedule. One of the most challenging things that we face when working from home is the lack of structure. Make sure you plan when, what, and how much you are going to eat and try to follow your schedule the best you can.
Ultimately, try to find balance and have grace with yourself. The best thing to do to improve your health is starting with small and realistic goals that have a positive impact on your day. We want to make sure that you are not adding more stress to your daily routine but on the contrary, that you are enjoying the journey on your way to better health.