Back to the Office
After 18 months of working from home, the world is starting to feel semi-normal again – my office is open! I’ve loved the flexibility of working from home. A few days per week of no makeup and lulu leggings, sleeping in until almost 7AM and still able to log onto my computer by 7:45, and sipping my coffee out of a real mug. It’s been a treat to have lunch time walks with Doug and shut down my laptop and walk right into the garage gym. But there are things I have definitely missed: running into co-workers who aren’t on my team (anyone else feel like they’ve forgotten people existed?), popping by someone’s desk to chat instead of waiting to see if they are “green” on Zoom chat, and wearing a nice dress and pair of heels. Like some of you, I will need to get back into a routine at work that supports my healthy lifestyle and doesn’t hinder my fitness or nutrition goals. Here are a few things that help set me up for success:
- Meal prep is everything. Have you heard the saying, failing to plan is planning to fail? Packing a healthy lunch is key to avoiding the temptation of unhealthy snacks and carb-loaded lunch entrees. I personally find low carb diets work best for me, so my lunches typically consist of hard boiled eggs, deli meat, blueberries, and a cheese stick. I also make sure I have some dark chocolate and almonds handy in case a craving hits.
- Get those steps in. Everybody wants the close parking spots, but as long as I’m not running late for a meeting, I try to park far out and get my steps in. While there is a restroom close to my desk, I also choose to walk to the other side of the building for a. bathroom break or to fill up my water. Those extra steps add up throughout the day, help me close my exercise ring and gets the blood flowing.
- Travel light. Thanks to my Kilo collapsible shaker bottle, I never worry about getting my protein in or hydrating prior to my workout. It collapses down to 2.5 inches, so it fits perfectly in my lunch box. In an open office environment, it mixes quietly so I don’t have to worry about running to the break room to mix my protein shake. Since the silicone is stink-free, I also don’t have to hold my breath when I unpack my lunch box in the evening!