(Article en français 🇫🇷)
After about 10 years working in different types of open spaces in a previous 'life' evolving in different marketing positions and now after 4 years being happily self-employed working in different places around the world also having a shared photography studio, I do know oh so well how overwhelming it can get to get things done in a 'non-office' environment.
So I decided to share all my favorite tips & 'no BS tricks', in this blog post series to help you go through, in the best possible way, the coming weeks!
This is one of a 4 articles series. Check out all the other ones HERE.
WHERE TO EAT WHEN WORKING FROM HOME
When I was working in corporate, apart from special days, most of the time I would eat at the company cafeteria with my colleagues.
Despite not being the best food on the planet, that 'habit' holds actually 2 amazing advantages:
You don't eat at your computer multitasking big time.
As you are with your colleagues and you want to be polite, you actually don't eat with your nose stuck on your phone shoveling food without even noticing what you are eating (and the quantity you are eating).
When I started working from home, and you might have done that those latest weeks, ou want to be 'efficient' so you think "Let's do 2 things at the same time: eat and work !".
NOT GOOD.
After a month like that, you will not feel good I am telling you. (I have been there)
I am certain you have heard that multitasking is NOT the best bet to actually get stuff done. And eating in front of the computer OR the nose on your phone will also make you NOT realize really the quantity of food you are eating: as your brain won't realize that, it will get you snacking the whole day!
I am certain it happened to all of us: You know that moment when you have a snack, let's say a pack of crisps, next to your computer, and your hand goes for the 11th time towards the pack when you realize it's EMPTY ??? WHERE THE HECK DID THOSE CRISP WENT ??? (... in your belly 😉)
THE WINNING TRICK
So even if it's a 10min lunch, or an hour lunch, whatever time length:
Eat at another place than in front of your computer AND YOUR PHONE.
(Your phone is old enough to have its own lunch by itself! In its drawer for instance )
Do one thing at a time. Enjoy your food for real!
And despite the news being even more important these days, stop eating in front of your phone and social media: It will do NO GOOD either for your beach body nor to your mood.
Take 10' to eat and then 10' to check social media, but don't multitask.
WHERE TO PUT YOUR AFTERNOON SNACK: RIGHT OR LEFT SIDE OF YOUR COMPUTER?
This trick WAS SUPER BIG FOR ME!
It's the afternoon, you have been crushing your to-do and you want to reward yourself with a snack. A healthy one 😉 (see list below)
Did you know that depending on which side you put your snack, you won't eat it as much ??!!!
THE WINNING TRICK
So I won't let you hanging 10 more lines of text and here it is: put your snack on the side where you are using your mouse.
So it will differ if you are right-handed or left-handed or depending on your habit. But overall, put it on that side. WHY?
Because if you put it the other side, snacking will be effortless and get automatic (for your hand & for your brain): You will be able to still click your mouse with your other hand while snacking, so everything will be completely smooth to get you in the comfort zone of shoveling that snack without noticing it.
However, if you put it on the 'mouse' side, you will have to make the effort of taking OFF your hand from the mouse to go and get your snack.. and then wipe it not to get your mouse completely gross... and THAT, my friend, will make your brain REALISE that you are snacking, it will slow the process and get you to feel full from your snack to then stop it.
NOT THE WHOLE PACK
It seems common sense but we are all humans, me first... so sometimes common sense is not our first choice. Even eating a whole pack of healthy snacks is... NOT HEALTHY (Pack of almond, I am looking at you right now).
THE WINNING TRICK
Get yourself a bowl, pour a reasonable amount of snack in there (healthy or not healthy, your call) and put everything BACK in your cupboard or fridge.
If you are in a 'cereal & milk' mood for instance, after serving yourself, close everything and put everything BACK where it belongs (milk INSIDE the fridge, pack of cereals closed and BACK in the cupboard).
Don't let everything ready to use on your counter because it will be the best way to get your subconscious to ruin your resolution of getting fit.
BRUSH YOUR TEETH (NOT ONLY IN THE MORNING.)
We all do it every morning before going to work. The same applies when working from home, right 😉? (Yes, yes, like getting dressed)
So keep that good morning habit EVEN when working from home. (#youcandothis)
However brushing your teeth is not the biggest habit people have during the day, after lunch or through the afternoon (.. ok there is always, THAT ONE "perfect" person at the office who does it... Good for that person).
THE WINNING TRICK
But at home, no barrier there, access to your bathroom is super easy!
Use it to your advantage! Who feels like eating right after brushing your teeth?
So after snacking, brush your teeth and it will help you tremendously not to destroy that whole pack of Trader Joe's Cinnamon Almonds.
DON'T BUY IT AT THE FIRST PLACE
Some would consider it a dieting trick but it should actually be an 'everybody every time' trick: If you don't want to snack at home, and snack on bad unhealthy stuff at home: Don't buy it at the first place.
I am the first one who would eat a Nutella jar right with a little spoon. The WHOLE thing! To avoid such a disaster, I just simply NEVER buy Nutella because I know I won't be able to handle it while at home. Beyond any of my strongest will I know I won't.
THE WINNING TRICK
Never do groceries shopping on an empty stomach. Shop after a meal.
Your bank account will thank you and your waistline as well. It's a super super easy trick and it does work amazingly.
BONUS: IDEA OF HEALTHY SNACKS
- Any types of nuts: almond, cashew, hazelnuts, trail mix
(Again, don't put the whole pack next to your computer.
- Fruit: apple, pear,
- Greek yogurt & berries
-DARK chocolate (DARK, the 'serious' one)
- Carrot or cucumber slices and hummus
(Article en français 🇫🇷)