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As enticing as it might be to stay in PJs all day, it’s actually detrimental to your health. Not only does it impede productivity, but you might be more likely to make poorer food choices or forget to get up and move around. Get ready for the day as you normally would. Get dressed, have breakfast, make coffee. It helps your brain get ready to work and creates separation from when you are at home relaxing versus working. Pro Tip: Dress for the day in your exercise gear. Wearing workout clothes is a subtle reminder to get in some physical activity during the day. When you’re already dressed for the occasion, it may be more difficult to find excuses.

To combat becoming sedentary while telecommuting, make a commitment to get up at least once per hour. At minimum, try to follow the down for 60, up for 3 rule. For each hour you spend sitting, get up and move for at least 3 minutes. The best way to ensure you’re actually taking the movement breaks your body needs, is to SCHEDULE them! Use the tools you already have at your disposal, like setting Outlook calendar reminders to move every hour. If you wear an activity tracking device like a Fitbit or Garmin, don’t ignore the built-in movement reminders (Pro Tip: many devices now also include a “Relax” or mindfulness feature). If you need a little extra motivation, you may want to download an app to remind you to move or take a moment to relax and regroup.

Don't short-change yourself during breaks, especially your lunch hour. You can use an app, such as for Windows and for Mac, to lock yourself out of your computer for 60 minutes. Or launch a simple clock or timer on the screen when you take a break. Rather than just opening YouTube or a social media site, give your eyes a rest and use your breaks to get away from your desk. If you return after only 40 minutes, walk away for another 20.

Just as you should start your day with a routine, create a habit that signals the close of the workday. It might be signing out of Teams and Jabber, an evening dog walk, or a 6 pm virtual yoga class. Something as simple as shutting down your computer and turning on a favorite podcast will do. Maybe even set an alarm at the end of the day to indicate your normal workday is coming to an end. Whatever you choose, do it consistently to mark the end of working hours.