The wellness guide for your new home office lifestyle

For millions of us around the world, working from home and social distancing have suddenly become part of our daily lives. For some, this may be easier than for others, but there is an adjustment period for all of us and we all need to pay attention to our health and wellbeing.

If you're now spending a lot more time at home than you're used to, our HO lifestyle guide will help you make the most of this strange time while looking after your own wellbeing and mental health...

1. CREATE A ROUTINE

If you are not used to working from home, the first and most important thing is to create a daily routine. This will help you stay focused and motivated, whereas getting up every day with the uncertainty of what to do or how to spend your time can be quite disappointing.

Treat the days of the week as you normally would: get up and get ready for the day, set aside time to work, eat, exercise and rest, as well as cook and clean. If you don't have much to do or are working much less than usual, try to find other ways to be productive, such as learning something you've always wanted to learn, taking care of things around the house, or starting that project you've always felt like you didn't have time for. Staying focused will help you avoid boredom and allow your mind to drift off into times of worry and anxiety.

On the weekend, relax a little and allow yourself to step away from the routine you have created for yourself, allowing for variety and separation between weekend and weekdays. Take the weekends as they come, with little planning, and just allow yourself to do what feels right.

2. BE KIND TO YOURSELF.

It's important to remember that this lifestyle change isn't easy for anyone, so don't be hard on yourself if you have days where you're not feeling motivated or a little down. On those days when you feel like you need a little break, try catching up with a friend or family member over a phone call or video call to lift your spirits, or treat yourself to a face mask and a movie to give yourself the space and calm you need.

3. SEPARATE WORK FROM PRIVATE LIFE

If you've never worked from home before, it's important to set boundaries early on. If possible, set up a dedicated work space where you can close the door at the end of the day, similar to when you leave the office or your workspace. Working from home doesn't have to mean working all day long - it's easy to feel like you're already home, so why would you need a break? A lunch break is important and will help you stay focused throughout the day.

4. TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN

Many of us find excuses that we can't follow a good skincare routine, often based on how little time we have. Even if you still work from home, eliminating the daily commute means you now have extra time that you didn't have before. Working from home also allows you to give your skin time to breathe, wear less makeup, and nourish it with extra steps in your routine.

Make good skincare a part of your HO routine. Start your day with a light cleanser or splash of water (we prefer option 2), followed by a hydrating serum and a nourishing facial oil. Our Hydrate + Radiance duo offers the perfect quick and easy HO morning skincare routine.

Start your evening routine with a deep cleanse. Our Double Cleansing Duo offers you the perfect evening HO skincare routine and contains our best-selling facial cleanser. Follow with the Rose Renew Face Cream which acts as an overnight skin renewing treatment with its 5% glycolic acid so you wake up refreshed and don't forget to apply a rich anti-ageing eye cream too.

5. TAKE CARE OF YOUR MIND AND BODY

A good diet, including exercise in your daily routine and getting enough sleep are more important now than ever and will help you feel positive and stay healthy even while working from home. Focus on a diet full of natural, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils and other fiber-rich foods. Drink plenty of water and green or herbal teas.

Do some exercise at home or go for a walk or run if possible. Try yoga, Pilates or HIIT training. Finally, keep your immune system in good shape by trying to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Studies show that getting enough sleep also benefits your mood, energy levels and productivity.

As you can see, there are a variety of ways you can adapt your lifestyle to make the most of working from home. Work on staying positive and focused, but remember to be kind to yourself and take extra care of yourself during these uncertain times.