How to Stay Active When Working from Home

1. How to Stay Active When Working from Home

2. Over the past year and a half, millions of Americans discovered the many benefits of working from home. If you are one of them, you may now experience the joys of working in your pajamas instead of uncomfortable clothing. You may be enjoying more time for leisure activities without your usual commute. Some even find that they are more productive at home without constant meetings and other distractions. With more time available, people have begun to exercise more regularly. Of course, there are downsides to working remotely. For instance, you may miss ongoing camaraderie with colleagues and feel lonely or isolated instead. Also, many working parents are more torn than ever between professional and family responsibilities now that schools and daycares have reopened. Unfortunately, many individuals still struggle to stay active.  Inactivity is a contributing factor to the development of varicose veins and spider veins. If you work from home and need advice on fitting physical activity into your daily schedule, we can help. Below, check out our five tips on how to stay active at home. We also discuss why it is important to stay active and how it can benefit your vein health. If you have additional questions, we recommend consulting a vein specialist.

3. 5 Ways to Stay Active at Home If you’re already exercising regularly, we encourage you to keep it up. If you need help getting started, some of the ideas below may help. Most people have the best intentions to stay active while working at home, but sometimes life can get in the way. Here are five easy ways to stay active, exercise regularly, and promote better blood circulation during these unusual times.

5. 1. Schedule Your Workouts If you’re working from home, you may be struggling to control your work-life balance. Although your commute may be non-existent and there should be enough time (and motivation) for exercise, somehow, there never is. To start each day off on the right foot, we suggest scheduling your workouts first thing in the morning. That way, no matter what happens during work hours, your health will always be your top priority. Choosing an activity that you enjoy, such as taking a walk through your neighborhood or streaming an online yoga class, can help motivate you. You might also enjoy the company of a friend or family member to join you. When you exercise regularly, you will experience both immediate and long-term health benefits. Physical activity promotes better blood circulation, which can reduce your risk for developing vein disease. It can also help alleviate painful venous symptoms like leg swelling and cramping. 

6. 2. Move Around A more recent phrase, “Sitting is the new smoking,” hints at some good advice. Studies have shown that sitting for prolonged periods is bad for your overall health and should be avoided. Sitting or standing for prolonged periods are major risk factors for the development of vein disease, or venous insufficiency. Vein disease is the underlying cause of varicose and spider veins. It can lead to other serious health conditions like blood clots and venous ulcers, which are open, non-healing wounds. Always talk to your doctor before increasing your activity. Along with exercising regularly (at least 30 minutes daily, five days a week), we recommend moving around as often as possible throughout the day. To help you remember, set an hourly alert on your smartphone or computer. When it chimes, be sure to get up, stretch, and walk around. Another helpful technique is to walk while you talk by getting out of your chair and away from your desk whenever you get a phone call. To review how you’re doing at the end of the day, it may be helpful to track your daily movements with a smartwatch or fitness device.  Keep in mind that physical activity helps promote better blood circulation. This can help you avoid the development of vein disease, along with alleviating related pain and swelling in your lower extremities.

7. 3. Wear Loose, Comfortable Clothing Good riddance to the days of high heels and poorly fitted dress shoes. For better vein health, we advise that you avoid wearing tight-fitting and restrictive clothing or footwear. Instead, go barefoot at home or wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes. It may also be a good idea to avoid constrictive clothing, other than prescribed compression socks. In general, wearing looser, more forgiving items can be more comfortable for people with varicose vein symptoms.  Although we certainly encourage you to move around, it may be helpful to avoid walking into the kitchen too often. Keeping a close eye on what you eat can help stave off vein disease.

8. 4. Avoid Mindless Munching Maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) is key to managing your vein health. Being obese or overweight increases your risk of developing vein disease, so try to control excess snacking and eat healthy, well-rounded meals. Additionally, stick to regular mealtimes and reach for low-calorie, healthy snacks like fresh fruits and vegetables when you are hungry. Regular exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight. If you are struggling, you are not alone. Many people gained weight during the pandemic, in part due to working from home. There are free dietary apps that allow you to easily track calories and other nutrients. You may be surprised to find how a bit of mindfulness can affect your snacking habits.

9. 5. Elevate Your Feet One benefit of working from home is that it’s easier to put your feet up. This practice can help reduce painful and uncomfortable vein disease symptoms like swelling, aching, itching, and cramping. It can also help keep things from progressing. To discover relief from venous symptoms, elevate your feet above the heart several times a day. If you are experiencing symptoms of vein disease, you may wish to consider vein treatment. A vein specialist can provide personalized treatment recommendations.

10. Why Is It Important To Stay Active? It is possible to enjoy a range of health benefits when you stay active at home. Some of these include greater energy levels, better concentration, higher self-esteem, and improved sleep quality. When it comes to improving your overall vein health, staying active can help you to: Relieve pain and discomfort due to varicose veins Discover greater mobility Maintain a healthy BMI Improve your blood circulation Avoid developing additional varicose and spider veins Reduce risks for serious issues like blood clots and venous ulcers Staying active can help keep your veins healthy. Vein disease, or venous insufficiency, develops when the valves in your veins are weakened or damaged. This can occur due to genetics, pregnancy, lifestyle factors, or even spending too much time sitting at your desk while working at home.

11. Beyond Staying Active Along with exploring ways to stay active when working from home, there are a range of additional things you can do to improve your vein health. Some of these include: Eat a nutritious diet Quit smoking Avoid long periods of standing or sitting Wear compression socks when prescribed Visit a vein specialist Explore your vein treatment options For more on how to maintain healthy veins, schedule a visit with a USA Vein Clinics specialist who can address your unique situation.

12. Schedule a Consultation at USA Vein Clinics To learn more about staying active to improve vein health, consider visiting one of our experienced vein specialists. At USA Vein Clinics, we treat a range of potentially dangerous venous conditions. Our minimally invasive, outpatient vein treatments can be performed in under an hour, from start to finish. After your procedure, you can go home and return to most normal activities, including working at home. Most major health insurance plans cover our leading treatment methods, which include: Endovenous Laser Therapy ClariVein Varithena Foam Treatment Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy We understand that many of our patients are concerned about the spread of COVID-19. For your safety and convenience, we offer a choice of in-person or virtual doctor visits. We also want to assure you that we are following strict protocols to keep our patients, staff, and communities healthy. To get started, call 888.768.3467 or schedule an appointment online today.

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