Six healthy lifestyle tips for remote workers

Living remotely can be a challenge for even the strongest of minds. Steve Hord, a lifestyle, food and wellness coach, fly-in fly-out (FIFO) worker, and author of FIFO: There’s a Healthier Way, gives his top tips for living the best life you can when you're working away from home.

The lifestyle of a FIFO worker is not an easy one, yet that’s no reason for not enjoying it. Let’s look at how you can optimise your health, wellness and lifestyle choices to best deal with the experience.

I’d been a competitive bodybuilder before I started working in the mines, but soon realised fitness alone wasn’t enough to keep me going when I was living offshore in some of the harshest working environments you can find.

Here are some tips and tricks I picked up for living a healthy lifestyle.

Get your mindset clear

There’s scientific evidence to show that your thoughts have a profound influence on your body, so your mindset is an important aspect to address first.

Don’t turn up at the airport expecting that one more swing away is going to solve all your problems. Take a look at your goals, reassess why it is you’re going away to work, and feel good about it. If you hold on to the attitude that you don’t want to be at work, and you’re just hanging out until the next RnR, you’re throwing away two-thirds of your life.

With every swing, bring a fresh mindset – a belief that what you’re doing is right and good.

Take some downtime

Take time out to detach from the day. Enjoy a sunset or a good book, or grab a guitar and spend half an hour playing music. It can be as easy as choosing not to have that last drink, but instead heading back to your quarters five minutes early. You can spend even that small amount of time writing down three things you’re grateful for, or meditating. It’s a profound way to improve your health and quality of life before you even start looking at nutrition or training.

Pack extras

Plan ahead for your nutrition strategy. There may not be access to shops or towns, so anything you want to consume outside of what’s provided, you’ll have to bring yourself. Easy, healthy foods include muesli or fruit bars and certain packaged soups, or you might want to try nuts, seeds, coconut oil, vitamin supplements or organic teas.

Bring something that amuses you that will take your mind off work. It might be a musical instrument, a book, your gym gear or a sketchpad. By allowing your creativity to flow, you’ll more quickly find balance and joy.

Exercise

Studies have proven the importance of physical activity on our health, that it’s paramount to our longevity and wellness. You’re probably thinking you get plenty of exercise, so why am I advocating more?

Sure, you’re doing heavy labour during the day, but can you touch your toes? Take up some physical activity that’s different from your work, such as yoga or stretching.

Spend time each week either in the gym, riding a bike or going for a swim. A lot of mines now have movement and stretch programs in place; make use of them to open up your back and get your body moving.

Not only is exercise good for the body, it affects your mind as well. When you move, your body releases chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, which make you feel good.

Eat well

As a general rule, avoid eating food that’s been highly refined and processed, such as lollies, crisps and cakes. If you can, try to stick with fresh, local produce, such as fish, fruit and vegetables. When on site, make an effort to eat slowly and chew your food well – your digestive system will thank you for it.

Give work your best shot

Having the right mental approach is crucial. You have to be passionate about what you do, or at least about why you’re doing it.

You may not wish to be an electrician or admin for the rest of your life, but if you see a reason and find joy in it, it makes your day a lot easier and happier. You will excel. It could also mean you’ll be first in line for a promotion, or last to be working when the jobs are moved somewhere else. If you come across as someone who hates the job, you probably won’t last long!

Happiness brings benefits, both for you and those around you. When you have a smile on your face it makes your workmates feel better; it’s also pretty difficult to keep feeling like things are tough.

If you’re working hard knowing you’re free, and you’re earning all this money to provide your family with a home or take your kids on a holiday, that’s telling your body you are where you’re supposed to be.

Identify your reasons for being where you are right now, then choose to adopt a healthier mindset, if for no other reason than to make it easier for yourself day to day.