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Working from Home and Binge Eating Disorder
Contributor: Leigh Bell, BA, writer for Eating Disorder Hope
Working from home has its perks. No commuting. Nobody burning popcorn in the office canteen. It comes with downsides, too. Starting with the kitchen. It’s always there. Filled with food.
Temptations
This is serious tension if you’re struggling with binge eating disorder (BED). It’s like putting alcoholics in a bar and asking them to stay off the booze and meet some deadlines. In other words, it’s hard. Quite a few people likely deal with it as both the numbers of people who work from home and who struggle with BED are on the rise.
BED is the most common eating disorder in the United States, where about 3.5% of women and 2% of men have the illness. BED is defined in the DSM-5 as recurrent, persistent episodes of binge eating – consuming unusually large amounts of food beyond fullness – without compensatory behaviors, like purging.
As someone who’s worked from home for nearly a decade, I understand the challenge to refrain from a nip and nibble here and there. But it can be a battle when BED is involved. That’s not to say someone grappling with BED can’t work from home. They just may need a game plan.
- Look at your office: Is it close to the kitchen? If so, does it have to be? See if you can create a comfortable workspace away from the kitchen, and make sure the kitchen isn’t on “the way” anywhere, like the bathroom. While you’re at it, clear your desk drawers (and any hiding spots) of high-sugar, high-fat, high-salt foods. Always have a bottle of water at your desk.
- Look at your kitchen: Get rid of foods on which you’re likely to binge. Replace them with fruits, veggies, nuts, etc. Sure, you’re saving cash on restaurant lunches, but make sure you’re not overdoing it at home. Portion leftovers when you’re putting them away, and you’ll have just the right amount for lunch the next day.
- Replace rewards: It’s great to reward yourself when you’ve met a deadline or cracked a problem, but make sure not to do it with food. Get a sparkling water with fresh lime. Order a new (but affordable) lipstick online.
- Structure your day: Arrive and leave “the office” around the same time each day, and while you’re there, schedule chunks of time. For one hour, you’ll work on this project and the next hour, reply to emails, etc.
- Get up (and out if you have to): Try to avoid sitting for long periods of time. I usually get up and stretch or throw a load of laundry in the washer. Just a few minutes to move my legs. I also squeeze in exercise some time during the day, which breaks up time and energizes me.
- Distract the urge: If you can’t shake the desire to binge, distract yourself. Walk around the block. Run an errand. Sit on the porch and read a magazine or call a friend. Buzz around on Pinterest.
And remember, you can do it.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
Do you work from home and struggle with Binge Eating Disorder? What tips for obtaining balance with BED recovery and working from home can you share?
About the Author:
Leigh Bell holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Creative Writing and French from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She is a published author, journalist with 15 years of experience, and a recipient of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism. Leigh is recovered from a near-fatal, decade-long battle with anorexia and the mother of three young, rambunctious children.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer a discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals. We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on September 21, 2015. Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
