During the COVID-19 outbreak, we were thrust into a state of almost complete isolation. As a result, many people started working from home.
In many cases, working from home has proven to boost productivity levels. However, for a lot of us, navigating an entire work week remotely is an alien concept, and one that needs a lot of getting used to. These 4 tips for working from home are just for you!
With a fish out of water-like sensation, and having the conveniences and creature comforts of home, at first it can be difficult to deal with this new scenario. As a result, negative behaviour and bad habits can easily creep into your daily work-from-home routine.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “that sounds like me,” don’t panic because at HumbleWorks HQ, we’ve got your back (quite literally).
The perils of sitting
Studies show that by limiting excessive sitting to three hours a day, you can increase your life expectancy by two whole years. Recent discoveries also reveal that sitting-based sedentary lifestyles are almost as bad for you as smoking is.
The results of a sedentary lifestyle include the possible and very real prospects of developing anxiety, deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, increased risk of heart disease and certain cancers, and chronically bad hips and back.
Based on this notion, fostering healthy habits while working remotely and standing up for set periods of time is the way forward.
To help improve your home working environment and to ensure the prevention of long-term physical or mental damage, here are four practical tips to boost your health and wellbeing, while working from home.
4 tips for working from home
Now that you understand the importance of investing in your professional health and you’re familiar with the perils of excessive sitting, it’s time to look at our Working from home tips for health & wellbeing.
1. Treat it like a workday
This may appear obvious, but you would be amazed at just how many people overlook this simple yet vital concept: when working from your home office, treat it like a workday.
Waking up at inconsistent times, skipping the morning shower, or lounging around in your slacks isn’t conducive to a happy, healthy, or productive work environment.
That said, although you are at home, you should try to follow a set routine as you would on a regular workday:
- Set your alarm at the same time each day
- Follow your morning ‘getting ready’ ritual
- Eat and snack at consistent times
- Before you begin working, take some time to clear your mind
- Have a designated workspace that is clean, convenient, and organized
If you do these things, you will reduce the chances of getting into poor habits or remaining inactive for long periods of time.
2. Fuel your mind & body
A healthy body is a healthy mind, and vice-versa. So, make sure that when you eat, you choose something that will fill you up while making you feel great (you should also treat yourself sometimes, too).
Certain foods will help you remain mentally focused, in turn, boosting your professional productivity rates while helping you maintain consistently high levels of health.
Here are some suggested foods to boost your health and wellbeing when working from home:
- Raw nuts
- Oily fish
- Berries
- Sweet potato
- Guacamole and whole-wheat crackers
- Fresh fruit
- Homemade granola
- Quinoa and pulses including chickpeas and lentils
- Eggs
- Lean chicken
These foods are packed with nutrients and are known to help increase workplace wellbeing, health and generic wellness. Also, here are some simple ideas that will inspire you for healthy work from home snacking.
3. Take regular screen breaks
When you’re working from home, it’s tempting to work in big spurts of productivity then kick back for hours at a time. This level of imbalance will only serve to hinder your health and wellbeing.
By taking frequent screen breaks (five to six minutes every 45 minutes or so) and walking around, stretching, or getting some fresh air, you will benefit from increased focus and a more positive mental mindset.
Taking regular screen breaks will also save strain on your eyes while encouraging movement—which brings us to our final point.
4. Don’t slouch, don’t sit (too much)
Revisiting the excessive sitting scenario for a moment - if you want to increase your health and wellbeing when working from home while reducing your risk of long-term health complications, standing up is key.
Here are some clear-cut benefits from standing up and adopting good posture while you work:
- Helps your heart
- Improves your posture
- Increases your productivity
- Extends your life expectancy
- Strengthens your core
In addition to eating well and fostering a solid routine, standing up for even half of your workday will improve your productivity while adding to your health and wellbeing.
"Take care of your mind; your body will thank you. Take care of your body; your mind will thank you." Debbie Hampton
Right now, we’re wading through challenging times, but with the right attitude, we can all get where we need to be.
To help you improve your work from home life, we’ve developed a set of stunning standing desks that are portable, completely ergonomic, built to last, and made from 100% sustainable materials.
If you’re working from home right now and want to turn a new leaf, explore our two signature standing desks and take those first big steps towards a happier, healthier home-based workplace.
If you have any questions about who we are or what we do, don't hesitate to contact us—we're happy to assist.