4 ways to improve your ‘Health & Wellbeing’ when working from home
In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, we’ve been thrust into a state of almost complete isolation. As such, working from home is on the menu for many.
While working home, in many cases, is proven to boost productivity levels—for many, navigating an entire professional week remotely is an alien concept—something that applies to workers across industries.
Conveniences and creature comforts coupled with the fish out of water-like sensation working from home can evoke (if you’re not used to it) and prove difficult to deal with at first. And, as such, bad habits are easily formed.
If you’re reading this and thinking “this is me”—don’t panic because were at HumbleWorks (currently remote) HQ, we’ve got your back (quite literally).
To help enhance your current professional situation while preventing long-term physical or mental damage, here are four practical ways to boost your health and wellbeing levels while working from home.
Working from home: the perils of sitting
Before we delve any deeper into our working from home wellbeing tips, it’s important to consider just how detrimental constant sitting is for your existing and long-term health.
Studies show that by limiting excessive sitting to three hours a day, you can increase your life expectancy by two whole years. That said, sitting down hunched at your desk for long periods of time is likely to shorten your life expectancy.
Recent discoveries also reveal that sitting-based sedentary lifestyles is almost as bad for you as is smoking.
The result? The possible (but very real) prospect of deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, increased risk of heart disease and certain cancers, chronically bad hips and back, and anxiety.
Based on this notion, fostering healthy habits while working from home and standing up for set periods of time is the way forward.
Top ‘working from home’ health & wellbeing tips
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 wellbeing tips.
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 home, 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.
- Take time to clear your head before you start working.
- 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 onto 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. Standing...
- Helps your heart
- Improves your posture
- Increases your productivity
- Extends your life expectancy
- Strengthens your core
- Makes your glutes more attractive!
Image taken from HumbleWorksLondon
By standing up for even half of your workday in addition to eating well and fostering a solid routine, not only will you achieve great things but you will see your wellbeing levels soar.
"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 increase your work from home life, here at HumbleWorks, 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.
Oh, and if you have any questions about who we are or what we do, please get in touch — we’re here to help.