Almost all businesses have shifted to the remote work arrangement since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has given rise to the importance of an ergonomic work setup at home. Having an ergonomic home office can have a positive effect on one’s efficiency and productivity at work. It is also healthier for the worker’s body after prolonged hours of working in front of a screen.
While the goal is to have a completely ergonomic work setup at home, not everyone can easily purchase good-quality home office furniture. Some individuals may need to go to therapy after spending hours on a chair without enough back support. Consulting professional chiropractors might help with alleviating the pain. Taking care of yourself amid this pandemic is essential, especially if you are the breadwinner of the household.
In a remote work setup, make sure to observe the best health practices that you can adopt during this time. It is important to prioritize your health and well-being despite being busy at work. Good overall health will provide you with a clear mind and enough energy to go through each day.
Advice for Remote Workers
Since many people have been working from home since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many pieces of advice have been provided regarding the proper setup of a workstation at home. There are guides on how to improve your remote work setup to make it conducive for a home office. It is essential to consider home office ergonomics to keep your body in good shape even after long hours of working in front of your computer.
When talking about office ergonomics, there are best practices as well as habits you should avoid. While not everyone can afford a luxury ergonomic chair, there are affordable options in the market that can improve your posture and working conditions. Having a poor remote-work environment can make the work-from-home experience unbearable and unhealthy for your body.
A remote-work arrangement often results in long hours in front of a screen, making it a habit to follow the 20/20/20 rule to rest your eyes well. With this method, after every 20 minutes of looking at your screen, you should take a break to spend 20 seconds looking at something that is 20 feet away from you. This method is known to reduce eye strain after prolonged exposure to a screen in front of you.
Even if you have several meetings lined up each day, it is crucial that you get up and walk around your house or even just your room. Get in as many steps as you can each day to help keep your health in good shape. Spending long hours sitting in front of your desk can be detrimental to your physical health.
Having an ergonomic work setup is essential in creating more productive days ahead. Good posture and healthy work habits will result in overall positive effects on your mind and body. Find creative methods and alternatives to make your workstation at home more conducive to a remote work arrangement.
The Best Health Practices for Remote Work
Apart from creating a conducive work environment at home, remote workers should prioritize adopting a healthy lifestyle, especially since we are still facing a global health crisis. As many remote workers have noticed over the past year, the work-from-home setup has its many challenges. This arrangement has resulted in physical, mental, and social struggles as we had to adapt to the new work environment while also dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some remote workers may have experienced feeling isolated. This could be due to the limited social interaction with colleagues, friends, and family at this time. Finding a work-life balance and staying motivated has also been a challenge for others. It is important to take care of your overall health to sustain your productivity levels and avoid experiencing burnout.
Maintaining good physical, mental, and social health is essential to achieve wellness. It is time to adopt a healthy eating habit if you have been relying on junk food since the start of the pandemic. While it is understandable that junk food can be considered comfort food for many people, eating whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and grains is more beneficial in the long run.
Practicing self-care should also be part of your everyday routine to maintain a sense of overall wellness. Looking after your well-being, both physical and mental, is beneficial to your motivation and productivity levels at work. This can also provide you enough energy to spend more time with family or to engage in meaningful conversations with friends through digital means.
Many remote workers are currently struggling with their work environment at home, but there are ways to adjust and make do. These workers should put a premium on looking after their health and well-being to continuously deliver quality output at work and provide enough time with family beyond office hours.