Healthy Home Working

These days, more of us enjoy a new way of life working from home. Gone are the days of sitting in commuter traffic for hours every day. Gone is the awful office gossip, the overbearing bosses, and the terrible work canteen.

We have discovered a raft of new freedoms, with flexible, no chattering colleagues to distract us, and a working day that is over the minute it is finished, with no long trip home.

On paper, working from home should be fantastic for us, but if you are not careful, it can cause all kinds of problems with both your physical and mental health and wellbeing. So what can you do to make your wellness a priority and how should you look after yourself when you work from home?

A healthy workspace

The first thing to think about is your workspace. Setting up on your laptop in bed or slouched on the couch may seem like the perfect way to work. However, this will inevitably lead to problems with your posture and can cause all kinds of back issues.

It’s way better to have a dedicated desk and a good quality office chair, preferably one with armrests. Set this up ergonomically so that your feet rest flat on the floor and your arms are horizontal as you type. If your desk is too high or too low, adjust your chair height or invest in a footrest. It may cost a few extra dollars, but you will be grateful for it in the long run.

A healthy mind

Of course, your physical health isn’t the only thing you need to take care of when working from home. Your mental health is just as important.

Many home workers report feeling isolated and lonely, and this can lead to mental health problems if it is not addressed over a longer period. Staying social on Facebook and Twitter, playing games at an online casino such as Unibet PA, and talking directly to friends and via Zoom is as important as moving and stretching when it comes to your health and wellbeing.

A healthy routine

Many people, especially those who haven’t tried it, think that working from home is easier than working in an office. They have a false idea of home workers sitting in their pajamas watching daytime TV and doing a little work here and there. In fact, the opposite is true, and you’ll find that you are more productive, and get much more done at home, without the distractions of the office. The real danger is working too much, not too little.

If your desk is always at hand, it can be tempting to blur the lines between home and work and never really feel off duty. That’s why it is important to set your working hours. You can make these as flexible as you need to fit your lifestyle and your family, but you then need to be strict about sticking to them. Don’t be tempted to work more just to earn more, because your time is just as important as money, if not more so.

A healthy balance

Finding a good work-life balance is important for everyone, but even more so when you work from home, especially if you are your own boss. Even if you don’t enjoy paid vacation time, it is still important to take a break every few months or you will burn yourself out.

Even short breaks in your daily routine are important for your health and wellbeing. With no colleagues to go for lunch with, it can be tempting to work while eating at your desk. However, half an hour away from your home office space will make you more productive, not less, helping you to get more done after lunch and avoid that mid-afternoon slump.

If you make homeworking work for you, you can enjoy all the benefits without falling foul of the problems. It just takes a little planning and a bit of self-discipline to get the balance right.

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