Working from home is the normal now for millions of people as the world battled the Covid-19 pandemic. And while some people have worked from home for years, for others it’s a new experience. For everyone who loves it (ditch the commute, work in your own surroundings) there are others who feel the opposite way.

Whether or not work at home remains as prevalent once the pandemic is over remains to be seen. But while so many of us are doing so, we’ve compiled tips to help you take care of yourself while doing so.

Watch Your Back!

Back, neck and shoulder pain is a common complaint amongst people who sit at a screen all day. And this can be made even worse if you’ve got a poor setup at home. Not everyone has the luxury of a home office. But watching how you sit and where you sit to work could help.

Even if you don’t have an ergonomic chair, try to sit somewhere other than your couch. Perhaps a dining chair. 

Make a conscious effort not to slouch and do get up to walk around periodically throughout the day.

Stand Up

The consequences of prolonged sitting on your health are becoming more widely known. And for many who are working from home, there’s a real possibility of spending even more of the day sitting down. 

You can buy desks that let you alternate between sitting and standing so you can work on your feet for some of the day. But if you don’t have the space for that at home, then even leaving your work station and popping your laptop on the counter top to work for 20 minutes could help.

Sitting for too long has been linked with obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol and other conditions too, so this is really important.

Talk to People

We know it’s not the same as a real face to face conversation. But, particularly for those who live alone, work from home can be a lonely experience. 

Pick up the phone and talk to a friend or perhaps arrange Facetime or Skype hangouts with colleagues from time to time.

We can’t wait until we can see our friends, family and even colleagues in real life again. But we’ve found it much easier on our mental health when working from home to stay in touch digitally in the meantime.

Take time out

Take your breaks like you normally would in the office. Go for a walk (if local restrictions allow) or for some fresh air. Keeping up with your exercise routine as much as is possible will really help you to stay healthier.

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