2020, The Year Of Working From Home – Top Tips For Maintaining Good Physical And Mental Health

One of the most important aspects – if not the most important – to business and marketing is the company’s online presence. In order for a business to succeed, it must have a strong, well-developed website, e-commerce site, and/or social media pages that are regularly updated and maintained.

This, of course, requires much time spent sitting at a desk looking at a screen, an all too familiar activity in today’s world. Humans were not designed to be sitting, static, for long periods of time, and the effect of this can be detrimental to health. It is critical to look after one’s body to avoid serious, long-term problems.

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I am writing this in May 2020, and given the current lockdown situation, the majority of the population has taken to working from home. Working from home (WFH) has the potential to exacerbate the health risks associated with a desk job, due to conditions that are far from ideal.

WFH means that for many people, the cushy ergonomically designed furniture that made up their office desk is no longer available to them, and their new set-up may consist of the kitchen table, and a laptop raised up on a stack of recipe books.

They may also be sharing their workspace with housemates or family members, all fighting for space to work and creating an environment that is distracting. These conditions are likely to elevate stress levels, reduce productivity, and cause postural problems.

Postural complaints are indisputably an issue commonly suffered by office workers. Poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to chronic muscle tension and pain, as well as conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and obesity.

Sitting at a desk for long hours can also be a cause for stress, mainly working on social media sites, platforms that are associated with increased anxiety for their users. Additionally, WFH means that for many people, it is hard to stick to healthy working hours, and difficult to switch off from thinking about work.

This is a problem that is worsened by the use of technology, for it is possible to be working anywhere at any time, with people often taking devices to bed with them and working into the night. Subsequently, the use of technology can negatively affect sleep patterns.

Not to mention the blue light that is emitted by computer and mobile phone screens, which have been proven to increase alertness and reduce melatonin production levels (the hormone that makes you sleepy).

In order to prevent these problems, it is essential to take breaks from the desk. This means physically getting up and moving around, stretching the body and giving the eyes a break from the strain of staring at a screen. It is recommended to get up and take a walk every couple of hours, minimum.

When returning to the desk, the body and mind will be refreshed, increasing one’s ability to concentrate and work efficiently. It is essential to regularly reset the body to maintain a healthy posture and avoid fatigue.

Properly designed workspaces are essential for both position and productivity, so it is worthwhile to keep a clean, well-organized desk and invest in an ergonomic chair that supports the spine, back, and neck.

For muscle tension and stress, it may be helpful to use relaxation techniques such as taking CBD infused salt baths or massaging CBD balm into tight muscles. CBD (cannabidiol) is derived from the hemp plant, a relative of the marijuana plant, but does not cause the same psychoactive effects, or “high”, as marijuana. CBD is commonly used for its therapeutic effects, found to be effective for inhibiting inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

These techniques may also help with sleeping problems, as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle: a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, drinking sufficient amounts of water, exercising regularly, and having a healthy work-life balance.

If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.

IMAGE: PEXELS