With an increase in workers transitioning to a work-from-home environment many are wondering how to best set themself up for success. Whether you’ve been working from home for a while now and are starting to feel the aches and pains, or you’re new to it and trying to establish a new routine, these 6 tips will help to promote health and productivity in your new workspace.
Maintain a regular schedule
While working from home it is especially important to maintain a regular work schedule. Continue with your usual morning routine, including getting dressed (trust us you’ll feel better and more productive if you switch out of the pjamas), taking scheduled breaks, and setting aside time to socialize with colleagues.
Get off the couch
Although it might be tempting to post up for the day working from your couch or bed, this is one of the worst things you can do for your long-term back health. It is important to maintain a healthy, neutral spine during those long hours you are putting in behind your computer screen
Location, location, location
Be sure to create a dedicated workspace for yourself, somewhere that you associate with work and are able to shut out distractions. If available, choose a separate room to dedicate as your workspace. If this is not available to you try to find a spare corner of the house that is as far away from distractions as possible.
Not all chairs are made the same
If you’ve ever sat for 8+ hours in a kitchen chair you know, not all chairs are made the same! The same is true for office chairs, investing in a proper ergonomic chair is one of the most important things you can do for your body while working from home, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Before running out to the big box office supply store to grab whatever is available do your research. A fully ergonomic chair should have all the required adjustments, fit your body properly, and be built to withstand the long hours you spend sitting in it.
Don’t just sit, try standing
You may have heard about the recent popularity of sit-stand workstations, there is a good reason why so many people have converted their space to allow for flexible work positions. It’s no secret that sitting all day is hard on our bodies, and allowing yourself the ability to sit or stand while working will not only increase your productivity, it will benefit your long term health as well. Try setting up both a sitting and a standing workspace for yourself, alternating between positions every 30-60 minutes. If you don’t have the space to set up two different workstations you can consider investing in a sit-to-stand workstation to allow you to switch positions with ease.
Take breaks for both your body, and your eyes
Make an effort to get up and move around throughout the day. Taking breaks away from the screen as often as you can is a way to avoid body aches and eye fatigue throughout the day. Some suggestions to force yourself to keep moving include setting alarms on your phone, taking phone calls while walking around, eating lunch outside, and taking scheduling breaks. Consider adding a stretching routine to the end of your business day to help alleviate and prevent back pain.
Remember, it is especially easy to pick up negative habits while working from home, and these habits have the potential to really damage your overall health and productivity. By setting yourself up for success and being mindful of how you work you can thrive in your new work environment.
Staying true to our mission to support health and wellness in the workplace, Chairlines wants to support our community during this difficult time. We know many employees are now working from home and do not have an adequate workplace set up, so for these workers affected by COVID-19 we have created a Work From Home Discount Program valid from now until March 31, 2020. Learn more.