Working from home is increasingly becoming the norm. There are some great benefits to this — no more stressful commutes, more time with family, and flexible working hours. However, it can come with mental and physical health risks, like loneliness, back pain, and lack of natural light.
Have you been struggling with working from home? If the answer is yes, this article is for you. We’ve put together some of our top tips to make your home office as comfortable and healthy as possible.
Regulate Temperature
Science has shown that you’re much more likely to make errors at work if you’re too hot. Not only this, but it can make you feel uncomfortable and tired. And if your current AC unit is old, worn, and always breaking down, it might be time for a new one.
We guarantee that upgrading to the latest HVAC units will improve your productivity and comfort. And it’s easy to find a reliable aircon contractor with affordable rates on today’s eco-friendly models.
Try An Ergonomic Chair
Long hours at a desk can have a concerning impact on your body. A bad desk chair can cause you to slouch, leading to long-term back pain. Many offices provide ergonomic chairs to combat this — but if you’re working from home, it’s easy to just settle for your dining room chair and deal with the aches.
Investing in an ergonomic chair will make working from home a lot healthier for your body. The chairs are designed to work with your body to improve posture and provide support. For those spending long days at a home desk, this can make a huge difference.
Skype a Colleague
Possibly the worst thing about working from home is the isolation. Unless you’re lucky enough to live with a colleague, you likely spend most of the working day on your own. Although this can increase productivity, it often leaves workers missing the support of their colleagues.
A great way to avoid this issue is to video call a colleague as you work. Rather than calling for a chat, you can keep the video on in the background. This will provide companionship, give you someone to talk to if you need advice or a break to chat. Just make sure that you spend more time working than you do talking!
Absorb Natural Light
Does your job involve long hours shut away in a home office? If the answer is yes, this can severely impact the amount of sunlight you’re getting.
Exposure to natural light is vital as it helps your body absorb vitamin D. Furthermore, it can have a range of other health benefits — including better mood, less chance of Seasonal Affective Disorder, and improved sleep.
The best way to make sure you get enough natural light is to position your desk near a window. However, if this is not possible, you should take regular breaks to get fresh air and sunlight throughout the working day.
Enjoy Your Healthy Home Office
Working from home doesn’t have to be a stressful task. On the contrary, there are many positives to a more flexible and comfortable solo workspace. However, it is important to assess the issues that working from home can cause and to deal with them as quickly as possible.
These tips will help to keep your home office a positive space. Whether you’re working from home permanently or just a few times a month — following this advice will make you more productive and much happier.