Sophie Okolo, MPH

Who ever thought that so many of us would end up working from home over the past year? Home working has been the savior for many businesses, helping to keep them going while others haven’t been so fortunate. For many businesses and workers, it’s turned out to be a great thing, saving on business costs, commuting time and more.

Being in the office gives you some rules to follow – especially where your health and safety are concerned. At home, however, there’s a lot more responsibility on you to take care of your own health. 

What are the best ways to preserve your health while working from home? Get started with the following advice. 

Keep up the good posture

For many people, working at home has involved making the best of any available space that you have. From your kitchen counter to a temporary desk, your working conditions might not be as ideal as those in your office.

Maintaining the correct posture is important to help prevent back, neck and shoulder pain, and even headaches. Some simple tips to improve your posture while working include:

• Make sure your back is supported with the right chair.
• Keep your feet placed on the floor, and use a footrest if needed.
• Sit up straight and don’t slouch.
• Make sure your mouse and keyboard are within easy reach.

You could invest in an ergonomic laptop stand to help make sure you’re not sat down all day, helping to improve your posture and prevent some of the aches and pains that come with sitting down for long periods of time.

Eat well

Wherever you’re working, a healthy diet is important. But when you’re at home, it’s easy to be tempted by different treats and snacks you might have lying around your home. 

Try to structure your day so that you have the time to eat well. A good breakfast and a healthy lunch will get you through the day, helping to give you the energy you need for work. Keep your snacks to a minimum, and out of reach and try to not make too many visits to the kitchen during the day!

Get some fresh air

When you’re working from home, it becomes very easy to spend all day working. Taking a break is important, and getting outside is a good way to help break up your day. A walk outside will help to clear your head, get you some vitamin D, and it can help you get some regular exercise. Fit in a break during the day to get outside, it will make a huge difference to your mood and energy levels.

Preserve your mental health

It’s not just your physical health that you need to think about when working from home. Your mental health is important too. Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant talking point, and if you find that you’re struggling, then it’s important to get help. Maintain your work/life balance, maintain self-care and keep up your interactions with friends, colleagues and family. It’s a difficult time, but there is help out there to get you through it.

Adjusting to working from home is a difficult transition, but it becomes easier once you’ve settled into a good routine. Prioritize your health and wellbeing, and be sure to reach out if you need help.