For many people, stay-at-home mandates over the past couple of years have made daily working life a challenge. It suddenly became easy for feelings of isolation to creep in during the working week, and building connections and friendships at work became more difficult than ever. But working from home can have a wider impact beyond our professional lives, and could even affect our physical health.
With the average British commuter burning 324 calories on their daily journeys to and from work, that’s a big chunk of physical activity that’s lost for people working remotely. In this post, we’ll suggest three simple things that everyone can do to support their physical health whilst spending more time at home. We all know how important it is to stay fit and healthy, so consider which of the following ways might work best for you and your schedule.
Look at your setup
If your job involves sitting at a desk for a prolonged period of time, then it’s imperative that you create a healthy setup that will support all parts of your body. Per NHS advice, your desk should be at a height that allows your forearms and elbows to rest comfortably at a 90° angle. It’s also recommended that you use a separate keyboard and mouse, to ensure you’re not overreaching, helping to prevent wrist injury.
One of the most important elements of your home office setup is your chair. Be sure to find a chair that provides the necessary support for your neck and back, to reduce the chance of pain setting in. The best options on the market will be ergonomic chairs, which can automatically adjust to the shape of your spine as you move throughout the day.
Get out of the house
There are lots of different exercises you can do at your desk, such as shoulder shrugs, back extensions, and neck rotations, which will all benefit your fitness levels. But there is no substitute for getting out in the fresh air before, during, and/or after the working day, to promote both your mental and physical wellbeing. You don’t have to be going for a 5k run every day to feel the benefits of getting out and about. There are so many options available, and just a short cycle or walk will help to keep your body and mind active.
Again, getting into good habits will make it easier to schedule your activity time into your daily routine, and you’re more likely to feel and see the results sooner. Exercise is also key to helping you strike a healthy work-life balance, so be sure to factor some physical activity into your week.
Eat a balanced diet
Spending more time at home offers the opportunity to plan and prepare meals more carefully. Office life often involves quick lunches at fast food establishments for convenience. But why not use the extra time in the day to prepare fresh and healthy alternatives? There are so many varied recipes available online for you to follow, to help you create the perfect WFH diet.
Getting into a routine and avoiding skipping meals will help you to stay consistent with a healthy diet. What’s more, you may even find that by eating better foods you can be more productive and in a more positive frame of mind at work.
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