Article by: Rhealyn Janeen
With over 1 in 4 adults in the United States working from home, news outlet CNBC states that by 2025 over 36 million Americans will be remote workers. However, while this affords employees flexibility, it also means that many have struggled to lead a healthy lifestyle.
In a 2020 survey, 75% of respondents said they now found it harder to maintain their wellness. Fortunately, there are simple and effective ways to maintain your health while working from home:
1. Use Blue Light protecting accessories
With the average home-based employee spending around 1,700 hours of screen time annually, exposure to Blue Light from electronic gadgets is at an all-time high. This is far from ideal as Blue Light exposure may cause eye strain, induce headaches, and affect the circadian rhythm.
That being said, it’s impossible to cut out all Blue Light from our lives. Thankfully, there are accessories on the market to help counter the exposure. One good option is a pair of Felix Gray Blue Light glasses. Felix Gray’s proprietary lenses filter out 15x more Blue Light and can leave your eyes more refreshed, and therefore helping your overall productivity.
2. Incorporate stretching throughout your day
Another common health issue for remote workers is body pain. This can stem from prolonged work hours and a lack of movement. Since 2020, 40% of remote workers have shared that they are spending more hours just sitting at their desks. This can lead to a lot of physical discomfort.
Many remote workers find it hard to squeeze in a full workout, so adding a few stretches into your daily routine could be extremely helpful. As wellness site SymptomFind explains, not only does stretching help you avoid injury during more active activities, it also helps with more passive movements that put pressure on the joints. A few desk-friendly stretches that you can try include tricep, neck, and shoulder. With regular stretching, you’ll find your body more limber and less prone to strains.
3. Retain a social connection
In a recent survey from Family Safety & Health, 40% of remote workers claimed that they were concerned about their lack of social interactions. Further studies suggest that this could cause loneliness, which can potentially impair a person’s mental and physical health.
Therefore, try to find ways to interact with others, even if it’s online. Take note that this doesn’t mean constant meetings or emails, either — that will only lead to Zoom fatigue or burnout. Rather, try to create virtual “watercooler” moments for you and your work friends. This could mean Zoom game nights or breakaway chats. Making an effort to maintain these casual connections remotely will keep you inspired and feeling revitalized for longer.
4. Dedicate a mindful and ergonomic workspace
Your home furniture may work as a temporary setup, but decorative chairs aren’t exactly designed to support your body while working. Poor posture can affect your productivity, so you could likely benefit from ergonomic accessories. Depending on the size of your work area, you could opt for a standing desk or an ergonomic chair. They are specifically designed to support the body’s curvature, so you’re less likely to develop any alignment issues.
Furthermore, because your environment affects your mood, try to think about your office’s color. According to an article on Medium, different colors can elicit varying emotions. For example, if you want to feel energetic, add a pops of yellow to your workspace. Overall, creating a space that supports and stimulates your body and mind helps you feel more comfortable in your environment and ultimately more productive.
Achieving a healthy lifestyle while transitioning to a remote working setup requires patience and dedication. It may seem frustrating at times, but with consistency, you’ll be able to find a compromise that satisfies your health and your career. For more on eye health and lifestyle, please visit Felix Gray.