Coronavirus has dramatically changed our personal and professional life. One of the most important changes brought about by the pandemic is working from home. Before 2020, many of you would have dreamed of working from home, but this has become a new business norm.
While it is difficult to replicate the social, collaborative environment of a physical office, working from home offers a number of unique benefits. By working from home, you have eliminated the journey to work. Traveling daily in traffic saves you a lot of valuable time. It can also be a huge expense. And, think about the existing air quality! Working from home definitely saves you from exposure to toxic air pollutants.
The challenges of working from home
In these facilities of working from home, a harsh reality exists where many people are facing unique challenges of working from home every day. These challenging tasks at home have begun to affect emotional and physical health.
Health effects and best practices from home
Covid still present in India, it is important for all of us to maintain social distance and work from home. However, you need to be aware of how work from home affects your health and the best practices for maintaining good health.
Neck and back pain:
The most annoying effect on the health of many people is constant shoulder, neck and back pain while working from home. Sitting in an insufficiently backed chair all day while you are also leaning on your laptop makes your muscles and joints stiff, especially in the upper body. Back pain is considered to be the second most common cause of job loss.
What should you do?
Adjust your working chair so that your feet rest on the ground and your knees are level with your buttocks. If your chair does not support the back properly, bend your back and place a pillow or cushion on the back of the chair.
Mental health problems
Can working from home cause anxiety and depression? Yes, unfortunately! Due to increased work pressure, mental and physical limitations that make no distinction between work and life, and almost zero social relationships between coworkers, it is very common to feel anxious, overwhelmed, and even depressed.
What should you do?
Understandably, virtual catch-ups may not be as perfect as physical ones. Though, just remind yourself that we all need to guard ourselves and our loved ones from COVID-19. Arrange and find new ways to connect and enjoy virtual catch ups. Taking care of your mental health is more vital than ever. Set your watch to understand when you need to switch from work to life. Also, don’t miss your tea and coffee break during work. Short breaks are still useful to increase productivity. Remember, the idea is not to burn yourself. Short meditation bouts can also help relieve stress and anxiety.
Problems with the digestive system
A sedentary lifestyle, increased stress, no set meal times, and an overdose of caffeinated beverages – all cause intestinal upset. It is very common to experience acidosis, heartburn and constipation.
What should you do?
First and foremost, make time for your meal. Don’t make it a habit to skip breakfast or have lunch at 4 p.m. Include fiber in your diet and reduce processed foods and tea / coffee. Incorporating probiotics into your daily diet is a great option as they help grow good bacteria in your gut and take care of your digestion.
