What working from home can do to your body

Posted on 11:50am Wednesday 28th Nov 2018

If running your own business from home has always been your dream, you might be happily settled in your office space all day not thinking about the dangers. Whether you are working too much, forget to eat healthy, or simply neglect going out and exercising, your body will tell you that you need to make a change. It is important that you listen to the early signs before it is too late.

Below you will find a few areas to focus on when working from your home office.

Diet

We are often too caught up with projects, blogging, and updating our sites that we completely forget about eating healthy. You need to find time for breaks when you can sit down away from your desk and enjoy a delicious and organic meal. Whether you take the time off at night to make yourself a salad you can eat for lunch, or are making a sandwich when you are having a break, you will have to allow your body to digest the food, too. Snacking on chocolate and crisps will be very bad for you long term, however easy it is to grab these junk foods! Instead, search online to find easy vegan snack ideas on websites such as Authority Health.

I always make sure I stop for a lunchbreak and sit down in another room for 30 minutes to refresh my mind and ensure I don’t rush my food.

Exercise

If you are constantly busy running your business, chances are that you need to create an exercise routine. Start your day with a green smoothie or tea, jump on the yoga mat, and make sure that you stretch during the day, especially if you are sitting by the computer most of the time. Take the dog for a walk, go down to the local coffee shop to meet with clients, or just do a quick HIIT sequence. There are so many videos for free on YouTube and you’ll be able to find an at-home exercise routine for however long or little time you have.

I always start my day with some yoga to set my mind up for greatness and to awaken my body.

Posture and lower back

Sitting on front of the computer will put too much pressure on your body, even if you have an ergonomic desk and chair. If you start feeling your lower back at night, you will need to start doing regular stretching exercises to relieve the pressure on your joints and your muscles, so you can avoid long term problems.

I have just invested in a walking treadmill which goes under my desk and a rising laptop stand so I can stand and work, or even better, I can walk and work!

Eye strain

Starting at the computer all day doesn’t do any good to your eyes, either. There are a couple of things you can do to prevent eye strains and sight loss. Make use of natural light, adjust your chair, screen, brightness, and prevent glare. However, once you have had an eye test and you were told that you need glasses, you will have to make a decision. Learn about the difference between varifocal glasses vs bifocal glasses and support your eyes through healthy diet.

My desk is positioned next to the window to make use of natural light and I try to look away from my screen, at least for my lunch break, to give my eyes a rest.

Circulation issues

When you are sitting down for a long period of time, you might find that you get pins and needles and your legs become swollen or painful. You can get a foot rest for your home office that will support your legs, but using various leg stretches, or even standing on your head or your hands for a few minutes each day will help you prevent issues, such as varicose veins.

Again, try a standing desk to prevent sitting down all day. It doesn’t need to be expensive – simply find a stand you can put on your existing desk so you can reach your laptop standing up.

If you spend a lot of time each day in your home office, it is important that you are aware of the health risks and address them every day. It’s still possible to take care of your health even when working from home.

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