Over the last 5 years or so more and more people have been starting up businesses at home or moving their normal working methods more to homebased habits. But, the recent pandemic has literally thrust millions of people into working from home when they had never tried it and maybe never even wanted to. It looks like, pending how all this pans out, that working from home is going to become much more common.

It may even become law that companies have to allow people to do it if they can or need too. We are likely to see people getting track and trace messages to self isolate with no warning so being able to work well from home is critical. But…are we doing it right? Are we comfortable, are we efficient and are we happy?

Comfort and Health

One of the really big aspects of working from home is being comfortable. This has a knock on effect to health too. Sitting on the wrong chair, being at the wrong height and other issues are not only a pain but can lead to real problems with your back and many other aspects of your wellbeing. It is really important to get your home working set up right.

Obviously, no one had time to plan for this so most people are still winging it with a dining room chair and a laptop but as we move into the “new normal” it maybe time to look at this again. Companies are going to have to start buying staff chairs and suitable workstations or face quite a few HR issues. Jasi Bansel is an Osteopath in Haywards Heath in Sussex, she says “Get a good seated position, make sure your keyboard and mouse are comfy and take regular breaks every 30 mins or so.”

But there is obviously more detail to this! Seating is important, your feet should be planted flat on the floor and your knees should be just below your hips. Your shoulders and hips should be inline with each other so avoid any twisting. The two bones of your bottom should be touching the seat equally. A key point is the top of your screen should be at eye level. Keep your chin down and neck nice and long. These tips will really help keep comfortable and prevent aches and pains developing.

Concentration and Productivity

Let’s face it, it can be very hard to concentrate at home. While the schools are off the kids can certainly be a massive challenge. But there are other things like noise from neighbours, a lack of air conditioning on hot days and even just the temptation and distraction of phones and the TV! The key is to not expect too much and allow yourself a break. By taking breaks you give your brain a chance to focus when you get back to it. In terms of sound try using some decent headphones and play wave sounds or other ambient noises.

These can do wonders for concentration by blocking out noise without filling your head with music and other stimulating content. These kinds of sounds can also aid relaxation which also helps. There are also certain types of music that are known to help you concentrate too. Set yourself time goals too! If you have a big piece of work to finish do it in chunks. Say to yourself “I will work for 30 minutes without distraction” and then take a rewarding break when you do. This way you can push through big bits of work efficiently and more positively.

Exercise and Diet

One of the big issues of working from home is actually sitting at a desk for too long. This is often because of the distractions; everything takes longer and so people spend the whole day without moving. During this time people tend to snack and eat while working and take very little exercise. Set proper meal breaks and set allotted exercise times. There are 1000s of exercise videos online so it is pretty easy to set aside 15 mins for a workout everyday.

By avoiding snacking and having a proper break away from work you will avoid extra calories and be able to concentrate more. Choosing the right foods is important too! Being at home can actually be a bonus when it comes to eating well. You have a kitchen to hand and your own fridge. The hassle of coming up with meals to pack and take to work is gone, the temptation to pop to Greggs is gone too for most people. So look for healthy foods that aid concentration and wellbeing.

Working from home isn’t going away, during the pandemic you may well have been just muddling through, eating nice food as a treat and other similar things. Looking ahead we may need to change some habits when working from home because it isn’t going away and becoming unhealthy as a result is not a good thing at all.