Over the past few months, COVID-19 has meant that many workers have been forced to work from home to prevent the spread of the virus. If you are one of them, you may have a make-shift office setup at home – one without an ergonomic chair or standing desk, and you might be experiencing new body aches and pains. Slouching, sitting for too long, and staring at your computer screen for too long are just some of the issues that we face while working remotely.
The Physical Effects of Working From Home
- Neck and shoulder aches
If your neck and shoulders are sending you warning pangs, your posture and the way you are looking at your work may be the culprit. If you’re looking at a low monitor, you are going to be flexing your head forward and down, which is going to alter your posture. However, if your monitor is at the right height, it’s naturally going to pick you up and put your head in the back of the chair. If possible, lift up your screen height, whether it’s by putting your screen on a stack of books or a box.
- Your eyes feel fatigued
With the rise of working from home, you may be attending more online meetings that require you to stare at your screen for longer than you normally would. Staring a screen for too long is never going to be good for your eyes. This habit can lead to digital eye strain characterized by headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and shoulder pain. The solution is to seek natural light and take frequent breaks. Every 20 minutes view something that is 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
- Your hips are tight
Sitting down is one sure way to tighten up your hips and cause body aches all over. Really tight hip flexors lead to a lot of back pain. If your chair is adjustable, recline your seat so that you are leaning slightly further back. If you are working from a dining room chair with no possible adjustment, just keep your body moving by standing up and stretching often.
Working from home doesn’t have to hurt our physical health. Take steps to improve your office set up and your body will thank you.
If you’re looking for more information regarding COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 Resource Center. We hope this information will help guide you during these unprecedented times. The team at Hoffman Brown Company are here for you during this troubling time. Get in touch to learn more about how we can help.
