Be honest – how often do you get up from your desk and take a break, or start the day with posture exercises? It’s easy for bad habits to form when you’re working from home and it’s likely that these are contributing to your health and wellbeing. Bad posture from poor desk setups, eye strain from inadequate lighting, and RSI from a lack of hand support are just a few of the common work fatigue symptoms you might experience.
Unlike office-based employees who have the benefit of in-house HR teams, remote workers are forced to take their personal wellbeing into their own hands. And what better time of year to do it, than the New Year – think of it as an investment in yourself.
The good news is that there’s plenty of cost-effective and reliable solutions on the market. Here’s just a few of our favourite office wellbeing room ideas, that will modernise your office and support your day-to-day wellbeing.
Posture and position
We grossly overlook the strain that poor posture puts on our bodies. As well as office chairs, screen height matters. If you’re looking down at your laptop, or sat in an awkward position, you’ll be putting additional pressure on your back muscles, which can contribute to spine degeneration and Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis over time. A simple hack can help avoid this, such as a laptop stand in your home office. Whichever stand you choose, remember that your eye position should be aligned with your laptop to avoid strain. If you’re working between two monitors, there are also ergonomic monitor risers which are an office must-have.
Supportive seating
When you think about the amount of time you’re sat during the day, it makes sense to invest in a sturdy work chair. Research shows that only 58% of people working from home have some type of office chair, which means a large number of people are working in inadequate conditions. If you’re one, it’s time to put your health and wellbeing at work front and centre with an ergonomic office chair, to ensure you maintain the best possible posture throughout the day.Eye strain
Eye strain and blurred vision are very common work fatigue symptoms, often the result of excess screen time and working into the night, usually with poor lighting. One precaution you can take is to ensure your home office is well-lit, especially near your workstation. There are numerous stylish options that can jazz up an office space, whilst benefiting your wellbeing at the same time, the uber-cool Wireless Table Light is one.
Desk Mat
For screen users, take the pressure off your arms with a decent desk mat. Whether your budget is £20 or £200, there’s a whole host of options to make working from home jobs that bit more comfortable. Look out for options that include cable tidy’s – these are particularly helpful in creating a clutter-free office environment. After all, it’s not just your physical space, but your mental space that will benefit from an organised home office.Organisers
As just touched on, it’s important for your overall wellbeing to ensure you work in a pleasant office environment. Key to this is a tidy area that welcomes you in and is conducive for working. An office organiser is a great piece of kit you won’t regret buying. For those with small working from home spaces, it’s a great way to declutter and keep everything from headphones to watches in one handy place. In turn, you’ll find better productivity and energy levels.Other tips
As well as getting the right gadgets and hardware for your home office, there’s a couple of things you can do to keep work fatigue symptoms at bay, such as:- Take regular screen breaks: Evidence suggests that short breaks are better than longer ones less often. Many smartphones today are equipped with hourly reminders to ensure you remain active.
- Get an office plant: This will help to increase productivity and focus.
- Stay hydrated: Get yourself an office jug or water bottle, to ensure you're meeting your water intake requirements and staying refreshed
Incorporating just a few of these tips into your daily routine, or into your home office will help keep work fatigue away.
