As the world shut down due to the pandemic, millions of office workers transitioned to working from home overnight.
With laptops and WiFi, anyone who could work remotely plugged in at home and...kept right on working.
Sure, it was great to skip the commute and wearing pants!
It seems easier and faster to simply set up shop on the couch, at the dining room table, or in bed. Though cozy in the short term, these places are not designed to be ergonomically healthy and lead to postural stress and eventually pain.
(Totally understandable given the urgency of the global shutdown.)
However, if you haven’t put some thought and planning into your work-from-home setup, it’s well worth your time to do it now. Why?
For the same reason so many companies offer ergonomic assessments and adjustable chairs, desks, and monitors at the office:
Whether or not you’re experiencing pain, stiffness, or stress now (but especially if you are), take a few moments to consider these tips:
Evaluate and correct your position.
Are your elbows bent at a 90-degree angle? Are your knees also at a 90-degree angle? Are your monitors at eye-level? Check out this diagram for correct positioning and DIY your home setup so it fits your body:
Build movement into your calendar.
Working from home can present fewer natural opportunities to move around--so build them in. Schedule hourly breaks to stretch and do some yoga, take calls while walking around the neighborhood, or try The 7-Minute Workout.
Reduce your stress.
As you consider your physical well-being, don’t forget that your mental health needs attention too. Check out this post about stress and create a holistic plan to keep yourself relaxed and positive.
And if you are experiencing pain, stiffness, or other discomfort after months of working from home, give us a call!
Dr. David Nygaard can help.
Come on in for an evaluation, and Dr. David Nygaard will:
With all the competing priorities and stresses of life right now, it’s easy to underestimate the importance of your physical work environment at home.
But it’s critically important in preventing serious issues down the road!
Contact us today to learn about Atlas Brain and Body and the many conditions we treat. 828-253-0700
Dr. David Nygaard, MS, MBA
Board Certified Atlas Orthogonist
Atlas Brain and Body
(828) 253-0700
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