Healthy home working

Working from home is a concept we are all familiar with and has now become a common occurrence in many workplaces for employees for part, or even all, of their working week. It comes with advantages such as increased time spent with family and friends by cutting out the lengthy daily commute. However, by losing our commute, how are we now spending this time in the morning and evenings? Extra time in bed? Or in front of the TV? It can be tempting to stay indoors during the colder months but lack of movement throughout our day can have a negative effect over time.

The NHS guidelines states ‘A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your 150 minutes of weekly exercise’, as recommended in the physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64. Many of us would have achieved this on our way to the office, running for the train or bus. Why not reclaim your morning commute time when working from home by going for a walk around the block? Lunchtime is also a great opportunity to get some movement. You could link up with the rest of your team for a walking challenge to keep each other motivated or join a local walking group in the evening.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reminds us that we should ‘Try to find a suitable area to work in, avoiding uncomfortable positions and making sure you move around regularly.’ During your working day, aim to take a short movement break at 45-minute intervals. Incorporating stretching into our day is a great way to help avoid discomfort.

Sitting with a good posture and our homeworking equipment adjusted to the recommended levels can help us to avoid a build-up of muscular aches and discomfort. You should try to have a dedicated working space at home and equipment which will allow you to work in a good posture.

Remember we are not designed to stay in a fixed position without movement in our day. Working in good posture, taking regular breaks and having daily exercise will help you stay healthy while working from home.