Working from home has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially after the pandemic. Even as businesses reopen, many professionals have shifted to working from home after witnessing that it is possible to keep a business running with remote workers. And while there are many benefits to this arrangement, there are also some risks that come along with it. Here are a few of the most common health problems associated with working from home.
1. Neck and Back Pain
One of the most common complaints among people who work from home is neck and back pain. This is often caused by sitting in the same position for long periods of time without taking breaks to move around.
Many people who work from home experience poor posture, often due to sitting in the same position for long periods of time. This can lead to neck and back pain, as well as other health problems.
If you work from home, be sure to take frequent breaks to walk around and stretch your muscles. You may also want to invest in an ergonomic office chair that will support your back and neck. Make sure that your equipment is properly positioned too, to avoid causing neck pain. Your monitor should be in front of you and at eye level so that you don’t have to turn your head nor look up or down. Your desk should also put your elbow at a 90-degree angle to keep yourself from arching your back. Your seat should allow you to see your monitor perfectly while still letting your feet rest flat on the floor.
If your neck and back pain continue despite using ergonomic furniture and fixing your posture, you might need to look for more professional help. Consult your doctor so that you can find options and treatments to manage pain.
2. Eye Strain
Another common issue for people who work from home is eye strain. This can be caused by staring at a computer screen for too long without taking breaks. To avoid eye strain, be sure to take breaks every 20 minutes or so to look away from your screen. You may also want to adjust the brightness of your screen and invest in a pair of computer glasses to help reduce eye strain. Make sure that your room is well-lit so that you don’t have to squint or strain your eyes to see since poor lighting is the leading cause of eye strain.
3. Wrist Problems
Working from home can often lead to wrist problems. This is because when you are sitting at home, you tend to rest your wrists on the edge of the desk which can cause inflammation and pain. To avoid this, you should try to keep your wrists in a neutral position while working and use wrist support if needed. You may also want to take breaks every hour or so to move your wrists around and stretch them out.
4. Leg Problems
People who work from home often experience leg and foot problems. This is because when you are sitting at home, you tend to cross your legs which can cause compression of the veins in your legs. This can lead to a condition called chronic venous insufficiency, which can cause pain and swelling in your legs. You can avoid this by trying to keep your legs uncrossed while working and by taking breaks every hour or so to move around and stretch. You may also want to invest in a pair of compression socks to help improve blood flow in your legs.
5. Loneliness
Working from home can sometimes be lonely. If you live alone, you may not have anyone to talk to during the day except for your co-workers on the phone or via email. To avoid loneliness, make sure to schedule regular social activities outside of work, such as lunch with friends or happy hour with co-workers. You may also want to join a professional organization or networking group that meets regularly.
6. Stress
Working from home can often lead to work-life imbalance. This is because when you are working from home, it can be difficult to distinguish between your work life and your home life. This can lead to blurred boundaries and a lack of separation between the two.
When you are working from home, you may find that you are constantly working and never taking time for yourself. You may also find that you are always at the beck and call of your boss, even if it’s the middle of the night or the weekend. Working from home forces you to deal with all the problems of your home life and personal life at the same time instead of compartmentalizing. This can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety, as you never know when you’ll be expected to work.
To avoid work-life imbalance, try to set specific work hours and stick to them. Make sure that you take regular breaks during the day to relax and de-stress. And most importantly, make sure that you have a good balance between work and relaxation outside of work. This will help ensure that you don’t feel overwhelmed or stressed out by your job.
Final Thoughts
Working from home has become increasingly popular in recent years, but there are some risks associated with it. These include neck and back pain, eye strain, and loneliness. To avoid these risks, be sure to take breaks often, adjust your workspace accordingly, and schedule regular social activities outside of work.