In the last couple of months, homes have turned into classrooms, fitness studios and offices for most of America. With social distancing guidelines and mandates still in effect in South Florida (and much of the country), there’s no clear sign of when we will get back to how our lives used to be. Until that time comes, we’ve taught ourselves to get creative and get through these strange times as best as possible. For me, the biggest change has been working from home every day. While I used to get up, change into a work-appropriate outfit and drive to the office, now my work life is at home in leggings. At first, this seemed great but now having been in this situation for months, I’m tired of sitting all day in the same space. This new sedentary life we’ve been forced to live is less than ideal for our mental health and our backs as well. However, I wanted to share a few tips I came across that I found extremely helpful in the last couple of weeks.
Set up your workspace by a window. Our bodies love to get natural sunlight or at least be around it. It wakes us up, boosts our mood and encourages us to get up a couple times a day to check out what’s going on outside. This small change can have a great impact on how you feel about working from home, so give it a try!
Invest in a monitor riser. All the major retailers will carry a form of a computer riser, which I highly recommend buying. Not only will this inspire you to sit up straighter with your back against the chair and your feet on the ground, but it will also keep you from looking down for hours on end.
Declutter your space. I know there are people who don’t mind a messy workspace, but research shows that a clean space will boost your productivity, make you focus on what’s in front of you and help you make decisions in the moment instead of pushing them off to the side for a later day.
Move. It’s super simple but many people new to working from home don’t do it. Get up to refill your water cup, walk over to check the mail or take a quick jog around the neighborhood. Doesn’t matter what you do. The whole idea is that you don’t sit at your desk (or dining table) for hours without getting your blood flowing. This small but valuable suggestion can be extremely beneficial for both your mental and physical health.
