The corners of our home now encompass our professional lives, social lives, and the everyday functions of the home. As we continue to make our homes our workplace, we’ve created makeshift workstations on the couch, kitchen tables, and open counter space. While the commute to our “offices” has improved, our lives have gotten significantly less active, and the result for many is aches and pains. Wrist pain, neck pain, back pain, and restless legs are among the most common culprits. These microhabitats add up over the period of a year (and ongoing) can be harmful to our health.
Why do we feel these aches and pains?
One of the main reasons for our aches and pains is due to prolonged sitting, causing misalignment. For remote workers with minimal commute within their homes, the range of motion has become drastically limited, and mostly affecting the neck and shoulders, along with posture.
How can pain be reduced?
One first step toward alleviating pain is through improving body alignment (better posture). The ideal seated position is when both the knees and hips are at 90 degrees angle, with feet firmly planted on the floor. When working, arms shouldn’t be too far from the keyboard, and the monitor should be centered at eye level.
60-Second Desk Exercise:
The next time you have a break between meetings, try this quick 60-second desk exercise.
Stand up behind your chair and hold on for support. Raise your heels off the floor until you are standing on your toes. Slowly lower yourself back to the floor. Test out this exercise throughout the day.
Additionally, it’s recommended to shift positions throughout the day and take incremental breaks to walk around. The body shouldn’t be immobile throughout the day. Our bodies were designed to move. When you move, your body becomes strong and healthy, as well as prevents injury.