Are you working from home? Do you find that you’re feeling more creative, at ease, and productive?

If you are working remotely, you’ve probably noticed it’s easier to stay focused when you aren’t worried about health and safety. Your company may be investigating ways to support health and safety in home offices.

Many business leaders are seeing that employees have adapted to working from home. For many employees, working at home offers peace of mind. Workers can manage multiple demands without the strain of a commute.

Is this true for you and your team?

What’s Great About Working Remotely?

One of the big factors in favor of remote work is no commute. If you’ve lived in or near an urban center, you know the challenges of a daily commute. Being able to roll out of bed and into your home office is certainly less stressful.

Additionally, virtual work makes it possible to manage other responsibilities without feeling pulled in seventeen directions. If you’re a stay-at-home parent, you can organize your schedule to include work plus homeschooling. If you are caring for a relative or friend, you can include this in your daily calendar.

Business leaders and Chief Strategy Officers are developing policies to support health and safety. They are seeking practical solutions to support remote workers such as helping employees set up home offices for maximum productivity. 

Here are 9 tips to get you started.

Create A Healthy Workspace

1. Set Up a Comfortable Workspace

If you’re sitting at a desk, organize for office ergonomics. Pay attention to getting a good chair that helps you sit at a level that’s right for you. Notice any tension in your neck, back, wrists or fingers. By selecting a good chair, you can stay comfortable while working.

2. Check Your Foot Height

If your chair is too high to sit comfortably with your feet on the ground, use a footrest. If you don’t have one, create a stack of books, boards, or blocks for your feet.

3. Consider a New Desk 

A sit-stand desk enables you to sit for a while and stand for a while. You can alternate how long you are in each position. It’s a great alternative to encourage movement during work hours.

4. Get Great Lighting

Your office needs to be well lit. Pay attention to the lighting to ensure that you don’t have a glare on the screen.

5. Check Air Quality

If you can sit near a window or door, you can monitor air quality. Help yourself to some clean air by keeping doors and windows open.

Experiment With Healthy Habits

Having the right equipment sets you on the best path for building healthy work habits. Experiment and play around with these to support your health and fitness goals.

6. Try a Fake Commute 

While we’ve all complained and moaned about commuting, it turns out that without it—we miss the time. Many professionals find that a ‘fake commute’ solves this problem. What constitutes a fake commute? Walking around the block. Riding your bike in the early morning. Driving to pick up coffee at the local shop.

If you haven’t tried a commute to start and end your day, you may find this is a great habit. It’s a way to get ready for work, as well as a signal to end the workday.

7. Get Dressed For Work

We’ve all done the sweats, pajamas, and yoga gear during the pandemic. Yet, business experts note that we’re more likely to be productive when we get dressed for work. Don’t take their word for it. Try it out for yourself. See if the clothes you are wearing affect your readiness to work.

8. Stretch and Move

Just because you’re working, doesn’t mean you are doomed to sit still. Set up stretch breaks throughout the day. With a sit-stand desk, you will do this naturally. However, to take things up a notch, set a timer and make exercise dates as part of your workday.

9. Exercise Together

Meet up with a colleague, friend, or relative to exercise. You can still maintain social distancing during a walk, jog, or run. Making a date with another person is a great way to stay committed to your health goals.

Sum Up

Working remotely is a terrific option for staying healthy and productive. If you are working from home, take this opportunity to set up a healthy home office – and practice healthy habits.