Working from home has definitely become more of the norm, but for all its benefits there are several drawbacks that need to be addressed. From poor sitting positions to eye strain, there are many ways that your new working setup is actually hurting you more than helping you. It is impossible to work hard and be productive every second of your workday but staring at your phone or browsing on your computer are not effective break options.

You can stay healthy, stress-free, and work better by using this guide:

 

Follow the 20/20/20 Rule

The 20/20/20 rule is there to help your eyes rest. Spending long hours looking at screens or at one object at a set distance away from you is actually terrible for your eyesight. In this rule you should aim to spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes or so. This little break can do wonders to help those suffering from digital eye strain.

Of course, that isn’t the only eye exercise you can do at home. This guide outlines 8 great vision therapy exercises you can do at home. Engaging with them and trying them out can help you build up eye strength, improve focussing and tracking, and even help you manage existing eye conditions.

 

Get Supportive Back and Neck Devices

You don’t need to work at your desk when you work from home. You can work on your bed, on the couch, on the balcony or in your backyard. There are so many great places to work that allow you to enjoy a new environment and all its benefits. That being said, you should never sacrifice your back or neck health. By buying special pillows and supports you can transform any spot into a great working environment just by supporting your back and neck properly.

 

Have Work-Free Zones

To stay stress-free at home you need to have places in your home where you can escape work. This could be your bedroom, or the living room. Where you work should be brightly lit and tidy, yes, but that doesn’t mean that you should work in every room in your home. By having areas that are off-limits you have somewhere to escape to when the stress becomes too much.

 

Set Realistic Boundaries

Working from home has started to set some unrealistic expectations from managers and their employees. The fact is, unless you are being paid overtime you do not have to work after hours. Set this expectation and stick with it. Don’t answer emails, don’t do work, and definitely don’t work overtime without being paid for it. This is how you set your boundaries and enjoy a healthy work/life balance, even when working from home.

 

Make it Easier to be Healthy at Home

You’re at home, which means all those unhealthy temptations and snacks are right around the corner. By having healthy snacking alternatives to stick with, however, you can reduce the effort of staying healthy and make better decisions even with those chocolates hidden in your cupboard.