Four Steps to a Happier, Healthier Home Office for 2020
January 29, 2020
More and more professionals are opting to work at home as companies recognize the value of allowing employees to work remotely. Make 2020 the year that your home office bursts with productivity by creating a workspace that prioritizes health, comfort, and inspiration. Here are four easy ways to make your home office space healthier and in turn more productive for the new year.
Upgrade your desk and seating situation.
People who sit a lot every day have an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. Thankfully, there are solutions. Stand up desks promise to keep you active even if your eyes are glued to a screen all day long. Cycling desks, tread-desks, and even elliptical attachments are options to help you really and truly clock in a work out while you’re working at home.
If you’re not quite ready to invest in a standing or active desk, upgrade your seating: active stools promise to strengthen your core and back while you work. You’ll also benefit from improved posture.
Focus on lighting.
Stay away from blinking, iridescent bulbs and utilize both artificial and natural lighting sources to brighten your home office. If you can, situate your desk by a big window and open the blinds so you can take advantage of natural light. Exposure to fluorescent light appears to elicit an elevated stress response, while a 2014 study from Trusted Source office workers shows that the more people experience better sleep, and hence less natural light exposure they received, the better sleep they experienced.
Block the blue light with blue light blocking glasses.
Blue light is the shortest wavelength of light on the visible light spectrum. While blue light is everywhere, computer and smartphone screens emit significant amounts of blue light. Blue light is known to stimulate the production of cortisol, a major stress hormone that interferes with sleep. Thankfully, there’s a solution: a large body of research demonstrates that blue light blocking glasses can be highly effective at filtering out blue light, improving symptoms of insomnia and improving sleep quality
Bring the beauty of nature indoors.
Green up your space with house plants for a natural boost. Research shows that indoor plants help rid the air of common toxins, literally clearing the air for a productive day at work. Participants in recent study noted an increase in well-being just four weeks after adding houseplants to their space, making for an easy, inexpensive way to perk up your work life.