Helping Employees Meet The Health Challenges Of Working From Home

Here’s how to strike a healthy work-life balance

More people than ever are working from home to contain the spread of COVID-19. While that step has certainly helped to keep the virus from spreading through offices, having everyone working remotely has its own health challenges. That’s why it’s a good time to remind employees of steps they can take to maintain their physical and mental health while at home. 

1. Keep A Routine

While some employees may enjoy the flexibility of working from home, for others, it may amp up the stress. They may find it tougher to relax when their work is always close at hand. To help with that, encourage employees to develop a routine. That may include having a designated area where they work, scheduling time for lunch and breaks, and shutting down their computer at the end of the workday.
 

2. Get Enough Sleep

When an employee can roll out of bed and be at work in two minutes, they may be tempted to stay up later and later, cheating themselves out of some much-needed sleep. But well-rested employees are healthier and more productive. Encourage employees to get plenty of sleep to recharge their batteries and to take time for a healthy breakfast before they start their day. 

3. Eat Right

Some people find working from home encourages more snacking on fatty foods lacking in nutrients. Offer tips to avoid that, like keeping healthy snacks such as nuts and fruit in your work area or planning out what to eat for lunch at the start of the workday. Some people might find a service that delivers packaged fresh meals to their door every week can help them stick to a healthy diet. There are a variety of services, many that cater to special diets, like low-carb or gluten-free. 

4. Don’t Forget to Hydrate

You would think it’s easier to remember to drink water when your own kitchen is just a few steps away, but people forget when they have children underfoot or, conversely, when they live alone and get lost in their work because of fewer interruptions. Staying hydrated is one of the best steps people can take to stay healthy. When people are dehydrated, their bodies have to work harder, which drains mental productivity. Encourage employees to fill a large water bottle at the beginning of the day to keep by their work area to help them keep track of how much they’re drinking. If they set reminders to fill their water throughout the day, they’ll not only make sure they’re drinking enough water, they’ll also make sure they’re taking regularly scheduled breaks. 

5. Keeping Moving

Anyone who tracks their steps has probably noticed how their step count dropped dramatically when they started working from home. Those steps from the parking lot or train to the office, or down the hall to a coworkers’ office can really add up. To make up for the difference, work-at-home employees can schedule lunchtime or after-work walks, or even a morning walk to start their day. Making a point of walking or doing stretches when you’re on the phone, instead of just sitting at your desk, can help, too. 

6. Be Flexible

Everyone in your company needs to understand that the key to keeping stress to a minimum in this new normal is being flexible. Some employees may need to work different hours to better meet the demands of childcare. Others working in small apartments with roommates who are also trying to work from home may need to adjust their work hours to accommodate spotty WIFI. Adjusting work schedules to meet employees’ individual needs will lead to happier, less stressed employees and, in the end, greater productivity. 

7. Shut It Down

Encourage employees to have a shutdown time when they turn off their electronic devices. That goes for bosses, too. And if someone finds they work better in the late evening hours when their home is less chaotic, fine. Just ask them to refrain from sending out emails until the regular workday resumes. There is nothing more stressful to an employee working from home than to start the day with an inbox full of emails sent by coworkers in what, for most, is off-hours. No one needs the added stress of feeling liking everyone else is working harder than them. 

8. Get the Ergonomics Right

According to the World Health Organization, back pain is one of the leading reasons people miss work. As employees set up their own workspaces, make sure that they understand the basics of ergonomics and how improperly positioned chairs can lead to back pain. Ideally, workers should sit with their knees even or slightly lower than their hips with their feet flat on the floor. To avoid neck and shoulder pain, their elbows should be at 90 degrees when sitting at a desk with their computer screen positioned at eye level to avoid looking up or down too much. Helping employees invest in ergonomic chairs for a home could not only benefit employees’ health but also save companies in lost work time, too. 

9. Don’t Put Off Doctor Visits

At the onset of the pandemic, many hospitals noticed a drop in emergency room visits for heart problems. It’s not that fewer people were having heart attacks, it’s just that they were putting off care. But a healthy workforce is a happier and more productive workforce. Physicians’ offices and hospitals have protocols in place to keep patients safe from the spread of COVID-19. Encourage your employees to take time now for their medical needs, rather than waiting until there’s an emergency. Encourage them, too, to keep up with their children’s vaccines to keep them safe and healthy, too. 

10. Promote Downtime

The explosion of COVID-19 cases has led to many canceled travel plans, rightfully so. But that doesn’t mean employees shouldn’t take time off. Even using a day or two of vacation time to just stay home and relax can boost mental health. 

11. Keep In Touch

Isolation can affect people’s well-being. Encourage employees to check in with each other, or schedule a virtual lunch with a work friend. And encourage them to take the time to check in with friends or family they may not be able to see at this time.
 
Striking a healthy work-life balance can be difficult when your work desk is sitting right there in your bedroom or at your kitchen table. That’s why it’s important to remind employees to take care of themselves and draw clear lines between work and home. Companies sent workers home to keep them healthy. Make sure your employees are taking the steps they need to stay healthy.

Teri Dreher, RN, CCRN, iRNPA, BCPA, is an award-winning RN patient advocate and a pioneer in the growing field of private patient advocacy. A critical care nurse for more than 30 years, today she is the President of NShore Patient Advocates. She is among the first in her industry to earn the credential of Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA). Her book, “Patient Advocacy Matters,” is now in its second printing.  Visit www.northshorern.com Connect Teri Dreher Follow @TeriDreher