The temptation of working from your bedside maybe difficult to resist but it will do us more harm than good. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of people around the world were forced to work from home with some of them turning their beds into an office.
According to medical experts, working from your bed is not really paradise, as you can trigger health problems physically and psychologically especially later in life.
Here are some of the reasons why working from your bed is not a good idea.
Sleep quality
Working from your bed messes with your brain and sleeping patterns as our brains are wired to associate our beds with a place of rest. Psychotherapist and behavioural sleep medicine therapist Annie Miller says there’s a very specific reason why we shouldn’t work from our beds.
“When we use our bed for other activities, like working, reading, watching TV, etc., we create an association with wakefulness. We want the bed to be a cue for sleep and working in bed weakens this association”.
Affects productivity
You can turn your bedroom into a workplace, but you can’t make your bed an office. You are more likely to fall asleep or develop anxiety if you work from your bed. Often you might be tempted to or even take a few naps in between which ultimately affects your overall productivity.
Posture
Lying in bed or sitting and typing is not good for you. Sitting on an even surface for long periods can hurt your back and can cause back pains over time. Director of healthcare-system engineering at the Mayo Clinic Susan Hallbeck said you’re not really supported in a way that’s conducive to work when you’re working in bed. To avoid putting strain on your body, work from a chair where you can upright and aim for a neutral posture.
“If you’re going to be working from home for a long time, it really does pay to invest in a good workstation, even if it’s a very small workstation,” added Hallbeck.
Hygiene
In an interview with Cleveland Clinic, dermatologist Dr. Alok Vij said that bacteria can thrive when dead skin cells are left to rest on our shoot.
“Those skin cells (along with the oil and sweat from your skin, and even saliva!) can be a breeding ground for bacteria and dust mites that live on your sheets, mattress and pillows”, said Vij. Working from your bed is never an option, always ensure your sheets are washed every week. “By allowing those bacteria to live in harmony on your sheets and get on your skin when you hop in bed, you could be making your eczema worse — or allowing it to start in the first place,” Vij said in the interview.
How to make working from home productive
First and foremost, don’t start your workday in pyjamas. Create a routine that you can adapt daily; wake up, shower and wear new clothes. If you can, avoid working from your bedroom however if that is not an option, it’s better to get a small desk and an office chair in your bedroom.
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