Let’s Get Real About WFH Health

Okay, so I’ve been working from home for about three months now. Three months! Honestly, I thought I’d be, like, super productive and healthy and all that. But look, it’s been a rollercoaster. A rollercoaster with questionable safety standards, if we’re being honest.

First off, let me tell you about the home office setup ideas budget thing. I thought I could just slap a laptop on the kitchen table and call it a day. Ha! That lasted about 214 hours before my back started screaming at me.

I mean, who knew that sitting on a dining chair for 10 hours a day would be worse than, like, actual torture? Not me. Definitely not me.

My Back Hates Me Now

So, I went out and bought one of those fancy ergonomic chairs. You know the kind—looks like something from a sci-fi movie, costs more than my first car. And guess what? It helped. A little. But honestly, nothing beats just getting up and moving around.

I have a friend, let’s call him Marcus, who’s a physical therapist. I asked him about this whole sitting thing. He said, “You’re basically turning into a human pretzel, Sarah.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.

So now I set a timer every 30 minutes to get up and stretch. It’s kinda annoying, but my back doesn’t hate me as much now. Small victories.

The Snack Apocalypse

Oh, and the snacks. Oh my god, the snacks. I used to think I had some semblance of self-control. Ha! That went out the window faster than you can say “quarantine weight gain.”

I had a colleague named Dave who swore by keeping a bowl of fruit on his desk. “It’s all about the visual cues,” he told me. So I tried it. And you know what? It worked. Sorta. I mean, I still ate the fruit, but at least it was fruit and not an entire family-sized bag of Doritos.

But here’s the thing—mental health is a whole other beast. I mean, have you tried having a Zoom meeting at 11:30 PM because your “office” is also your bedroom? It’s not great for your sanity, let me tell you.

Zoom Fatigue Is Real

I read this article—okay, fine, it was a tweet—about something called “Zoom fatigue.” Turns out, staring at your own face all day is not exactly a confidence booster. Who knew?

I started turning off my camera sometimes. And guess what? The world didn’t end. My colleagues didn’t hate me. In fact, one of them told me, “Sarah, you look way less tired when your camera’s off.” Ouch. But also, fair.

So, I’ve been doing that more often. And honestly, it’s been a game-changer. (Okay, fine, I used one of those words. Sue me.)

Exercise? What’s That?

Now, let’s talk about exercise. Or rather, the lack thereof. I used to go to the gym. Like, all the time. Now? Not so much. I mean, I did try that Peloton thing. You know, the one where you pay a ton of money to have a tiny person yell at you through your screen?

It was… an experience. Let’s just leave it at that. I lasted about three classes before I decided that maybe, just maybe, going for a walk around the block was a better idea.

And you know what? It was. I mean, it’s not the same as a spin class, but it’s something. And something is better than nothing, right?

The Great Outdoors

Speaking of walks, I’ve been trying to get outside more. I live in a city, so it’s not like I can just go hike a mountain or anything. But there’s this little park near my place, and it’s surprisingly nice.

I started going there a couple of times a week. Just to sit on a bench and read or listen to a podcast. It’s weird how something so simple can make such a difference. I mean, I’m not saying I’m suddenly this zen, enlightened person or anything. But it’s nice. Really nice.

And hey, if you’re reading this and thinking, “Sarah, you’re such a hypocrite,” well, maybe you’re right. But I’m trying, okay? I’m trying my best to not turn into a complete couch potato. And so far, so good.

Sleep? What’s That?

But here’s the thing—sleep. Or rather, the lack thereof. I used to have a pretty solid sleep schedule. Now? Not so much. I mean, when your office is also your bedroom, it’s hard to draw that line between “work time” and “sleep time.”

I tried all the tricks. The blue light filters, the white noise machines, the fancy pillows. And you know what worked best? Setting a hard stop time for work. Like, no more emails after 7 PM. No more Zoom calls at 11:30 PM. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.

And honestly, it’s made a world of difference. I mean, I’m still not sleeping like a baby, but I’m getting there. Baby steps, right?

Final Thoughts (Or Lack Thereof)

So, that’s my WFH wellness journey so far. It’s been a mess, but I’m learning. And honestly, that’s all you can ask for, right?

Anyway, I’m gonna go try out that new yoga mat I bought. Wish me luck.

About the Author: Sarah Johnson is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. She’s a self-proclaimed work-from-home survivor and is always on the lookout for the next big thing in wellness. When she’s not writing, you can find her attempting to meditate or failing miserably at yoga.