Before 2019, many companies looked down on working from home. Strong opinions have been shared both ways. However, after the pandemic, it's almost as if work from home was imposed on all of us. We can't even just go to a coffee shop and work either to get some space occasionally. We are holed up in our homes and asked to be as productive as we were before the pandemic. Many of us are left without childcare, schools, helpers, etc.
As we retreat indoors and the world around us changes dramatically, we are expected to keep the balance and be productive. In times like these, we tend to forget that self-care is critical. If we don’t take care of ourselves, it's going to be almost impossible for us to function. As the hours we spend on our laptops rack up, taking care of ourselves becomes imperative.
Below are some self-care tips for all of us who spend innumerable hours in front of our computers and screens:
Set a routine

When you are living and working in the same location, it's harder to draw the line between work and life. It's very easy to just pop on the desk and respond to that email that just came in. The first and foremost tip from us is to ensure that you are sticking to a routine. Decide what times work best, when you have meetings, follow the set schedule.
Even if an email comes in, don’t sit on your desk and start responding to it. We have so much work open on our desks that we tend to start working on something else after responding to that email and don’t even realize when 2 hours fly by. Overworking is one of the biggest risks. Don’t burn yourself out, pace yourself and follow a routine.
Take breaks

Taking breaks is an integral aspect of productivity. There are so many ways to incorporate breaks into your workflow. You can follow productivity practices such as the Pomodoro method, Kaban, etc., or just set a simple timer each hour to take a break. If your days are super stressful, you can also try out the 3 simple practices we outlined in the article we wrote last month.
Taking a break to breathe deeply for just 1 minute also helps. Breathing deeply signals our primal instincts that we are safe. It is a sign that we are not running from a predator, huffing, and taking short quick breaths. Taking just a few deep breaths will help you relax instantly and destress.
While all these practices of taking a break are great, we also encourage you to add a little fun to your day. Watch a funny video, panda cam, or kittens being kittens. Do what makes you smile for just one minute to change your mood.
Take care of your eyes

We all know that staring at the screen can be detrimental to our eyesight. Taking care of our eyes is vital for those of us who spend hours in front of screens. If your eyesight is great, protect it. If it isn't, even more reasons to take care of it. Here are some suggestions to take care of your eyes while sitting in front of the computer:
Look in the distance
When we stare at our screens for hours, we are using our near sight. Taking a break from our screens and looking at an object afar will help in decreasing the stress on your eyes. Just take a break every few hours and look in the distance for a few seconds.
Remember to blink
Often, we reduce the number of times we blink when we are looking at our screen. Observe your behavior and see if this is something that you do. Not blinking often can lead to dry eyes and cause irritation. Blinking is important for keeping our eyes clean and moist.
Wear Blue Lens Glasses
Our screens emit blue rays and prolonged exposure to these rays can harm our retinas. When you wear glasses with protection from blue rays, it protects your eyes. If you wear glasses already, just get your lenses swapped and get ones with the coating. If you don’t wear glasses or prefer lenses, then you can get numberless glasses with blue ray protection. You only need to wear them when you are looking at the monitor or tablet.
Note: Consult your ophthalmologist before changing your regular glasses.
Use artificial tears
If your eyes tend to get extremely dry during the workday, and blinking on a regular basis does not help, try Artificial Tears or Rewetting Drops. Available over the counter, they are eye drops that help in keeping eyes moist and also help in reducing eye strain.
Note: Consult your ophthalmologist before changing your regular glasses.
Use comfortable furniture

While body posture is important when sitting on your desk for long hours, the posture is dictated by the furniture you use. If your chair is not comfortable, and you sit on it for hours, you will run into back, neck, or wrist issues. Having a good workspace is like having a good bed/mattress. You spend so much time on your chair and desk, it's important to be comfortable.
Desk
Be it a standing desk or a sitting desk, invest in something that is the right height for you. Are you lifting your shoulders to keep your hands on the table? Are you looking down too much and getting neck pain? Choose the desk that works for you. It does not have to be expensive or pretty, it should just be functional and something that makes you comfortable.
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