Working from BED? Brace yourself for these potential side effects

Who would have thought that work from home can be a thing? But see now, it’s been almost two years since we’ve been doing exactly that. This brings a lot of changes in our working lifestyle. For instance, a lot of people work on their laptops by sitting on their bed instead of a chair at the office. Are you also one of them? Well, you must be. It’s not you only, but almost all of us have turned from work from home to work from bed! All thanks to our morning laziness that compels us to settle back under the blankets and dive deep into our daily work.

People also bend down while working on the bed, although it is bad for our neck, back and spine. But not just these side-effects, working from bed have a lot of other downsides, including your mental health! 

We spoke to Dr Sonal Anand, Psychiatrist, Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai, on how working from bed can have a significant impact on our mental health and lead to a drop in self-confidence. 

Impact of working from bed on mental health

During the pandemic, many people are working from home, mainly without a dedicated workstation, especially on the bed. During work from bed, one’s mental and emotional well-being goes for a toss, says Dr Anand.

Here are the ways in which it can impact us:

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1. Heightened levels of stress and anxiety: “The dim light in the bedroom causes high levels of anxiety or stress taking a toll on the psychological and emotional workload. This can be bad for you in the long run,” says Dr Anand.

2. Low productivity: Working from bed can impact your sleep quality, which can decrease work productivity, energy levels, and quality of life. Ultimately, all of this can take a toll on your mental health by increasing your stress levels. 

3. Low energy and mood swings: “Bedrooms tend to have improper lighting when compared to other rooms and many keep the windows closed. Hence, there is a lack of sunlight which is considered a natural booster and helps you stay energetic. Dim light while working can make you feel tired, and negatively impact the mind, says Dr Anand. 

4. Other issues: It can also strain the eyes and loss of interest in activities like sex or creating a stronger bond. There will be restlessness and agitation. 

Dr Anand revealed five other side effects of working from bed:

1. Obesity: Working from bed and not moving at all can make you pile up excess kilos leading to being obese or overweight.
2. Poor posture: If you are sitting continuously on a bed in the wrong position then it can lead to bad posture. Thus, you may encounter back, neck, hand, wrist, and eye pain.
3. Reduce sleep quality: The bed is mainly for sleep or intimacy. But, when one uses it for work or reading then one may stay awake. Working in a bed will weaken the association with sleep and one will not be able to sleep properly.
4. Acidity: Not moving at all, and sitting in one place in the bed can invite acidity and heartburn.
5. Low productivity: If you happen to work from the bed then you will feel distracted and sleepy and won’t be able to concentrate on work.

You can minimize the risk of working from bed. These are some tips from Dr Anand:

1. Create a proper work atmosphere

Instead of a bed, use a table and chair and you are set to work hassle-free. Leave the bay during the daytime to induce sleep at night.

With an ergonomic setting of your table and chair, you can keep your posture right while working the whole day. In fact, keeping one or two indoor plants near your work desk will help you to make it interesting. Besides, keep your laptop charger wires and other stuff neatly on your desk to avoid overwhelming yourself. 

2. Dress up properly

Dress up like you would do while going to the office so as to feel good in general. Avoid starting work from bed in your pajamas. Change clothes and set a proper schedule as you follow while going to the office.

3. Keep moving

It is really important to take short breaks to maintain productivity at work. In case you are working from the bed then you have to move from time to time to avoid back, neck, hand, and eye pain. Stretch from time to time. This will also help you tackle obesity, acidity, stress, anxiety, irritability, frustration, and depression.

Takeaway

Believe it or not, but maintaining a routine is now more important than ever before. The right approach to do this is to create a work window — sit on a proper chair, create a suitable working environment and define working hours to ensure a work-life balance and to take care of your mental health as well.