Your alarm rings in the morning but you just find it too hard to jump out of bed. Instead, you just grab your laptop and work from where you lie. This is a familiar story to those who are forced to work from home. According to this Wall Street Journal article, half of 1,000 workers polled this year by Good Technology, a Sunnyvale, Calif., mobile-security software company, said they read or respond to work emails from bed.
But here’s the catch -- working on your plush and cozy bed is not necessarily the greatest idea. Here’s why.
Morning fatigue
You might stay groggy the whole day if you stay in bed. Sleep expert Natalie Dautovich, the National Sleep Foundation's environmental scholar, said in a Huffington Post article that you have to get up and have your dose of sunshine to tell your body that you are starting the day. Otherwise, you might succumb to sleep inertia, which will hamper your productivity and alter your mood throughout the day.
Body pains
It must be also noted that since the bed is not made for work, you might suffer from body pains after some time. You might twist and strain to read files from your laptop -- contortions that will intensify pains on your neck and back.
Poor sleeping pattern
Good sleeping hygiene dictates that your bedroom should be associated with sleep and rest. But if you start working there regularly, your brain links the bedroom setting to work. This can alter your sleeping pattern. Even if you want to unwind for the night, your brain might find it hard to switch from work mode to sleep mode.
The solutions
The most obvious way to solve the problems is to simply not work on your bed. But if you have to for some reason, you can keep these things in mind to improve the situation:
- Get up and stretch -- You need to at least push yourself to get out of bed and not just jump into full work mode. Get a shower, eat your breakfast in a sunny place, and dress up even if no one sees you. If you want more energy boost, you can squeeze in some morning workout, too. These morning activities signal your body and mind to be in work mode.
- Get a height adjustable desk -- Install the sit-to-stand desk on one side of your bed so you can work in a neutral position. Avoid pillows or resting your head on the headboard. If you can, work from the edge of your bed and keep your back straight with the neck relaxed. The hands and wrists must rest comfortably on the desk too.
- Get moving -- Don’t forget to move often. With a sit-stand desk, you have the option to switch from sitting and standing from your bed. You can set a timer to get up every 45 minutes or so to do some stretching.
Find your place
Where you work can determine the way your body responds to work. If you want to maximize your day, find a spot where you can work, and remember to maintain the basics of ergonomics.
