It is important to be aware of your ideal weight for your age and to consult with a doctor to understand which foods to avoid. To achieve weight loss goals, it is recommended to eliminate high-calorie foods from your diet and prioritize foods that are high in fiber and low in fat such as fruits and vegetables over red meat, sugar, and fats. It is also important to have regular eating schedule and routine.

Drinking enough water is essential for maintaining good health.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily to flush out impurities.Lactating women should pay extra attention to their water intake to ensure that their body stays hydrated.

Role of Vitamins and supplements

Vitamins and supplements are an important part of maintaining good health. It is important to remember to take a calcium supplement to ensure adequate intake. Calcium has been shown to prevent cramps and PMS symptoms, as well as reduce the risk of osteoporosis in menopausal women. Vitamin E is also beneficial, as it can help boost the immune system. Menopausal women should consider taking Vitamin E-400 as it can help reduce night sweats and hot flashes. Additionally, Vitamin E is known for its anti-aging properties and may help to prevent wrinkles as we age.

Make exercise a regular part of your daily routine.

Incorporate regular physical activity such as walking, using stairs, and playing with kids at home. Home exercises are effective for those who can’t make it to the gym or want to lose weight. Yoga and Pilates are just a few examples of exercises that can be done at home. Regular exercise can help limit the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Manage stress levels by taking time to relax.

Reduce stress by reading, spending time with friends, playing sports, getting a spa treatment or shopping. Get enough sleep to refresh your energy. Protect your skin from sun damage by using sunscreen and wearing a hat. Too much sun can cause skin cancer and wrinkles.

Incorporate regular dental checkups into your health routine.

Keep your smile healthy and beautiful by visiting the dentist regularly. Dentists clean teeth to prevent cavities and bad breath. Brush and floss twice a day, use antiseptic mouthwash, avoid sugary and acidic foods and drinks, and don’t smoke or use tobacco products. Use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash to prevent tooth decay. Maintain a balanced diet, drink enough water and keep your mouth hydrated to neutralize acid.

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We have curated a list of 3 effective home remedies, which are safer than drugs. These home remedies not only provide relief from joint pains but also helps treat them over a period of time.
Epsom Salt & Lavender Essential Oil Soak
This remedy is especially effective for ankle and knee pain.
Ingredients

1. Tablespoon Epsom Salt.
2. Warm Water.
3. Few Drops of Lavender Essential Oil.

Directions

Take some warm water in a tub or a bucket; make sure that the water is not too hot. Add 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt and a few drops of lavender essential oil to the water. Now, soak your feet for at 10 – 15 minutes. Epsom salt will help reduce inflammation and muscle spasms, and lavender oil will help reduce stress and tension.

Milk and Turmeric

One of the most effective and common home remedies for joint pain is Milk and Turmeric.

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Warm Milk
• ½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 1 Teaspoon Honey (Optional)

Directions

To 1 cup of warm milk add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder and mix well. If you like it sweet, add a teaspoon of honey. Drink it at night before going to bed.

Cold & Hot Compress

old & Hot compresses help in relieving joint pain. A hot compress helps increase blood flow and relax sore muscles and joints. A cold compress helps numb the affected area and reduce inflammation.

Directions

Wet a towel in either hot or cold water and place it on the affected area for 2 – 3 minutes. Repeat the process for 15 – 20 minutes a few times every day to get rid of the pain.

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1. Lack of energy and unexplained fatigue: Not being able to get through the day even after a proper night’s rest or feeling drained all the time even in absence of any noticeable potential trigger can be a sign of a high level of toxins in the body. Usually, we ascribe weather, diet and other factors for this phenomenon. While these factors are certainly important and contributory to a fair degree; we need to accept that when everything is ‘right’ and still there is a perennial lack of energy it is related to an accumulation of toxins in the body. Our Liver is the organ responsible for the ‘spring of energy’. When the Liver is overloaded with toxins it can not function optimally resulting in fatigue.

2. Body aches, pains, and headaches: Muscles aches and pains not explained by a workout/physical activity are telltale signs of toxins playing havoc with the body. Higher blood acid levels resulting from toxicity leads to muscle contractions and spasms. This causes a limited range of movement and pressure on the nerves. Besides it also prevents fresh blood, oxygen and nutrients from entering the tissue and the efficient removal of carbon dioxide and other toxic substances from it. All of this causes pain that manifests in body aches and headaches.

3. Weight that’s near impossible to shed: Inability to lose weight despite watching calories and burning aplenty can be a sign of deeper troubles in the body. Toxins impact the body’s ability to balance blood sugar and metabolize cholesterol. Over time, the changes can lead to insulin resistance resulting in weight gain.

4. Upset stomach/constipation & bloating: Intestines play a key role in cleansing the body and constipation can cause an even higher build-up of toxins. Constipation and bloating usually indicate higher than acceptable toxins in the body.

5.Skin problems: Acne, rashes, and other seemingly common skin problems indicate a high level of toxins. When the body’s primary elimination channel i.e. GI tract is overloaded the secondary channels such as Skin get activated. Skin problems are nothing but elimination of these toxins through skin pores as the body has reached a high level of toxicity already. To make it worse when the skin pores get clogged it may also trigger allergic reactions such as eczema.

6. Compromised immunity: Increased propensity to get hit by seemingly routine cold and infections might indicate weaker immunity levels, which in turn could be resulting from hormonal and other imbalanced caused by toxins. Many toxins produced by petrochemicals are xenoestrogen’s, meaning that they mimic estrogen in the body and contribute to hormone imbalance with subsequent immune suppression. External toxins add to the “total body load”. The liver is the body’s main organ of detoxification. A fully functional liver supports immune system function. Therefore, a loaded liver ultimately leads to lowered immunity.

7.Signs of premature ageing: Free radicals and oxidative stress caused by toxins are some of the key reasons for premature ageing. A certain class of environmental toxins called ‘gerontogens’ present in UV rays and cigarette smoke accelerate the ageing process. Another reason for ageing is the biological process ‘senescence’, this takes place when healthy cells are damaged and cannot split. When the count of such damaged cells increases in the body, they ingest available resources as well as release harmful hormones that have inflammatory properties. Few damaged cells in the body are not a serious concern but as they proportionately increase over time they contribute to ageing as they get collected in the body.

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1. What is Prostate: 

The first thing men should know is exactly what that Prostate is. The Prostate is a sexual organ. It is located just below the man’s bladder and wrapped around the urethra. It is only as big as a walnut. The primary function of the Prostate is to add fluid to your sperm during ejaculation.

Many men don’t even realize they have a prostate because it’s an internal organ. They learn of its existence only when they face prostate problems.

2. Prostate cancer is common:

Every man should know that prostate cancer is very common. In fact, it is one of the most common prostate problems that affect men. It tops the list of cancers that affect men. Roughly speaking, it is as common in men as breast cancer in women. However, it is less known than breast cancer because most men don’t like talking about it.

3. Prostate issues aren’t just for older men:

All men should know that prostate problems don’t affect older men only. Men under 50 can also get prostatitis. They can also suffer from an extremely painful prostate infection. It causes swelling in the Prostate, accompanied by fever, fatigue, and a burning sensation during urination.

4. Enlarged Prostate:

All men over 50 should know about the enlargement of an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hypertrophy. This benign, or nonfatal condition, is very common in older men. But that doesn’t mean you need not consult your doctor about it.

5. Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy:

All men should know the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy. This will help them consult the doctor without delay when they develop this prostate issue. The most common symptoms are leaking and dribbling during urination, trouble getting started with urination, a weak urine stream, and even a small amount of blood in the urine.

6. Prostate problems can combine:

Benign prostatic hypertrophy is more common than prostate cancer. But these two problems can go hand in hand. It’s not always the case, of course. An enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean it will turn into cancer. But it’s good to be aware of both problems as they can have similar symptoms.

Conclusion:

Prostate problems are one of the most common health issues affecting men. But by being aware of these problems in advance can help you take timely treatment. If you are facing any of the issues mentioned in the post, don’t ignore it. Consult your doctor without any delay.

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That is why everyone needs to know the common symptoms of depression so they can help the affected person, instead of feeling angry at them.

7 most common symptoms of depression 

1. Loss of interest in activities that require an effort:

Depressed people lose interest in activities that were previously pleasurable for them. This includes spending quality time with friends and family members. Instead, they prefer spending time on activities that don’t require much effort from them. They would much rather watch TV all day than chat with you. This doesn’t mean they have lost interest in you. They just don’t have the will to make that much effort.

2. Sleep problems:

Depression may make sleeping difficult for the patients. They have difficulty falling and staying asleep. If your spouse is depressed, you may often find him or her sitting alone in another room instead of sleeping. This doesn’t mean they can’t stand being in the same place as you. They just can’t sleep.

3. Eating problems may also be symptoms of depression:

Along with other behavioral alterations, the eating habits of the depressed person may change too. They may start eating too little or too much, leading to a drastic increase or decrease in their weight. They know their food intake and weight loss or gain is unhealthy. But they don’t care.

4. Loss of confidence:

Depressed people don’t feel good about themselves and their life. This results in poor self-esteem and a loss of confidence. If you notice any such marked change in your friend or family member, be careful. Observe them carefully and try to understand what’s troubling them.

5. Negative outlook:

One of the most common symptoms of depression is that the patient’s thoughts tend to remain on the negative side. They may consider even a happy event with a negative outlook and put a damper on even your enthusiasm. Everything seems useless to them. And life has no interest.

6. Anger and irritability:

Depressed people may appear irritable and angry for no reason. Don’t think they are angry at you. Even they may not know what is making them irritable. Even if they know, they won’t attempt to control the situation.

7. Suicidal tendencies:

This is what makes depression so dangerous. If left untreated, it may lead to suicide. Your friend or loved one may make statements like, “I don’t care for life. It’s useless” or “sometimes I feel like jumping down from the balcony.” Don’t ignore such statements. They indicate grave danger. The depressed person is not just saying such things. He or she may actually do it.

Conclusion: Never ignore the symptoms of depression.

Depression doesn’t mean a person is too weak to deal with life’s challenges. It is a serious but treatable mental problem. The symptoms mentioned above don’t always mean depression. They may just be effects of exhaustion, stress, anxiety, or burnout. But if you notice more than one of these symptoms in your loved one over a prolonged period, take heed. Help your friend get proper treatment so he or she can live a healthy and happy life too.

You can know more about the symptoms of depression HERE.

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Who is most at risk of committing suicide?

Studies show that suicide rates are highest in teens, young adults, and the elderly. Mental illness such as major depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders increases the risk of suicide. Substance use and eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa may also make the patient suicidal. And trauma or major life crises may also trigger suicidal tendencies. These include loss of a loved one, divorce or break-up, financial problems, career troubles, and diagnosis of a serious illness.

The following groups of people have a higher risk of committing suicide:

• People who attempted suicide in the past
• People who have a family history of suicide
• Older people who lost a spouse through death or divorce
• People in stressful professions, such as the police. Healthcare workers dealing with terminally ill patients are also more at risk.
• People who have a history of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
• Unmarried, unskilled, or unemployed people
• People suffering from long-term pain or some disabling or terminal illness
• Friend, family member, or co-worker of someone who committed suicide
• People who have substance abuse problems
• People who often indulge in violent or impulsive behavior
• People who have recently been discharged from a psychiatric hospitalization

What are the warning signs that a person is suicidal?

A person showing one or more of the following warning signs may be suicidal:

• Extreme sadness and mood swings: The person remains sad over a prolonged time and is prone to moodiness, rage, and irritability.
• Hopelessness: The suicidal person has lost all hope. They don’t expect their miserable circumstances to change or anything better to happen in their future.
• Withdrawal and loss of interest: A person who has lost interest in life prefers to be alone and avoids friends and social interactions. This symptom may indicate depression, which is a major cause of suicide. Depressed people also lose interest in the activities they previously enjoyed. Instead, they prefer spending time in activities that require minimal effort.
• Sleep problems: Suicidal people are tortured by their thoughts and have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Difficulty in sleeping may also indicate depression.
• Changes in personality and/or appearance: A suicidal person may start exhibiting unusual behavior. Their manner and attitude may change. The person may also become less concerned about his or her appearance. Some may try to bring about a change in their mood by changing their appearance, like adopting a new hairstyle.
• Self-harmful behavior: Suicidal people often exhibit potentially dangerous behavior, such as reckless driving, and engaging in other unsafe activities. They may also start using drugs or consuming excessive alcohol because they no longer value their life.
• Suicidal statements: Research shows that 50% to 75% of people considering suicide give a warning sign to someone close to them. They may make statements such as, “You will miss me when I’m gone” or “All my troubles will be over soon.” However, as these hints are mostly vague, they often get ignored. Also, not every suicidal person gives such hints to their near ones.
• Sudden calmness: A person considering suicide may suddenly become calm and even cheerful after a long period of sadness and depression. This is a sign that the person has decided to end his or her life.
• Making preparations: A person who has decided to commit suicide will also become active in putting his or her personal and financial affairs in order. They may visit their family and friends for the last farewell. They may give away their clothes and other personal possessions. They will make their will and complete other necessary financial transactions. They will also purchase the means of committing suicide, such as a gun or poison.

How to prevent suicide?

There’s no surefire way to prevent suicide. People who want to die may attempt suicide repeatedly, till they succeed. The only thing you can do is to know the risk factors and be alert to the warning signs. This will help you to recognize when someone near you turns suicidal. And then you can take steps to comfort them and prevent suicide.

What should you do if you believe someone is suicidal?

People who receive timely support from their friends and family are less likely to act on their suicidal impulses. And if someone is battling with a mental problem like depression, getting the proper treatment helps. Here are some more things you can do if you notice someone is at risk of committing suicide:

• Ask the person if he or she is sad or thinking about suicide.
• Find out if the person she is consulting a therapist or taking medication.
• If your friend or family member is depressed, make them understand depression is treatable. And that they will be free of it soon if they take their medicines regularly.
• Assure the troubled person that he or she is loved and cared for by many. And encourage him or her to seek professional help.
• If you think someone is in immediate danger of committing suicide, don’t leave the person alone. Take the help of friends and family members to ensure constant company for the suicidal person. Take away any weapon or other things that the person may use for self-harm. Try to calm down the troubled person, and get them professional medical and psychological help.
• If you know someone who may be suicidal, you can also consult suicide helplines. You can find the helpline numbers for India HERE.

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Ever since COVID-19 emerged, Vitamin D has been in the news a lot. Some experts consider Vitamin D deficiency as one of the factors affecting the severity of COVID-19 infection.

Vitamin D3:

Vitamin D3 is a part of the D vitamin family. It is actually a hormone that is naturally produced when your body is exposed to the sun. It has many health benefits. According to a study done in 2008, Vitamin D3 helps with brain development. A lack of Vitamin D3 in pregnant women may be a contributing factor to autism in children.  As per some experts, D3 may also play an important role in the development of gross motor skills. It may even help in some aspects of emotional development.

What causes Vitamin D deficiency?

While you may easily get most other nutrients from the food you eat, Vitamin D is present in only a few food items such as fish, cod liver oil, and eggs. Your body can make this vitamin too when your skin is directly exposed to sunlight. The problem is that most of us now spend too little time under the sun. And when we step out, we wear sunscreen which interferes with the production of Vitamin D in our body.  This leads to a deficiency of Vitamin D.

What is vitamin D deficiency?:

Nutrient D insufficiency implies that you need more nutrient D in your body. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to many serious health problems. If your body is deficient in Vitamin D, it will not be able to absorb calcium effectively. This lack of calcium may result in osteoporosis. It may also cause high blood pressure in some people. Vitamin D deficiency also increases the risk of other bone density health problems such as rickets which causes skeletal deformity. This deficiency in mothers may also cause serious problems in their children.

How to get sufficient Vitamin D:

If you have Vitamin D deficiency, try to spend more time under the sun. A few hours spent outdoors every week is all you need to have sufficient Vitamin D. If you can’t do that, you can take Vitamin D supplements after consulting your doctor.

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Why is feet health important for diabetics?

Diabetes increases your risk of developing sores and infections in your feet. As circulation slows down because of diabetes, your blood moves more slowly. This makes it harder for the body to deliver nutrients to wounds. As a result, your injuries would heal slowly, or may not heal at all. Moreover, diabetes may also cause neuropathy (nerve damage) which can affect wound healing.

In short, diabetes increases your risk of developing sores in your feet and reduces your body’s natural ability to heal them. In the worst-case scenario, these wounds or sores may lead to amputation. That is why you must take good care of your feet. Here are 9 simple tips to help you do that.

Foot care tips for diabetics

1. Check your feet daily. This is a must if you have low sensitivity or no feeling in your feet. You can use a mirror to examine your feet or take the help of your family member. This will help you notice any sores, cuts, or grazes before they get worse. Early treatment ensures a better chance of healing.
2. Don’t walk barefoot even when you are at home. It increases your risk of a foot injury. You may tread on something, stub your toes, or cut the skin of your feet. Always keep your feet protected with socks/stockings and shoes/slippers.
3. If you cannot bend when trimming your nails, take the help of your family member or professional like a diabetic nurse or podiatrist. Doing it on your own might cause injury.
4. Don’t ignore corns or calluses. They might worsen into wounds. Consult your doctor or podiatrist for the best way to care for them.
5. Keeping your feet clean is very important. Wash them every day in warm water. DO NOT use hot water.
6. Don’t soak your feet for too long. It could dry your skin too much and may form sores or cracks.
7. Keep your feet free of moisture. Take extra care to dry the skin between your toes. Leaving your feet damp might lead to infection and sores.
8. You must exercise your legs and feet regularly. There are several exercises you can do. When sitting, you can rotate your ankles or wiggle your toes. You can also move your legs up and down. Such exercises help in ensuring healthy blood circulation in your feet and minimize the risk of foot problems.
9. You must get your feet checked by a medical practitioner at least once a year for sensitivity issues and other problems. You can schedule this with your annual AC1 levels checkup (blood glucose levels over 3 months), or blood pressure and cholesterol checkup.

Conclusion:

If you are a diabetic, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a healthy and happy life. But you need to be careful about your health. This includes the health of your feet. So, keep your feet clean, dry, and protected. And always consult your doctor if you notice even a slight injury or wound on your feet. Don’t be careless.

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Uses

Vitamin C is one of the most widely known vitamins these days. It will surprise you that body needs vitamin C for over 300 plus functions. Vitamin c is also known as ascorbic acid, water-soluble, carbohydrate like substance involved in various metabolic processes. Vitamin C has the power to heal the body and without it, the body won’t be able to heal itself either. The body is not able to make vitamin C on its own neither it stores vitamin C. That is why you should include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in your daily diet. Vitamin C has been proved to help protect against heart disease, cancer, and other serious illness. Vitamin C is also vital for the synthesis of collagen. The collagen helps in quick healing in case of cuts or other injuries by repairing the damage. Without sufficient C vitamin, this would be very hard. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant and helps other vitamins and minerals to be absorbed better by the body. Folic acid and iron, for example, need vitamin C to show their usefulness to the best. Its antioxidant power protects body cells against damage from harmful molecules called free radicals. The more vitamin C body has a better defense system and immunity against colds and other ailments. Vitamin C does not guarantee that person will never catch a virus but helps as a shield for early recovery. Vitamin C has a vital role in managing high blood pressure.

Source

As per experts, the recommended daily intake for vitamin C is about 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. It must be obtained from the diet or supplements.  Citrus food is a rich source of Vitamin c. Cranberries, kiwi fruit, melons, acerola cherry, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, and spinach have high c vitamin content. Unfortunately, since the C vitamin is water-soluble, many vegetables lose much of their Vitamin C content if they are boiled for a long time. If you feel you are not getting sufficient Vitamin C from your diet, vitamin C supplements are an excellent way to boost your vitamin C intake. Consult your doctor before having it.

Conclusion

For strong body immunity and protect your body from high blood pressure, flu, cancer risk, eye diseases or treat lead toxicity daily intake of vitamin C is very essential.

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But work from home is WORK from home. It takes up as much time and energy as working from the office. Yes, it saves the time and hassle of commuting. But working from home is not without its own problems. I think the COVID-19 outbreaks is making many people realize that now.

When you work from home, self-discipline is of prime importance. Otherwise, you’ll either perform poorly or harm your health. I know because I’ve been there. And I had to quit an excellent and stable ‘work from home’ job because it had started affecting my health.

I’ve learned my lesson now and am able to enjoy a better work-life balance. Here are some work from home tips that are helping me and would be good for you too.

Work from home tips you should remember:

1. Maintain a healthy routine:

When people go to the office, their time gets regulated by a set routine. This is not as bad a thing as it sounds. Routine can save you from a lot of hassle and stress. It prevents procrastination. It also prevents your work from eating into your leisure time.

When you work from home, you need to be very strict with your time management. Employees with fixed login/logout time might find following a routine easier. But freelancers often get into the bad habit of following their mood instead of routine. This may result in unnecessary stress later on. You may waste four days trying to get into the mood for working. But then you may need to race against time on Friday. This will create stress, frustration, and will also result in poor work.

So, set up a routine that ensures a healthy work/life balance. And stick to it.

2. Maintain hygiene:

Working from home does not mean sitting in your pajamas all day. Getting ready and maintaining your hygiene must also be part of your routine. Working from home doesn’t mean you won’t shower for a week. Especially at a time when Coronavirus is threatening everyone, having a clean home and hygienic lifestyle is important. It will make you feel fresh, alert, and ready to take on the day’s work.

3. Don’t slouch:

When you are at home, you have the liberty to work from any chair, couch, and even your bed. But though it is comfortable, it is not healthy. While working on the computer, proper body posture is important. Bad body postures can hurt your spine, or give you neck and shoulder cramps and muscle aches. Bad posture while working on the computer might even harm your eyes.

So, sit up straight while working and don’t slouch. Maintaining a proper body posture while working will keep you alert for longer too. Reclining on your couch or bed may be more comfortable. But it will make you feel lazy and sleepy and is bad for your neck, spine, and eyes too.

4. Have a distraction-free workplace:

Try to create a separate ‘office space’ in your home. Reserve a separate desk and comfortable chair for your workspace. Having such a designated workplace will save you from household distractions. Distractions waste your time. And then, you might end up working till later to make up for the lost time.

5. Maintain proper mealtime:

When you are in office, you have timely lunch and tea breaks. Having meals at the proper time and interval is important to keep your metabolism revved up. These breaks also relax and rejuvenate you so you can get back to work with renewed energy.

But when you are working from home, you often keep pushing your break time till you have finished the work in hand. Or like I did, you might continue working while having meals. You might even reach out for a quick-fix meal like a sandwich or frozen pizza. But none of this is healthy. Working without proper breaks will exhaust you and raise your stress level. And skipping meals or racing through them will deprive you of the nutrition you need.

For employees working from home, taking lunch or dinner breaks gets harder. When I was working from home with a staffing agency, my office-based colleagues didn’t seem to realize that I needed food too. Their habit was to send me work before they went for the lunch break and expect the work to be done before their return. That’s why I ended up working through my meals.

Don’t fall into that trap. Be strict with your mealtimes, and make sure your coworkers respect it too.

6. Rest your eyes:

Working on the computer for long hours is harmful to your eyes. When you stare intently on the computer screen, you blink less frequently. This increases the risk of dry eyes. Your eyes feel fatigued, and you may experience headaches and pain in or around eyes. Bad body postures while working may aggravate eye strain. If you stare at the computer in dark, the Blue Light emitted by the screen might make it harder to fall asleep too.

My work from home job was also a night-shift job. Staring at the computer through the night took its toll on my eyes. Eye problems have become a constant for me. And I’m now forced to take up less work because my eyes get strained too soon.

So be very careful about your eyes while you work online. Take frequent short breaks to rest your eyes. Many experts recommend the 20-20-20 rule. As per this rule, after every 20 minutes of staring at the computer screen, look at something 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds. I use a chrome extension called Eye Care that rings an alarm every 20 minutes. This helps me in taking frequent time-out to rest my eyes.

Also, use a Blue Light filter on your computer to reduce the strain on your eyes. Windows 10 has this as Night Light. If your computer doesn’t have it, there are several software programs you can download. F.lux is one of the most popular such software.

7. Don’t become glued to your chair:

It’s not just your eyes that need breaks. Your body also needs to relax. When we are caught in a hectic workload, we end up sitting and working continuously for several hours. Long hours of uninterrupted sitting can cause you a lot of harm. It can hurt your spinal structure, damage discs, strain your tailbone, and give you neck and shoulder cramps. Worse, sitting continuously all day also increases the risk of obesity, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, and muscle degeneration.

So, take 5 minutes’ break after every 30 minutes and walk about a little or do body stretching exercises. These breaks will relax your body muscles, rest your eyes, and reduce your stress. You may get more work done by working continuously. But sooner or later, it will impact your health, and that will also impact your performance. So take care of your body before it’s too late.

8. Keep all communications clear:

When you work from home, it is very important to keep a record of all important communications. I am telling you this from my personal experience. Some of your colleagues may give you half the information or wrong information. But they will not admit to it if something goes wrong as a result. Also, keep a record of the information that flows from you. Because someone might end up declaring you didn’t tell them anything.

Also, office politics might come into play with this. And office politics is very hard to fight against when you are not in the office. People can say anything against you because you are not there to defend yourself. Also, it is easier for the manager to believe the employees working in the office than the ones working from home.

This not only lowers your reputation in your company, but it also creates unnecessary stress and frustration too. So, while you are working from home, keep a meticulous record of every important information you give or receive.

9. Say no to stress and overwork:

Another problem with working from home is that your colleagues and manager can’t see you working. And that makes it harder for them to realize your workload. As a result, no matter how much you work, people would still feel you are sitting idle at home. And so, they’ll push more work your way.

You must stay on your guard against this. Otherwise, your workload will go on increasing and still the people will think you are free for more work. Ultimately, you’ll feel frustrated, stressed out, and might even experience a burnout. I did, and suffered several adverse effects as a result. Don’t let it happen to you.

Conclusion:

Working from home may save you from commuting and watchful eyes of your manager. But it is not as comfortable as it sounds. And if you are not careful, you can damage your health and fall prey to office politics and work stress. Working from home can get lonely and depressing too. So stay in touch with your friends and colleagues and keep yourself motivated. And you must discipline yourself and manage your time and routine strictly. If you do that, you can enjoy the advantages of working from home without suffering its negative effects.

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