You spend a lot of time in your home office. In fact, the only close runner-up is your bed, where you sleep every night. Because of that, making sure it’s a relaxing, calming, and healthy space is crucial—not only for your work performance, but also for your well-being.
The next time you’re in your office, take a good look around and see what you can change to make it a space you feel good in. And if you need some advice on healthy changes to make, start with these things that should be in every home office.
These 6 Things Should Be in Your Healthy Home Office
1. Ergonomic Office Furniture
Since you spend a lot of time sitting at your desk, you need to make sure you’re not hurting in the process. Choose a chair that keeps your posture in check so you’re not hunching over. You could also upgrade to a desk that can be adjusted so you can sit and stand.
2. Essential Oil Diffuser
Whether you’re trying to ease stress and tension, boost your mood, or increase your energy levels, having an essential oil diffuser on hand will help. Wondering where to start? Lavender is known for its calming effects, peppermint and lemon are great at decreasing fatigue and helping with energy and focus, and bergamot is a great option to bring on feelings of happiness.
3. Natural Light
Don’t shut the blinds in your office. In fact, let in as much natural light as possible. Exposure to natural light in the workspace has been shown to keep people healthier (as well as decreasing the amounts of headaches and eyestrain), keep people happier, and even help keep your productivity levels up.
4. Plants—and Lots of Them
Many studies have shown just how powerful nature is at keeping people healthy and happy. And while you can’t spend all your time outdoors, you can bring a touch of it into your home. Filling your office with houseplants can help boost your mood, reduce stress, and even improve air quality.
5. Water Bottle
If you don’t have a water bottle within arm’s reach at all times, change that immediately. Drinking water is one of the easiest ways to stay healthy, yet it’s something many people don’t do enough of. Find a water bottle you love and keep it at your desk. Then challenge yourself to fill it up at least three times a day. You can even set reminders in your phone to make sure you stay on track.
6. A Yoga Mat
Keep a yoga mat nearby to combat some of the effects of sitting all day. Take a 15-minute break to do some yoga along with a YouTube video, or tune into one of Intuition’s live or on-demand fitness classes. Even a quick stretch session will immediately leave you feeling more energized, ache-free, and ready to take on the day.
