One of the most common temptations you’ll experience when working from home is the temptation of working from your bed. And who can blame you? Working in your bed with your laptop can be so much more comfortable than sitting for eight hours at a desk.
But before you convert your bedroom into your office, working from your bed presents several problems you need to be aware of. These include adverse effects on your sleep patterns, posture problems, and many more.
On the other hand, some people claim that working from your bed benefits you. They say that doing this every so often helps with creativity and even reduces work anxiety.
Which is it, then? Is working in your bed not good for you? Or is it something you should be doing?
To answer these questions, here are the pros and cons of working on your bed.
Benefits
Increases Your Creativity.
There’s no denying that you feel more comfortable working when you’re in your bed rather than at your workstation. Working in your bedroom provides you with solitude, which can help you be more relaxed while working and reduce work anxiety.
And when you’re relaxed, your mind can focus better on your work and increase your creativity. And with your creativity in full swing, you’ll be able to accomplish your tasks more quickly and efficiently.
So if you’re working on a challenging project, working from your bed can help you focus better.
This Setup Isn’t as Bad for Your Body As You Might Think.
With the correct setup, you can avoid the many potential health issues associated with working from your bed -while remaining cozy and comfortable.
First, you need a tray or small table for your laptop. Doing so enables you to sit upright in your bed like you would when working at a desk. It also helps you avoid a potential fire hazard, as placing your charging laptop directly on top of your bed sheets can cause a fire.
Next, try to get up from your bed from time to time to stretch. After all, lying in bed for eight hours straight couldn’t be healthy.
Finally, if you’re having trouble sitting upright, you can try adding more cushions to support your back.
And never EVER eat in bed. That’s just lazy and could cause a mess, which is bad for both your bed and your work.
The Downsides
Sleep Issues.
Your bed should only be for two things: sleeping and being intimate with your partner.
When we use our beds for other activities, such as working or watching shows, we associate our beds with being awake. Unfortunately, doing so also weakens our mind’s association with beds and a good night’s sleep.
This can have disastrous consequences for your sleep patterns.
This Setup Can Have a Detrimental Effect on Your Relationships.
Ever had a conversation with your significant other where they’re more engrossed with their gadgets than you or vice versa? If you’re working from your bed, these instances will likely increase.
This increase in the number of distractions from work is due to the blurring between work and private life. Many workers are having trouble disconnecting from their work, especially if they work from their beds.
These distractions cause a strain on your relationship with your significant other.
Working in Your Bed Can Be Unhygienic.
You may wonder, how on earth is it unhygienic to work in your own bed? For starters, humans shed enough dead skin cells to feed a million dust mites a day. And we shed up to 15 million of these skin cells at night alone.
This doesn’t even include the sweat we leave on our bed sheets due to how hot it can get, especially during the summer and any leftover food that could spill if you eat while working.
Now combine these with sitting on your bed all day, and you’ll get a hygiene problem.
Of course, the clear solution is to replace your bed sheets regularly. However, since you’re working in bed, that could be quite a hassle.
What Should You Do Then?
With all these said, is working from your bed good or bad? Well, it depends.
Again, some swear that they work best when lying on their beds. Others feel this setup is nothing more than asking for health problems later on and thus avoid doing it at all costs.
So before you consider working from your bed, consider the pros and cons before trying it out.
If you want to try working from home but don’t have an online job yet, head to Remote Staff. Our jobs list has a wide range of jobs you can choose from, so you have plenty of options. Good luck!
