You would think that working from home can keep you safe from the virus, but there could be a bunch of other ways you could get sick just staying in. With hospitals overloading and the dangers of even going in for a checkup high, it’s best to prevent these possible illnesses from happening to you in the first place. Here are some of the most common health problems and how to avoid them. Disclaimer: These are merely tips on how to avoid and not a replacement for seeking professional medical help. If symptoms persist it’s always best to see a doctor.

1. Chronic back pain

You may think that the simple back pain can go away with just a few stretches, but prolonged sitting for days on end can take a toll on your back and cause long term negative health effects. The best way to prevent this is by keeping your back muscles strong. Do back strengthening exercises at least 2x a week, eat a healthy and balanced diet to keep the muscles healthy. Avoid heavy lifting - if you do lift with your legs and not with your back. Get your phone to alert you every hour to stand up and do some light stretching.

2. Migraines

Working on your laptop all day isn’t healthy, and with the WFH setup even your face to face meetings are done through your screen. If you find yourself suddenly getting headaches in the middle of the day there can be a few causes to it like stress, fatigue, changes in weather, or even more common these days - too much screen time. Step away every few hours to relax your eyes. Maybe read a book or go for some light exercise to take you off your screen for a while.

3. Cabin Fever This isn’t an official diagnosed illness but could be more common. Effects of cabin fever are decreased motivation, depression, hopelessness, lack of patience, trouble concentrating. This happens when you feel isolated or confined for an extended period of time. The best ways to cope since we can’t go out of the house yet are to stick to a schedule - especially our meal time. Set goals no matter how small so you feel accomplished at the end of the day. Strengthen your mind and body by stimulating your mind with books, puzzles, games, and exercising regularly.

4. Computer Vision Syndrome

Also known as digital eye strain, this can cause problems for your eyes in the future (and the need for glasses if left uncorrected). Some common symptoms are eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, neck and shoulder pain, and dry eyes. This is especially dangerous if you use your laptop/tablet/phone in the dark on high brightness, have poor sitting posture, or stare at the screen too close. Prevent this by minimizing your blue light glare either through the device of having glasses that prevent blue light from entering your eyes. Sit comfortably in the proper seated position that doesn’t require you to move closer to the computer. Wear glasses if needed so you don’t have to squint and make your eyes work overtime. Take breaks throughout the day.

It’s important to remember that the best way to avoid these common illnesses is to live a healthy and balanced life with the proper diet, right amount of exercise, and some natural sunlight if you can get it. All of these can go a long way into ensuring your health in the long run.