Mobile Workforce Wellness Hacks: Top Digital Health Tips for Remote Workers 

Mobile working is here to stay. As you’re reading this, you’re likely to be doing so outside of the office.

A recent study found that nearly 50% of employees will permanently work in a hybrid or fully mobile fashion going forward. So, if you work remotely or on the move, you’re not alone. This shift brings immense flexibility, but it also comes with challenges. Maintaining wellness while working remotely requires a proactive approach, and embracing digital health solutions can make a big difference.

Mobile workers are nothing new. In its most basic definition, it means someone whose work is not tied to one location. So, before remote and hybrid working went mainstream, this could have meant a specialist, a consultant or a sales operative who didn’t work at the same location every day. 

However, in recent years the definition has evolved. Workers now operate on a hybrid basis, fully remotely, or even from a different country than their colleagues. 

Mobile working has brought immense flexibility to the workforce. But for some, it has brought challenges. Working on a mobile or remote basis changes our relationship with healthy habits. In some cases, the working day has become more sedentary, and the day is not broken up with incidental social interactions you’d find in an office.

As we’ve discussed, there are pros and cons being globally mobile. So, let’s look at ways to stay healthy and happy, while still enjoying the advantages that mobile work brings. 

• Just as technology has made remote and mobile work more accessible, it’s also introduced new ways to stay healthy and maintain work/life balance.  
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• Here are some tips and hacks for making your mobile working life healthier.
  

While it might not always be possible, but you might be surprised at how often it can be done, especially if you’re facing wall-to-wall Zoom meetings. Try to go for a walk on informal meetings. Take your phone and a hands-free kit, a notebook if necessary, and give your updates on the move.  

While it might sound unorthodox, walking meetings have a rich history, and has famous fans from Aristotle to Sigmund Freud. Indeed, a Stanford University study found that a whopping 80% of participants “improved creative output while walking”.

There is a wealth of affordable, accessible technology available behind those little logos in app stores.  

Squeeze in 5 minutes of contemplation on downtime with a meditation app. Track your runs, cycles or walks with an exercise app. Maintain good diet habits with a healthy habits app.  

When used correctly, mobile health apps can instil healthy habits that bring real long-term benefits, making your mobile-working day that bit easier. 

The same technology that allows you to work from outside the office, also allows you to access other resources. And medicine is one industry that has completely transformed their service in light of recent developments.  

As we talked about elsewhere, telemedicine is remote access to healthcare, from doctor appointments to mental health maintenance, and even some forms of health monitoring. This can be particularly useful for international workers who need convenient and accessible healthcare solutions.

There are several IoT devices and technologies that can work in concert to make your life happier and healthier.  

So, your smart home could be equipped with lights that match circadian rhythms, a smart thermometer, air quality monitors and fitness tracking wearables (for example). The data from these devices can help you to find opportunities for a healthy lifestyle you might not have even been aware of.  

Also, using IoT devices in this way encourages healthier habits overall. 

Unfortunately, modern workers spend hours per day staring at glowing screens, both at work and in their leisure time. In fact, the worldwide average for daily screen use is nearly 7 hours. Another study found that some workers are looking at screens more than they’re sleeping, with younger UK adults crossing 8 hours per day looking at screens.  

To minimise impact of screen time, here are some tips:  

• Take a screen-free break at regular intervals 
  
• Use blue light filtering settings on your devices; Night Mode on Android, Nightshift on Mac OS and iOS, and Blue Light Settings in Windows 10, for instance 
• Position your monitor perpendicular to natural light to reduce eye strain  
• Adjust brightness to a comfortable level 

For more information on this subject, check out our blog post on maintaining eye health when working from home.  

With a few small lifestyle tweaks, mobile working can offer the best of both worlds; a convenient way to work while also maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  

For more information, check out our post on Health on the Go and our self care tips for your mental health.  

At Allianz, we’re experts in providing international health insurance solutions, especially for mobile and international workers. Get in touch today.