"That's just great. You hear that Ed? Bears. Now you're putting the whole station in jeopardy."
This line from comedy classic Anchorman came to mind when I read this story about the risk of blood clots while working from home. Not only has COVID-19 caused devastation across the globe and cost millions of people their lives, it has ruined economies and put scores of people out of jobs. Most people have had to work from home during the pandemic and it seems everyone has a different story about their makeshift work-from-home situation. Freelancers are typically used to working from home and know all of the potential issues that come to light when doing this, from distractions of family to discomfort caused by subpar chairs and desks to the added costs of using your own supplies to the loneliness.
Don't get me wrong, there are also a lot of great benefits too, but it's obviously far from perfect. Well, now we have to add another thing to the list: blood clots. According to this Spectrum 1 News article out of Raleigh, North Carolina, people who work from home could be at a higher risk for Deep Vein Thrombosis. And it's definitely a real risk because they talked to a phlebologist. Was this entire article just an excuse for me to check the word "phlebologist" off my list of words I've never used in an article? Maybe.
We have to add another thing to the list: blood clots.
To be real for a second, this is obviously a serious issue that affects people in bad ways. Fortunately, it can be pretty easy to combat against it.
Dr. Amery and recommendations from the CDC say to get up and move at least every couple of hours while traveling or working. If you are in a position where you can't move, pump your legs like you're pushing a gas pedal.
So, if you are someone who gets stuck in one position while you're concentrating on deep work, make sure to set a timer to remind yourself to get moving every few hours. It has numerous benefits for you, many of which relate to your ability to concentrate and do the best work possible, but others include physical benefits like preventing blood clots. So, get moving!
