In a post-pandemic world, more of us than ever are working remotely, at least part of the time. But a gross new model predicting what it could do to us might just have you begging to go back to the office.
Many of us became home-workers overnight, without the proper set ups in place.
While some have returned to the office, for many companies it's now a more flexible arrangement, but that could be taking a huge toll on our bodies.
These worrying 3-D images shows just what working from home could do to change our bodies, displaying what a home-worker might look in the future - and it's not a pretty sight.
But it's important to note that they have been created by an office furniture company 'to visualise the effects of not having a proper place to work at home’ and ‘to reveal what the remote worker of the future could look like’.
Dubbed Anna, the model created by Furniture At Work displays the physical effects of constant tech use, screen exposure and poor posture. She's got a hunchback, dark, swollen eyes, and claw-like hands and has packed on a few extra pounds.
The team behind her creation used research from the University of Leeds, which found that a third of those working from home are doing so without a dedicated workspace.
"To visualise the effects of not having a proper place to work at home, Furniture At Work used scientific research and worked with healthcare experts to reveal what the remote worker of the future could look like," explained the company.
Anna has been working from bed, which has taken its toll on her body and left her with a hunched back and raised shoulders. Her eyes are red and swollen as a result of staring at a screen all day, something many of us are guilty of even if we don't work at home.
Her disfigured, claw-like hands are as a result of long hours spent with her hand curled around her mouse. Her sedentary life working from bed also means she's fallen victim to weight gain and a weak immune system thanks to the lack of fresh air, anxiety and depression.
The findings have prompted health experts to urge home-workers to take measures to help themselves stay healthy while they are working from home. United Medical Education founder, Brian Clark, said: "Remote workers should take regular breaks to stretch and move their bodies to help avoid back and neck pain."
One of the best and easiest changes to implement is what's called the '20-20-20' rule. Sarah Gibson, director of Proactive Healthcare, said: "Following the 20-20-20 rule is a great way to look after your eyes if you spend long periods staring at screens.
"Look away from your screen every 20 minutes for 20 seconds and focus on something 20 feet away."
If possible, a dedicated workspace is also a good idea, says Mr Clark. "Setting up a designated workspace with ergonomic furniture is also important for establishing clear boundaries between work and personal time.
