Working from home comes with plenty of perks, but in some cases, it may cause more harm than good.
With remote and hybrid working being a normal part of our working lives, our use of screens and being glued to our desks has increased significantly in recent years.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics, more than a quarter of working adults in Britain were hybrid working in autumn 2024.
The shift to remote or hybrid work means it has intensified, not just how long we are looking at screens, but how long we are sitting behind our desks, too.
Now, a new piece of furniture could give a dystopian insight into keeping us stuck to our desks even more than usual.
A gaming desk, featuring a remote-controlled reclining seat that unfolds into a bed, could allow you to eat, work, play and sleep without hardly ever moving from your chair.
Japanese furniture company, Bauhutte, has created the Electric Gaming Bed 2.
While the three-part structure has been marketed to hardcore gamers, the desk could be detrimental to those who already consider themselves workaholics.
‘Want to play games all day without moving a single step?’, the company wrote on its website.
The desk could prevent people from ever leaving their monitor or laptop screens for hours, as the motorised sections of the seat allow occupants to elevate or lower the upper body or legs.
With the push of a button, the upright computer seat can be unfolded into a flat bed for workaholics to lie at their desk without ever leaving their desk.
What might be considered scarier is how easy it is to set up a functioning food station, making it even harder to leave your desk.
The desk also has the option to include an L-shaped desk big enough to fit a mini-fridge and microwave, which may make some reconsider leaving their desk for hours.
While some may see this as the perfect solution to their busy lifestyle, many healthcare charities have raised concerns about increased screen time.
Nuffield Health warns that prolonged screen time or exposure to blue light can ‘contribute to retinal damage and increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration’.
While there is no hard-and-fast rule on how much screen time adults should be getting, the charity suggested offsetting time in front of screens with movement, particularly for those who are ‘physically inactive for large portions of the day’.
Tips on the Nuffield Health website advise a number of ways to reduce screen time and ensure we are finding fulfilment away from the screens.
One tip is to follow the 20-20-20 rule, which suggests looking at something 20 ft away for at least 20 seconds, every 20 minutes, to reduce eye strain.
It also advises using screen protectors or filters to reduce blue light and ensure the screens are placed at least an arm’s length away.
Further suggestions include taking adequate breaks and avoiding using screens in very bright or very dim environments to reduce glare and strain.
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