Doom scrolling, heavy totes and lumbar support pillows: 5 bad habits hurting your body at work

Published 2 Min Read

A young woman rubs her neck in pain at her desk.
paulfourk from AdobeStock

It’s universally acknowledged that sitting at a desk and staring at a computer for eight hours a day is not good for your body — but there are certain habits that add even more aches to your workday. 

According to the National Health Interview Survey, over 50 million U.S. adults, or 20.5% of the population, report experiencing pain on most days or every day, with back, hip, knee and foot pain being the most common conditions. Meanwhile, physical therapy appointments can range from $75 to $500 per session, depending on the practice, insurance and type of injury. Body pain is a huge expense in the U.S., with the National Spine Health Foundation estimating that back pain alone costs the U.S. $250 billion annually. And what’s worse, most people are hurting themselves without even realizing it.

Whether it’s a coffee break, lunch or a long commute on the bus, doom scrolling — scrolling through negative news and posts on the phone for excessive amounts of time — can fill the time. But Behenna warns that looking down at your phone and scrolling through social media can be harmful to more than your mind — it impacts your neck, shoulders and back.

Read more: Don’t let the end of daylight saving time derail your sleep

Deanna Cuadra
Senior Reporter

Deanna Cuadra is a senior reporter at Employee Benefit News. Her work covers healthcare, U.S. policy and reform, challenges faced by women and parents in the workplace and innovation in work culture … Read full bio


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