The temptation is undeniable- laptop balanced on your knees, coffee within arm’s reach, blanket wrapped around your shoulders. For many people, working from home has blurred into working from bed. What started as a pandemic-induced compromise has, for some, become a lifestyle but here’s the reality turning your mattress into your office isn’t just a quirky habit. Over time, it can take a serious toll on your body, your mind, and even your long-term health.

Let’s understand what really happens when your bed becomes your desk, why it matters, and how you can protect yourself if working from bed is your only option.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become the norm for millions. With that shift came a rise in what’s now jokingly called “WFB” — working from bed. For some, it’s a matter of space. About one in eight Americans live in apartments, and not everyone has the square footage for a dedicated office but for others, it’s pure comfort. Instagram’s #WorkFromBed tag is filled with cozy scenes: soft blankets, warm mugs, and cheerful selfies.

The numbers back it up, a November 2020 survey found that 72% of 1,000 Americans had worked remotely from bed during the pandemic, a 50% jump from pre-pandemic levels. One in ten said they spent most or all of their workweek — 24 to 40+ hours in bed.

It’s easy to see the appeal but the truth is, both your body and brain are paying a price.

Ergonomic Fallout: Why Your Body Isn’t Built for Bed Work?

Beds are designed for rest, not for the sustained postures required in work. That soft surface you’re sinking into may feel comfortable, but it encourages your body to slump in ways that put your muscles and joints under constant strain.

Back and Hip Pain

When you sit in bed, your legs are often stretched out in front of you or crossed awkwardly. This position stresses the sacroiliac joint — the link between your spine and pelvis. Your lower back (lumbar spine) is forced into unnatural curvature, and over time, the muscles in your hips, thighs, and back can tighten or shorten.

If you’re on a couch, the problem shifts: being too low to the ground pulls on your lumbar spine and compresses your lower back.

Neck and Shoulder Strain

If your laptop is perched on your lap, you’re looking down at the screen, rounding your shoulders forward. This forward-head posture overstretches the muscles in your neck and upper back while tightening the chest muscles — a recipe for chronic stiffness and pain.

Jaw Tension and Dental Issues

Poor posture doesn’t stop at the shoulders. It can lead to tension in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the hinge connecting your jawbone to your skull. The nerves running from your neck and shoulders feed into this joint, so prolonged tension can trigger jaw pain, facial swelling, migraines — and even cracked teeth from unconscious clenching.

Wrist and Hand Problems

Without a proper desk setup, you’re likely bending your wrists at awkward angles or resting them on hard surfaces. This can compress nerves, restrict blood flow, and contribute to conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome.

How WFB Affects Your Overall Health?

It’s not just about muscle aches. Long hours spent sitting — especially on soft, unsupportive surfaces — can contribute to long-term health risks.

Higher disease risk: A landmark 21-year study of over 125,000 people found that sitting more than six hours a day increased the risk of death from all causes, including heart disease, cancer, and kidney disease.

Weight gain: Prolonged sedentary behavior can slow metabolism, making weight gain more likely — which in turn increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and joint problems.

Hormonal changes: Extended sitting has been linked to changes in insulin sensitivity and other hormone levels, raising the risk for metabolic disorders.

Why Working from Bed Can Take A Mental Toll On Your Brain?

Working from bed doesn’t just mess with your muscles it messes with your mind. Experts call it sleep hygiene — the set of habits that help your brain associate bed with rest. The more time you spend in bed doing non-sleep activities like answering emails, watching videos, or scrolling your phone, the more your brain learns that bed equals stimulation, not sleep.

That’s a big reason why “coronasomnia” — pandemic-era insomnia — spiked worldwide. People were literally training their bodies out of restful sleep.

Your environment cues your brain for certain behaviors. A home office signals “focus mode,” but if you’re working in the same spot you binge-watch Netflix or take naps, it’s easier to slide into distraction and harder to get into deep work.

How to Work from Bed Smartly?

Sometimes, working from bed is unavoidable — whether because of space constraints, shared living arrangements, or health needs. In those cases, you can still protect your body and mind by making a few adjustments.

1. Prioritize Support

• Place a rolled-up pillow behind your lower back for lumbar support.
• Put pillows under your knees to reduce strain on your hips and lower back.
• Use a pillow pad or tray table to lift your laptop closer to eye level.

2. Adjust Your Gear

A wireless keyboard and mouse can help keep your wrists in a neutral position and your screen higher. If possible, separate your display from your keyboard so you’re not hunched over.

3. Move Regularly

The Mayo Clinic recommends standing or moving every 30 minutes. Incorporate quick stretches:

• Chin tucks to relieve neck tension.
• Gentle jaw stretches to ease TMJ strain.
• Shoulder rolls to loosen upper back muscles.

4. Mix Sitting and Standing

Alternate between working from bed and standing at a kitchen counter or dresser. Even short standing breaks can offset some of the damage of sitting.

5. Maintain Mental Boundaries

Change out of pajamas before starting work. Remove non-work items from your “workspace” during work hours and restore them afterward. This symbolic shift helps your brain switch modes.

Working from bed might feel cozy, but over time it can reshape your posture, strain your joints, disrupt your sleep, and dull your productivity. The risks aren’t just short-term discomfort they can accumulate into chronic pain, long-term health issues, and entrenched bad habits.

If you have the option, set up a proper workstation even if it’s just a small table in the corner of your room. If you don’t, make strategic adjustments to support your body and protect your mind. Your bed should be the place you go to recharge, not the place you slowly wear yourself down.

A new study published this week in Nature has found that the loss of lithium, which is a naturally occurring element in the brain. This could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease and a key driver of its progression. Alzheimer’s affects more than 7 million Americans, and this finding offers fresh hope for treatment strategies.

The research, led by Bruce A. Yankner, a professor of genetics and neurology at Harvard Medical School, shows that lithium plays a vital role in maintaining the health of all major brain cell types in mice. When lithium levels in the brain drop, it appears to contribute to nearly all the major forms of brain deterioration seen in Alzheimer’s disease.

While lithium’s link to Alzheimer’s is new, the metal itself has a long medical history, most notably in mental health treatments.

What Is Lithium?

Lithium is the lightest metal found in nature. Silvery and soft, it’s best known today for powering our smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles, all thanks to its ability to store large amounts of energy and discharge electrons quickly.

Its use in everyday products has an unusual history.

The original version of the soft drink 7Up contained lithium citrate and was marketed as “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda,” reported the Washington Post.

Lithium was removed in 1948 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned its inclusion in soft drinks.

Today, Australia leads the world in lithium production, while Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina form the so-called “lithium triangle” due to their rich reserves.

Lithium’s Role in Mental Health

Lithium carbonate, a chemical form of the metal, has been a cornerstone in the treatment of bipolar disorder since its approval by the FDA in 1970. It is considered a mood stabilizer and is sometimes prescribed for long-term depression management.

Although researchers still don’t fully understand how it works, lithium is thought to reduce stress in the brain and boost neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize itself over time.

The new Nature study adds to this understanding, showing that our brains naturally contain small amounts of lithium.

Historically, lithium use in psychiatry dates back to the mid-19th century, but it gained prominence in the late 1940s when Australian psychiatrist John Cade found it helped stabilize bipolar patients.

“It’s been around for decades, and we have a lot of research and evidence supporting its use,” said Elizabeth Hoge to the Post. Hoge is a psychiatry professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine. However, Hoge cautioned that lithium treatment requires regular monitoring of kidney and thyroid function.

ALSO READ: Could Lithium Deficiency In The Brain Trigger Alzheimer’s?

Balwinder Singh, a psychiatry professor at the Mayo Clinic, as reported by the Post, calls lithium the “gold standard” for bipolar disorder, though it is prescribed less often in the U.S. than in Europe. Only about 10–15% of American bipolar patients take lithium, compared with around 35% in Europe. Singh also highlighted its unique benefit: “Lithium is the only mood stabilizer consistently shown to reduce suicidality.”

That said, some research has questioned lithium’s effectiveness for bipolar depression, finding it may not outperform placebos or antidepressants in certain cases.

Why Researchers Are Exploring Lithium for Alzheimer’s

Lithium’s potential role in Alzheimer’s is not entirely new. Past studies have hinted at its protective effects on the brain.

A 2017 Danish study suggested that communities with higher lithium levels in drinking water had lower rates of dementia.

Yankner’s team became interested in lithium after measuring the levels of 30 different metals in the brains and blood of three groups: cognitively healthy individuals, those in the early stages of dementia, and those with advanced Alzheimer’s. Of all the metals tested, only lithium showed a significant difference among the groups.

Lithium appears to help maintain the brain’s “communication network” by supporting neuron connections, producing the myelin that insulates those connections, and aiding microglial cells in clearing cellular debris—processes essential for memory and cognitive health.

How This Could Lead to New Treatments

In lab tests, Yankner’s team administered small amounts of lithium orotate, a different lithium compound, to mice with Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. The treatment reversed the disease model and restored brain function in the animals.

While the results are promising, Yankner stressed that it’s too early for people to start taking lithium for Alzheimer’s. The compound has not yet been tested in humans for this purpose, and lithium can be toxic if improperly dosed.

“This should spur clinical trials,” Yankner said, but he also cautioned that “things can change as you go from mice to humans.”

For now, the research offers an intriguing lead but not an immediate solution. Clinical trials, if launched soon, could take years to confirm whether lithium could safely and effectively slow or prevent Alzheimer’s in people.

A Small Metal With Big Potential

Scientists, now, are beginning to understand that it may also hold a key to protecting the brain from one of the most devastating diseases of our time.

If future studies confirm lithium’s benefits for Alzheimer’s, it could pave the way for a treatment that works by restoring something the brain naturally produces, rather than introducing an entirely foreign substance.

If your thumb has developed the muscle tone of a professional gamer and your brain twitches when a notification pops up, you are living the full 21st-century social media experience. Somewhere between the fear of missing out (FOMO) and the joy of missing out (JOMO) lies a vast, unpredictable middle ground that can either boost your mood or fry your mental circuits.

FOMO: Anxiety in a Newsfeed

Dr Ashish Bansal, MD, Consultant Psychiatrist and co-founder of House of Aesthetics in New Delhi, describes FOMO as living in “a comparative world”. It is that creeping dread when your feed is flooded with friends on exotic beach holidays, colleagues posting about career wins, or acquaintances showing off culinary masterpieces you didn’t even know could exist.

“This is not just envy,” Dr Bansal explains. “There is a hidden belief that our life is useless when compared with others.” The consequences are more than emotional discomfort; research links excessive FOMO to high stress levels, poor sleep quality, and even depression.

Counselling psychologist Reshmithaa Nair from Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore adds that FOMO “can push individuals to overcommit socially, compare achievements, and feel inadequate.” That compulsive checking of notifications? It is not harmless. It chips away at focus and self-esteem like a relentless digital woodpecker.

JOMO: Peace in the Offline Lane

Then there is JOMO, the Joy of Missing Out, which is less about Netflix marathons in pyjamas and more about a deliberate retreat from the constant online buzz. “JOMO is about setting boundaries,” says Dr Bansal. “Choosing meaningful, offline experiences over endless online engagement.”

It is not an antisocial media rebellion but a conscious decision to protect mental space. Nair points out that people embracing JOMO often experience “reduced stress, improved sleep, and deeper real-life connections”. It is the art of logging off without the guilt, reclaiming your time like a boss, and refusing to measure your worth in likes or retweets.

The Spectrum: It is Not All or Nothing

While FOMO and JOMO are catchy polar opposites, most of us live somewhere in between. Social media is not inherently evil, nor is it a magical self-care tool. It can be a place of connection, learning, and inspiration, or a breeding ground for burnout, envy, and loneliness.

“The impact depends heavily on usage patterns, self-awareness, and boundaries,” says Nair. It is not just about whether you are online or offline, but how you engage when you are there. Dr Bansal calls this mindful usage, curating feeds to highlight uplifting content, scheduling screen-free hours, and remembering that what you see online is “only a highlight reel, not the full story”.

What is Digital Mindfulness?

Even small shifts, like swapping passive scrolling for purposeful engagement, can turn social media from a mental drain into a growth tool. “When we engage with intention, it can enhance our well-being. When we use it unconsciously, it can amplify stress and comparison,” she says.

From Doomscrolling to Delightscrolling

So what does balance look like in real life?

• Checking updates once or twice a day instead of every 10 minutes.
• Following accounts that inspire you rather than inflame your insecurities.
• Logging off when you feel more anxious than entertained.

It is about catching yourself before you spiral into a 3 am YouTube hole titled “Top 100 Cats Who Look Like Famous Politicians”.

Remember the Offline Reel

Perhaps the most important reminder is that the best moments often do not make it to Instagram. They happen in the middle of unfiltered laughter, over cups of chai with friends, or while watching the sunset without thinking of hashtags. As Dr Bansal says, “Sometimes the best moments are missed while we are just watching a post.”

Nair leaves us with a gentle nudge: “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… including you.” That means you, your mind, and your phone have an overheating battery. Whether you thrive in the fast-paced digital current, find serenity in switching off, or navigate somewhere in between, the goal remains the same: keep your mental health at the centre of your online habits.

Historically, people have been slathering its goat milk goodness on their skin thanks to its rich fats and skin-loving nutrients. Lactic acid is a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) found in goat milk. It works by breaking the “glue” between dead skin cells, letting them slide off more easily to reveal fresher, smoother skin underneath.

Dead skin cells can more easily slide off to reveal the smoother, lighter skin underneath when lactic acid breaks down the bonds holding them together. In higher concentrations (like the 5–12% found in targeted skincare products), lactic acid boosts radiance, hydrates, and softens fine lines. In goat milk, however, the concentration is lower, which means it’s milder but slower to deliver visible results.

The Gentle but Patient Approach

“As goat milk contains less lactic acid than pure lactic acid, it is weaker but still works,” says Dr. Sooriya. “This reduces the possibility of irritation brought on by higher AHAs, making it good for people with dry skin.”

This gentleness is exactly why it’s a safe choice for sensitive skin.

Dr. Katheeja Nasika points out that the fatty acids, antioxidants, and bioactive proteins in goat milk help maintain the skin barrier and suppress inflammation, a bonus you don’t always get from stronger chemical exfoliants.

Manage Your Expectations

Here’s where the bubble bursts for anyone hoping for overnight miracles. Goat milk won’t banish deep wrinkles, stubborn pigmentation, or cystic acne. It’s not meant to.

“You should not rely solely on goat milk to remove large pimples, wrinkles, or dark spots,” advises Dr. Sooriya. “Add active ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide, in moderation, to help in the process.”

Similarly, Dr. Nasika emphasises that while goat milk can enhance hydration and texture, the lactic acid content is low and variable, making results subtle and unpredictable. In other words, it’s more of a maintenance player than a star striker in your skincare squad.

Where Goat Milk Shines

If your skincare goals are about gentle exfoliation, daily nourishment, and barrier support, goat milk ticks the boxes. Used in soaps, cleansers, and lotions, it:

• Softly removes minor discolourations
• Hydrates the skin with its blend of vitamins A and D
• Supports cell turnover without triggering redness
• Adds a touch of radiance over time
• Goat milk is also especially handy for those who can’t tolerate stronger AHAs but still want some exfoliation in their routine.

Gentle, Yes. Overhyped? Not Exactly.

Calling goat milk “overhyped” depends on what hype you have been sold. If you have been promised a miracle in a bar of soap, that’s overselling it. But if you understand it as a slow, steady, and skin-friendly option, it’s a quiet achiever.

“It might not work miracles, but it’s a good way to clean your skin without harming it and gain extra nutrients at the same time,” says Dr. Sooriya.

Dr. Nasika agrees, noting that it’s particularly suited for sensitive skin as a maintenance therapy, just don’t expect it to replace higher-strength exfoliants when dealing with pigmentation or fine lines.

• Good for: Sensitive skin, dry skin, gentle daily exfoliation, hydration
• Not so good for: Deep pigmentation, pronounced wrinkles, active acne
• Best used as: A daily cleanser or lotion, paired with other active ingredients (used carefully) for bigger skincare goals