When people talk about the challenges of working from home, they focus on productivity, isolation, or work-life balance. But there is one critical factor that gets overlooked: your health.

Specifically, vitamin deficiencies.

WFH changes how you eat, move, and get sunlight exposure, and those changes can have real consequences. If you are feeling constantly tired, moody, or struggling with focus, it might not be burnout or stress. It might just be a deficiency in something your body needs.

The good news? It is an easy fix. But first, you have to know what is happening.

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Why WFH Can Lead to Vitamin Deficiencies

In an office, you probably moved around more without thinking about it, walking to meetings, commuting, grabbing lunch with coworkers. You were also more likely to get natural sunlight exposure, especially if you had a daily commute.

Working from home removes those built-in routines. Without realizing it, you might be spending less time outside, less time moving, and eating differently than you used to. Over time, this can lead to deficiencies, even if you feel like you are living a relatively “healthy” lifestyle.

Unless you are intentional, you may be affected by:

Less Sunlight → Lower vitamin D levels, which are key for energy and mood

More Indoor Time → Less movement, affecting circulation and metabolism

Less Social Eating → More solo meals, which can sometimes include less variety

If you’re feeling more tired, less focused, or just off since working remotely, it’s worth checking if your body is missing something.

Symptoms Checklist

Here are some symptoms to look out for:

• Vitamin D Deficiency: Fatigue, mood swings, muscle weakness, frequent illness
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Brain fog, low energy, tingling in hands and feet
• Iron Deficiency: Dizziness, shortness of breath, pale skin, extreme tiredness
• Magnesium Deficiency: Muscle cramps, poor sleep, headaches
• Omega-3 Deficiency: Dry skin, joint pain, difficulty concentrating

The only way to know for sure is to get tested. A simple blood test can give you clarity and prevent months or years of unnecessary fatigue or low mood.

How to Get Tested

Checking your vitamin levels isn’t complicated or expensive. It’s just not something most people think to do.

Here’s how:

• Ask Your Doctor and request a routine blood test for vitamin D, B12, iron, magnesium, and any others relevant to your diet and lifestyle
• At-Home Testing Kits like Everlywell allow you to test at home if you prefer convenience
• Track Your Symptoms and if you notice patterns, like feeling worse in winter, bring it up with a healthcare provider

Most deficiencies are easy to correct once you identify them.

My Experience with Fixing It

It took me over a year of working from home before I realized my energy and mood issues weren’t just from being "off", I had actual vitamin deficiencies.

I had been spending way less time outside, and I had switched to a plant-based diet. Even though I was eating a well-balanced diet, I didn’t realize that B12 is primarily found in animal products. Turns out, I was deficient in both vitamin D and B12, which was making me feel sluggish, unmotivated, and down for no reason.

After getting my blood work done and starting the supplements my doctor recommended, my energy levels bounced back within a few weeks. It was such a simple fix, yet I had been struggling for months before realizing the issue.

Now, I make it a habit to get my levels checked yearly. It’s such an easy way to stay on top of your health, and I highly recommend anyone working remotely do the same.

Small Fixes, Big Impact

If you work from home and have been feeling off, don’t just assume it’s stress or burnout, check your blood levels.

A simple test could be the key to unlocking more energy, focus, and overall well-being. Remote work gives us the flexibility to optimize our environments, but we also need to proactively check in on our health.

If you haven’t done it yet, consider this your reminder to book that blood test. You might be surprised by what you find.

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Quote of the Week
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- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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In Other News

John D Saunders | Web Design & Systems @johndsaunders Quick tip: If you have a borderless remote team with members all over the world, it's always a good idea to keep a pulse on their local news. It's an effective way to connect, show that you care, and also respond when weather, politics, or other major events impact their way of… https://x.com/i/web/status/1900179201975631958 7:36 AM • Mar 13, 2025 1 Retweets 18 Likes Read 1 replies

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