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Making Your Home Office Ergonomic
Home workers that find themselves feeling uncomfortable each day might benefit from one or more of these ergonomic solutions for their office.
If you work at home, chances are you’ve found yourself wondering how you could improve your office. Being bent over a computer all day can get fairly uncomfortable, and you might find that a few small improvements can make a huge difference to your working day.
There are lots of ways you can make your time in your home office more comfortable. Some are small fixes, like making sure you’re well hydrated throughout the day or keeping the decor cheerful, but some are larger changes. Here are a few of the most important.
GET THE RIGHT DESK
Considering how much time most home workers spend at their desks, it’s surprising how often they’re not fit for purpose. For example, the natural place for most people to put their arms when typing at a computer is resting on the edge of the desk. However, many desks come with uncomfortable or sharp corners that make this irritating or even painful over the course of a day.
Instead of a standard table top, it’s worth considering one that is more ergonomically designed.
For example, one with a scalloped edge that is comfortable to rest your arms on. It’s also worth bearing in mind that you’ll likely be sat quite close to your desk, so it’s a good idea to buy one with the ergo cut out for a more ergonomic experience.
ADJUST YOUR MONITOR
Do you ever find yourself naturally settling into a slouch when you work? Often, this is due to computer monitors being placed low down on the desk, so it’s necessary for you to tilt your head down in order to see them. This can cause neck and back pain in both the short and long term, as it’s not how the human body is designed to sit for extended periods of time.
An adjustable mounting for your computer monitor could be the answer. This will allow you to tilt, swivel and move your screen so that it’s always at eye level, whether you’re sat attentively, relaxing back in your chair or stood up. This will help prevent the slump that so many people find themselves in at work.
TAKE THE TIME TO STAND UP
For most people, working involves long periods of sitting down, broken only by trips to get a coffee or take a toilet break. Unsurprisingly, this is a good way to gain weight and develop other health problems. It’s also not ergonomically sound, putting a surprising amount of pressure on your back and neck.
Standing up regularly can actually be a simple answer. However, most busy home workers don’t have the time to be wandering around all day, which is why many people are turning to adjustable desks. These can be raised or lowered easily, allowing you to work standing up or transition to sitting when you get uncomfortable.
