Ergonomic Work Space for Your Home
Picture this: You’re sitting in your home office struggling to find a comfortable position when you realize you’re only an hour into your 8-hour workday. You are experiencing neck pain, back pain, a looming headache and find yourself restless due to the discomfort.
Let's face it—We have all experienced this discomfort in our work settings to some extent. Luckily, there’s something called ‘ergonomics’ to help.
While ergonomics may not be a term you use or hear daily, it impacts your daily life tremendously. Ergonomics is the nature of designing something for efficiency and comfort in the working environment. Fortunately, there is ergonomic furniture that is specifically designed to maximize this comfort and efficiency. Such furniture is designed to support function and comfort, reducing back and joint pain, arthritis, neck pain, restricted organs, and poor blood pressure. When it comes to creating an ergonomic workspace, there are many furniture pieces to consider including chairs, desks, computers, monitors, computer mice, and keyboards.
Chairs
Teknion Around Task Chair, fully upholstered
The options are endless when selecting which chair is the best fit for your office space. However, there are a few key aspects to consider including:
Chair height
Adjustment options
Chair cushioning
For starters, it’s important to ensure that your chair complements your personal height and desk height. Adjustment options should support various heights and allow you to adjust the chair to be taller or shorter. In the same way, you should be able to move the armrests up and down to support longer and shorter torsos. This will provide added support for typing. Back adjustments can include allowing you to adjust the back of the seat forwards and back to accommodate your height. This will help tremendously with posture and comfort. Similarly, the cushioning on the seat will help not only with posture, but it will allow you to comfortably work while sitting for a longer period. For this reason, it’s very important that the cushioning of your chair works for your body type.
Desks
Sitting in the same spot for several hours at a time can escalate fatigue, especially if your space does not provide comfort and functionality. Adjustable, standing desks allow you to transition from a standing and seated position throughout the day. These desks can be customized to fit your perfect seated and standing height. In fact, studies show that employees who alter from sitting to standing positions throughout the day have increased energy and focus.
Knowing the importance of versatility in your working position is one thing, but knowing where exactly your desk should be positioned is another. Ideally, any desktop should rest around elbow height in both a seated and standing position. Beyond the height of your desk, it’s important to think about its size, available storage, and basic functionality.
Keyboards
Teknion Tiers Keyboard and Mouse Tray
A basic guideline when it comes to your keyboard and mouse is to keep it as close to you as comfortable in order to avoid over-stretching. This way, your desk, chair, and keyboard all work hand-in-hand to provide all-around comfort.
If you find yourself typing most of the day, you may even consider investing in a raised keyboard or a mouse and keyboard tray to support your wrists. Keyboard risers promote comfort and help tremendously with carpal tunnel.
Monitors and Computer Screens
Teknion Mast Single Monitor Arm
Monitors and computer screens can make or break your work experience. We’ve all been in a position where our screen was too small, or at an uncomfortable angle causing neck pain, headaches, and eye discomfort. Because of this physical strain, we must think carefully about the work we are doing, and what display would best support that work.
If your job requires multiple windows or attention to detail, you may consider a wide-screen monitor or one that displays large images. Many users prefer multiple monitors to support their tasks, allowing for maximum efficiency. You may also want to consider an adjustable monitor or laptop stands so that you can position your screen at eye level.
When it comes to placing your monitors on your desk, there is a rule of thumb to follow: The larger the monitor(s), the further back you will need to sit.
Working from home can be a huge adjustment, but having an ergonomic office space can make you just as productive as in the office, if not more. At Office Works, we’re here to help you find the right products for your home office. Choosing the right chair and desk can be tricky, but our team has the resources and expertise to help get you there. Contact us to get started!