About 39 percent of adult Americans complain of multiple levels of back and neck pains. A huge part of this worrying trend stems from unoptimized workspaces where employees spend most of the day. No doubt, how you set your office up can affect productivity and the overall health of your employees. Tweaking your office based on ergonomically approved best practices can never be a miss. Here are five tips to make your workstation ergonomically correct.
- Set Your Display at a Comfortable Height
The average working day spans over seven to eight hours. That means you can spend about two days out of each workweek staring at a screen. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure employees can work behind the screen with a clear view of the monitor’s content. Options like these 24 inch gaming monitors have optimized screens to prevent eye strain and fatigue. However, no matter how good a monitor is, always leave an arm’s length of space between you and the screen to prevent eye strain.
- Choose a Quality Desk
There are several ways to position your arms and wrists when typing at your desk. Keeping hands angled toward your lap or parallel to the floor is one good option. You may miss the opportunity to position yourself ideally if you opt for a regular desk on the market without considering these dimensions.
Often, regular desks are manufactured 28 to 30 inches high, which isn’t the best option if you’re shorter than 5 feet 10 inches. Working through different office tasks like typing, reading, and using the mouse requires different heights. For instance, you need to keep your wrists above the keyboard and your foot flat on the floor when typing. You may want to lay back and relax while you read a long document. Therefore, choosing an adjustable computer desk can give you multiple height options.
- Prioritize Your Back’s Health
Interior designers advise individuals and business owners to take this exercise before purchasing office chairs. Sit comfortably in the chair with your back pressed against the backrest, checking for gaps between the chair and your spine. The most ergonomically comfortable chairs support your back’s natural S-curve structure.
You can also use a lumbar rest if the chair doesn’t support your lower back. The lumbar pillow can improve your sitting posture to prevent unwanted strains on your upper and lower back.
- Optimize Lighting
Good natural lighting is necessary if you need an optimally lit workspace. Beyond operational performance, good lighting can enhance moods and stabilize circadian rhythms. Sitting in a poorly-lit office space for long periods can increase your susceptibility to depression.
For this reason, it pays to consider office spaces with enough windows. You can place light bulbs in multiple locations to evenly distribute light in the office during the night and on cloudy days.
- Choose a Mouse That Fits Your Hand
Using a mouse can be better than your laptop’s touchpad if you sit behind the computer for longer periods. Repetitive motions during mouse use can stress your finger and wrist muscles.
Your mouse should always be in a position to help you transition easily between typing and using the mouse. Depending on your most active arm, you can put the mouse on the left or right. Ultimately, ensure your mouse fits in your hand to make navigation and clicking comfortable.
Optimizing your office ergonomically doesn’t follow any specific format. You can be creative with your setup and try new ideas to fit your comfort.