Working from home is great as it can provide us with many benefits such as a flexible schedule and no time spent having to commute to work. The best way to maximize productivity when working from home is to set up the perfect home office conducive to whatever kind of job you do. We all know how many aches and pains you can get from spending hours in front of a computer or sitting on a chair that isn’t comfortable. In recent years the switch to ergonomic furniture and practices has revolutionized workspaces. To make sure that you can work in comfort without damage to your body, the best thing you can do is create an ergonomic office.
This is a guide to how to create the perfect ergonomic home office with all the best equipment, as well as some tips on how to make yourself comfortable and prevent injury.
1. Ergonomic Office Chair
Choosing a great ergonomic chair for your home office is probably the most important decision you will make when designing your home office. Research has shown that around 50% of people these days suffer from back pain, and a lot of these cases are due to poor posture as the result of badly designed office chairs. We spend anywhere from 8 to 12 hours sitting at our desks, so it is vital to choose the right chair.
There are various options of ergonomic office chairs available, and so while this means there is sure to be the right model out there for you, it also means that the process of finding it can be complicated. The most important things you need to consider are the chair’s height, its ability to recline and tilt, the back and neck support it provides, and the seat depth. All of these combined will help provide you with the ideal sitting posture, and the easiest way to do this is to look out for an ergonomic office chair with the highest levels of adjustability.
2. Customizable Office Desk
A quality desk is, of course, a key feature in any home office, and there are various styles and designs available from which to choose. No matter whether you choose a traditional hardwood desk or something a little more contemporary, when it comes to ergonomic desks, the most important factor is height. The experts at Standing Desk Nation explain that if your desk is too high, you can strain or injure your forearms, while if the desk is too low, you can injure your shoulders and back from hunching over your computer.
One easy way to adjust the height of a desk is with a standing desk converter. These are instrumental pieces of office equipment because they enable you to easily convert the desk that you already have into one that is more ergonomic. You put the converter on the desk and put your computer on top. Then you can adjust the height of the converter depending on whether you want to sit or stand. It is always worth mixing things up when working long hours to ensure that you are not in one position for too long, as this is what can lead to injuries. Spend an hour sitting down behind your desk, and then raise the height of the converter for the next hour so that you can stand.
3. Correct Monitor Placement
The majority of us work a computer these days, and while you may immediately assume that it is your chair or desk which is causing stress and strains, the placement of your monitor is vital. If your computer monitor or laptop screen is in the wrong position, it can lead to shoulder and neck pain, headaches, eye strain, and excessive fatigue.
Your computer screen should be around twenty inches from your face. This can be easily measured by just stretching your arms out. You should be able to touch the screen with your outstretched fingers. Any closer and you will strain your eyes, while any further away may cause you to slouch to read the screen more easily. The angle of the monitor or laptop screen should be around 15 degrees so that your neck and head can be held in a strong, comfortable position. The incorrect angle of monitors and screens is what causes the majority of neck strains in offices. You might also want to read more about selecting the right gaming monitor which can be also be used when working and other computer activities.
Creating an ergonomic office is so important to maximize your productivity at home and minimize repetitive strain injuries and other common issues. Choosing the right chair and desk is key and creates the correct height of the monitor by using an adjustable desk converter. Try out these easy tips, and you can transform your home office today.
