If you spend the majority of your working day sitting at your desk, you may be surprised to learn that it could be having a detrimental effect on your wellbeing. So that you can stay fit and healthy while you work, keep reading. Here are four ways you can make your workstation more ergonomic.
- Invest in a spacious desk
If your desk is too small, it’s likely you’ll feel cramped and uncomfortable while you go about your daily tasks. Ideally, you should be able to fit the essentials, such as your computer screen, mouse, keyboard and telephone, on your desk, and you should have enough room for your elbows to rest on the surface. The good news is, you don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune to invest in a high-quality model. You shouldn’t struggle to find well-made and cheap office furniture online or at your local office furniture showroom.
- Upgrade your chair
Your chair is one of the most important elements of your workstation, so it’s crucial that you make sure yours is up-to-scratch. If your current seat leaves you feeling sore, achy and stiff, you could be due an upgrade. Ultimately, the chair you use needs to be comfortable, so investing in a model that has cushioning or padding is a must. Moreover, you should also make sure that it’s height adjustable and fully supportive of your lower back. Choosing an ergonomically-designed chair will enable you to work comfortably without putting your wellbeing at risk.
- Rearrange your work area
One of the secrets to a healthy workstation is to ensure that it’s perfectly arranged. Simply having your equipment scattered haphazardly on your desk isn’t good enough, and a disorganised workstation could be wreaking havoc on your posture. So that you can maintain a natural and comfortable stance while you work, you should ensure your mouse and keyboard are positioned close together. Ideally, your hands should be able to make an easy transition from one to the other. If required, you should also make sure that your telephone and filing tray are within easy reach so you don’t have to strain yourself to reach them.
- Adjust your computer screen
A poorly positioned computer screen could be having a huge impact on your health while you work, so simply adjusting your monitor could help heighten the ergonomics of your workstation. So that you’re not having to crane your neck, make sure your screen is situated at a suitable distance from your face. You should also ensure that it’s level with your eyes. If you can’t get the monitor high enough, you could use a riser. You should also tilt the screen slightly to avoid reflections and, if needed, you could adjust the monitor brightness settings to reduce your risk of eye strain.
Putting these suggestions into practice could help you create the perfect workstation setup.