To many, working from home sounds amazing — a comfy couch or your favorite recliner to sink into and, when you’re feeling a bit adventurous, maybe tackling some work while lying in bed.
But when you think about that slight pain you’ve been having in your back, the discomfort in your neck or the constant strain you’ve been feeling in your eyes, those comfy work spaces can quickly become troublesome.
The temptation to lounge around and work with your laptop can be enticing but when you ditch the (hopefully ergonomic) office chairs and stand-up desks, you could find yourself with poor posture, a lack of arm support and some killer aches and pains.
It’s time to substitute the couch for a more suitable work from home (WFH) station because, yes, even in the comfort of your own home you could be setting yourself up for a lot of stress and strains down the road. Consider these tips for creating a more ergonomic work space.
Before settling into your new workstation, you have to find the right location. Sometimes overlooked, lighting and ventilation can greatly affect comfort and productivity. Although meant for your typical office environment, the following OSHA tips can be incorporated at home for a more appropriate workstation:
Laptops are perfect for easy, on-the-go use but when you’re relying on them every day for personal and professional use, you should start to consider screen size. If too small, you could find yourself hunching forward and straining your eyes to read from your screen – doing some real damage to your neck, back and eyes. If possible, use your home computer to incorporate a bigger monitor.
We get it — we’re all on a budget these days. If you don’t have a home computer to work from, increase the screen text size and consider investing in an inexpensive laptop riser to help raise your monitor to eye-level. Want to get even more innovative? Stack some books and — voila!
How ironic is it that working with your laptop on your lap is one of the worst ergonomic positions? Ideally, you want to get familiar with the concept of neutral body positioning — a comfortable working posture where your joints are naturally aligned — to help reduce the risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). While working at your desk, remember to keep these tips in mind:
Working in the same position or sitting for prolonged periods can cause increased stress on your body — even if you’ve perfected your posture. Set a reminder to do some stretches, switch to a standing position for some of your work day or even take a break and go for a walk. Whatever you choose, your body will thank you in the long run.
Whether you’re working from the comfort of your own home or returning to a more traditional office environment, keep these recommendations top-of-mind for the sake of your physical well-being.