Home Office Ergonomics for Long Term Health
Over the last year, we have had to adapt our way of working. Swapping office chairs and proper desks for kitchen tables and spare room set up. With many companies looking to continue working from home practices, now is the perfect time to reflect on the long-term health of your at-home workstation.
If you work at a desk all day, there are some things to consider when setting up an office at home. For instance, do you have a good chair? Do you use proper posture? Are your eyes and neck in line with the top of your monitor or laptop screen? These questions aren’t just important for ergonomics; they can make a real difference to how productive and happy you are too.
There are a lot of things you need to consider when trying to create an ideal work environment at home. So here are five ways you can create a great workstation space at home for the long term so that you can enjoy great health while working from home.
1. Invest in a good desk chair that has good back support
Sitting at a desk all day can be hard on your body. You may experience tension and stress in your neck, shoulders, back, and lower back. Investing in ergonomic furniture will help to reduce the strain that you put on your body throughout the day. It is important to take care of yourself so that you are able to work and play for many years. A good desk chair with lumbar support is an excellent way to improve posture while sitting at a desk or table. There are other ways as well such as investing in a standing desk which has been shown to increase productivity by up to 40%. In addition, there are tools available online or through mobile apps that can track how much time you spend standing vs sitting during the day and give recommendations based on this data about how often it might be beneficial for you to stand up from your seat throughout the day. Also, consider using a footrest if your desk height is fixed.
2. Use an ergonomic designed keyboard and mouse
Working at a desk can be hard on your body. You have to sit in the same position for hours, which can lead to back pain and other health issues. Ergonomic electrical devices can improve your health by reducing strain on your body while you work. Using ergonomic electrical devices which have been specifically designed to reduce strain on your muscles and joints while you work, will improve your health. Use a wrist pad and mousepad – these are set at a good ergonomic height with armrests when typing or working in front of the computer; this will prevent carpal tunnel syndrome from developing over time!
3. Make sure your monitor is at the right height for your eyes
It’s important to make sure your computer monitor is at the right height for you. The perfect height for a computer screen varies from person to person. It’s important to get the right one for you. If your computer monitor is too low or high, you risk straining your neck and shoulders.
To avoid these symptoms you need to make sure that your eyes are level with or slightly below the top of the screen when looking straight ahead. If this isn’t possible then try tilting your screen forward so that you don’t have to tilt your head backwards as much when looking at it. Keep your monitor within arm’s length so you don’t have to strain yourself to look.
4. Sitting still for too long is not good for your health
We can all be guilty of this. But it is important to avoid sitting still for too long and take breaks every 30 minutes to stretch and move around. You should take regular breaks to stretch your legs. Besides being good for you, taking these breaks will give you more energy throughout the day and help prevent back problems in the future.
Most people don’t take breaks throughout the day to stretch their legs. This can lead to back problems in the future. Even if they do take a break, most people only stand up for a few minutes before returning to their desks.
Taking regular breaks from your desk is an easy way to prevent back pain and improve productivity. When standing, try doing some simple stretches or march on the spot while looking out of the window. It doesn’t have to be long – even just two minutes will help! If possible, find a place where you can walk around every hour or so instead of taking short walks throughout the day.
5. Good Lighting for your home office
Office lighting is typically not very good. Your home workspace doesn’t have to be like that. There are some great ways that will help reduce eye strain while still allowing yourself enough light so that your workspace looks inviting and bright! Firstly consider the sources of natural light around you, for example, a window or a skylight. If your desk backs onto natural light, install an anti-glare screen protector on your computer or use a glare-reducing filter on your glasses if necessary. Secondly, if you need to add artificial light by using a table lamp I recommend using daylight bulbs for your home office. They do make a huge difference. These light bulbs will help you have more natural colors on your monitor and are healthier for the eyes as well. Book in for an eye test with an optician to ensure optimum eye health.
Bonus tip for a healthier at home workspace
6. Add some plants
Adding plants to your workspace is a great way to increase air quality and oxygen flow in the room. You’ll feel less tired at the end of the day! By adding plants around your desk, you’re creating an environment that’s more enjoyable for working from home. It also improves air quality by removing toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, carbon monoxide, xylene, and ammonia from indoor air. And there are plenty of benefits for your health too! Plantlife has been shown to reduce stress levels as well as help with depression and anxiety. Plus it’s just nice having something beautiful insight while you work!
Conclusion
Your home office is your place of work. You spend a lot of time in this room, so it’s important to make sure you take care of yourself and invest in the best equipment possible for ergonomic comfort. The desk chair needs to have good back support or you may suffer from pain after sitting for too long at one point. Make sure that your keyboard and mouse are designed with an ergonomic design as well because these pieces will be used often when typing away on documents and clicking buttons online. Keeping everything comfortable can help reduce fatigue which will allow you to stay focused longer during those late-night hours! One other tip? Consider adding plants into your workspace if you want more air quality and oxygen flow throughout the space. If you need personalised advice from our team about what would suit your needs best, contact us today!
Psst… did you know
Working From Home
You may be able to claim tax relief for additional household costs if you have to work from home on a regular nasus, either for all or part of the week. This includes if you have to work from home because of coronavirus (Covid-19) .
You cannot claim tax relief if you choose to work from home.
You may be able to claim tax relief for:
- Gas and electricity
- Metered water
- Business phone calls, including dial-up internet access
You cannot claim the whole bill, just the part that relates to your work.
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/buying-other-equipment
This is a good clip to visual a good setup
