Guest Blogger #608, Entry #1434, August 3, 2012
Although the word “ergonomic” is not one that most of us use in our everyday language, it’s still something that we seek after, oftentimes without even realizing it. Basically, an ergonomic space is one that speaks to comfort and as we all know, if you want to be a productive worker, you need to be in a space that is as pleasant, useful and comfortable as it possibly can be.
Ergonomic home office ideas
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If you have a home office, but it’s not as ergonomic as you would like, here are five tips to help you to redesign your space to fit this specific kind of need:
Check your desk and chair.
Chances are, you are someone who spends the majority of your time at your desk and in your chair. This means that they both need to be as comfortable for you as they possibly can. You can insure this by making sure that your desk has enough room for your legs to move around in, that your chair is a good fit for your physique and that there is adequate enough space on top of your desk for your technological equipment as well as for your arms and hands to navigate those tools. Also, make sure that your chair has an adjustable back rest and arms.
Check your lighting.
One of the biggest causes for eye strain is sitting in front of a computer monitor all day without the right kind of lighting. Natural light is actually the best, but of course, there will be times when it’s rainy outside or you will find yourself working past sunset. For this reason, make sure that you have the kind of lighting that you need. A good test of this is if you find yourself squinting to see or your eyes are really tired midday, you probably need to get a new lamp to put on your desk or adjust the brightness on your monitor.
Ensure your lighting is well suited for your office space
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Check your monitor.
Here is one thing that a lot of people overlook; especially those who opt for using a laptop rather than a desktop. One way to cut down on neck and back strain is to make sure that your monitor is at the right height for you. To confirm this, sit in your chair at your desk and move the monitor until it is at your eye level. Also, take out a moment to extend your arm towards your monitor. If you are able to touch it with the very tips of your fingers, then it is at the right distance from your eyes. Otherwise, it’s either too close to you or too far and either distance can cause unnecessary eye strain.
Check your “accessories”.
People who are employed by a company whose office requires them to be away from home will oftentimes bring in things like pictures of their family members and friends or their favorite coffee mug to remind them of home. This is so that their office space will feel more satisfying. It’s a good idea to do the same for your home office. Don’t assume that just because you work where you live that you don’t need a few “warm and fuzzy” items within that space to make you feel even more comfortable as you work.
Make your office comfortable to be in
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Check your (personal) space.
Unless you live alone, one big challenge that comes with working at home is that your office is in a place where there are rooms used for other purposes. A huge focus for an ergonomic environment is to watch the noise levels that are around you. You can be proactive in this area by either designing a soundproof space (there are plenty of DIY home projects for soundproofing online), counteracting the nonproductive noise with a more soothing one (such as smooth jazz or classical music) or working during hours where there is less house traffic. Also, make sure that your home office is not a dual-purpose room because if your office is also your living room or bedroom, you may find yourself distracted by the television, phone calls and other forms of interaction. Your home office should be used for nothing other than work so that when you enter that room, you are focused on your job and when you exit, you are free to think about (and do) something else.
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