First, let’s all agree that the home office is one of the few places where you can be as comfortable as you want. You can lay on your couch in your pajamas all day long if that’s what makes you happy!
But like any other place we spend a lot of time at, it’s important to make sure we’re taking care of our bodies in this space too. This means making sure your workspace is ergonomic so that it supports good posture and doesn’t strain your body out over time. So here are some tips for creating a healthier home office.
1. Ergonomic chairs
Ergonomic chairs are designed to support your spine and relieve pressure on the joints. They are meant to help prevent back pain, reduce fatigue, and increase comfort so you can work more efficiently. This is accomplished by providing lumbar support, which refers to the area of your lower back between the rib cage and pelvis; as well as seat depth adjustment so that your thighs are not too high or too low relative to your hips (a good test is whether or not you can place both palms flat on each thigh while seated).
Although ergonomic chairs can be quite expensive, they’re worth every penny if they make it possible for you to sit comfortably at a desk for long periods of time without experiencing discomfort or pain—and this will mean better posture!
2. Footrests
Footrests are a great way to support your feet, especially if you find yourself working at a desk that is too high for you. They can also help reduce pain and discomfort in your legs and back, as well as give better support for the lower back when sitting. While it might not seem like much, having an extra foot rest under each foot can make all the difference in how long you’re able to work comfortably at your desk.
3. Keyboard tray
- Use a keyboard tray. The ideal height to position your keyboard is at elbow height, with your forearms parallel to the floor.
To achieve this, use a keyboard tray (or any other device that keeps your wrists in neutral alignment), which can save you from having to bend or roll your shoulders forward as you type.
You can use one with either a standing desk, sitting desk or laptop computer—so if you prefer working on a laptop but don’t want an ergonomic wrist rest for some reason, this option is for you! - Try out different positions before settling on one that works best for you individually (and your body). Many people find that changing their position regularly helps keep things feeling comfortable over time—but if it’s not doing anything positive yet then stick with what makes sense until then!
4. Monitor Arms and Stands
Monitor arms and stands are a good investment for anyone who spends long hours in front of a computer. The stand raises the monitor to eye level, which helps prevent neck and back pain. They come in different shapes and sizes, so you can choose one that fits your desk exactly.
5. Document Holder
The Document Holder is a very useful tool for improving your posture at work. Although it can be used as a document holder and phone/tablet stand, its primary function is to keep documents in place so that you don’t have to keep bending down to look at them.
It’s also nice because if you have any chronic pain issues such as back pain or neck stiffness, this will help reduce those symptoms by keeping you from having to constantly adjust your body position. In addition, the Document Holder has an adjustable frame that allows for multiple angles depending on what kind of work needs doing (writing, typing).
6. Laptop stands
A laptop stand is a great tool to help you maintain good posture while working at your desk. These devices can be purchased online or made at home, which means that they’re accessible to anyone who needs them. If you have bad posture, consider investing in one of these handy items so that you can continue working productively without experiencing pain or other discomfort!
Laptop stands are best used for laptops because they lift up the screen from the table surface and align it with your line of sight, allowing for better ergonomics. You don’t need to use a laptop stand if your computer has adjustable height settings on its base (for example, an iMac).
Most other electronic devices such as tablets and smartphones can also benefit from laptop stands. They allow these devices to be placed at eye level which will make it much easier for users when reading messages or surfing websites.
Tips to make your home office more ergonomic for better posture.
- Buy the right chair for your body type.
- Choose a chair with a good back rest, and if it doesn’t have one, add one yourself.
- Use a footrest to support your feet when they’re not on the floor: this reduces pressure on the spine and discs in your lower back, which can help prevent discomfort when sitting for long periods of time.
- Use a keyboard tray to keep your wrists straight while typing: do this by raising the height of whatever surface you’re working on so that it’s level with or slightly above elbow height when you type. This also puts less strain on shoulders and neck muscles because they don’t have to slouch forward to reach the keys as much.
- If possible, use a monitor arm instead of placing the monitor directly onto desk space: this keeps eyes level with top of screen so that users don’t have to lean forward or look down at their screens all day long — which is bad for posture!
As you can see, there are many ways to create an ergonomic workspace in your home office. Even if you don’t have the budget for some of these items right away, start by focusing on one or two things that will make a difference.
For example, if your chair is uncomfortable and causes back pain, try investing in a new seat with better support than what came with it originally (or even better yet—buy two so you can alternate!). Or if using a laptop on your lap isn’t working out well for posture and comfort levels due to its weight being off-balance, consider getting a stand instead.
