How comfortable is your workplace? This question might surprise many people. They would say, "it's a workplace, not a vacation rental that it'll be comfortable!" If you're among these people who think a workplace can't be comfortable, we would like to change your perception. A workplace can be (and should be) comfortable for the employees.
It may surprise you, but workplace comfort and employee productivity are closely linked together. The more comfortable you are at work, the better you'll perform. And we aren't exaggerating. It's a fact!
If the idea of a comfortable workplace is foreign to you, you've come to the right place. This blog post will make you understand how enhancing comfort at work can improve your productivity and what things you never knew you needed at work to enhance your comfort. It's high time you change things at work and make it a place where you go happily every day and don't have to struggle to push yourself out of bed each morning.
The Impact of Workplace Comfort on Employees
If the idea of working in comfort is new to you, you may find it hard to believe that workplace comfort has got anything to do with employee productivity. It's a fact that the more comfortable employees are at work, the better they perform.
Below are some of the ways workplace comfort affects employees:
Boosts Productivity and Efficiency
Most traditional workplaces don't lay any stress on making their workplace comfortable for the employees. While you may see no harm in it, it's actually detrimental to employee productivity. If an employee isn't comfortable at work, they'll be constantly distracted, and as a result, their productivity and efficiency will take a hit and go downhill. Workplace comfort enables the employees to work with utmost focus and attention and deliver the highest-quality results.
Improves Mood and Mental Health
Discomfort tends to make people irritable and edgy. If an employee has to work in uncomfortable work conditions all day, every day, you can't expect them to be in a good mood. When employees aren't comfortable, not only will it affect their mood, but it'll also increase stress. Discomfort is a major distraction, and if employees aren't comfortable, you already know their productivity and efficiency will get impacted, and this will increase stress levels. Bad mood, poor productivity, and increased stress levels will have a negative impact on employees' mental health.
Healthier Work Relationships
As you know by now, uncomfortable working conditions affect employees' moods and make them irritable. Employees who aren't comfortable at work are more likely to showcase bad conduct and rude behavior with fellow workers. This will affect work relationships and even cause delays in work. However, when employees are comfortable at work, they're in a better mood and a better overall mental state. This promotes healthier work relationships, a highly collaborative workforce, and the highest quality, timely results.
8 Things You Didn't Know You Needed to Enhance Comfort at Work
Now that you know how workplace comfort can affect employees, let's move on to the things that can increase workplace comfort for you and make you a happier, healthier, and more productive part of the team.
Ergonomic Desk
An ergonomic desk is the first thing you need at work to make yourself comfortable during the day. Although you may feel your regular work desk is doing just fine, if you look closely, you'll realize how it's not the best for your comfort and overall health. A regular work desk has a fixed height, which means if it's too high for you, you'll have to sit with your back, neck, and shoulders stretched to reach the desk's surface. If the desk is too low for you, you'll have to sit with your back curved and neck bent. Both these postures are incorrect and extremely uncomfortable.
An ergonomic desk like the Pro Standing Desk (E5) would allow you to adjust the height of the desk according to your comfort needs. You can adjust the height such that you don't have to bend or stretch your back. An ergonomic desk encourages you to sit in a neutral posture, which is the most comfortable.
Ergonomic Chair
An ergonomic chair is nothing like the traditional office chair you're currently using. Regular office chairs are of a fixed height. If the chair isn't the right height for you, your feet will dangle in the air or your legs will be bent more than they should at the knees. Moreover, regular chairs don't offer the back and neck any support. When you don't get adequate body support and your feet aren't placed flat on the floor, you'll be extremely uncomfortable. It won't be long before the discomfort transitions into pain. An ergonomic chair can change all of this.
You can adjust the height of an ergonomic chair to ensure your feet are placed comfortably flat on the floor. You can also adjust the seat depth so that the backrest fully supports your back. Some ergonomic chairs also have a headrest that provides adequate neck support. With an ergonomic chair, you can bid farewell to the occasional body stiffness because you're sitting in a neutral posture, and your body is fully relaxed, with no strain on any parts, especially the lower back, neck, and shoulders.
Memory Foam Mousepad and Keyboard Wrist Pad
If you've got a desk job, your hands might constantly be at work on the mouse and keyboard. Using the mouse and keyboard all day long can strain your wrists significantly. Your wrists rub against the desk as you move your hands across the keyboard and move the mouse. This is not only uncomfortable, but it also puts you at risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which is characterized by painful tingling and numbing of the fingers.
A memory foam mousepad and keyboard wrist pad will offer support and comfort to the wrists so that they don't scratch against the rough surface of the work desk.
Foot Hammock
Not many people are habitual in taking breaks and moving around in the office. Sitting for long hours can cause stiffness in the legs, and this can cause distraction at work. One way to enhance comfort at work and prevent stiffness in the legs is using a foot hammock. A foot hammock lets you kick back and relax at work. Resting your feet on a foot hammock also helps de-stress and fight off the stiffness from sitting for long hours.
Lumbar Support Pillow
Sitting for many hours at a stretch puts excessive pressure and strain on the lower back (lumbar region). This causes back pain. If you don't address this problem soon, you'll be at a high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders, which can aggravate lifelong complications and disabilities. Using a lumbar support pillow at work will offer superior back support in the lumbar region of the spine. It'll reduce the strain and make working and sitting extremely comfortable for you.
Adjustable Monitor Mount
Another source of discomfort at work is a poorly positioned computer monitor. The incorrect position of the computer monitor will make you tilt and bend your neck awkwardly, which is both uncomfortable and painful. An adjustable monitor mount will allow you to adjust the computer monitor right. With the help of an adjustable monitor mount, you can ensure that your computer monitor is at eye level, at an arm's distance, and right in front of you so that you don't have to bend or tilt your neck. The correct position of the monitor also reduces eye strain.
Anti-Fatigue Mat
Experts say alternating between sitting and standing is the best practice as it reduces the strain on the body from sitting or standing for too long. Now, while standing at work is a lot safer and healthier than sitting all day long, it can be quite comfortable after a while. An anti-fatigue mat can make standing at work a lot more comfortable. These are specially designed mats that are soft, making standing comfortable. These mats also promote micro-movements in the legs that keeps muscle fatigue at bay.
Anti-Glare Screen
Blue light from the computer screen can strain the eyes and make staring at the computer screen throughout the day uncomfortable. Eye strain can also lead to headaches which makes it even harder to focus on work. Installing an anti-glare screen on the computer monitor filter the blue rays, reduces eye strain, and makes looking at the computer screen comfortable for the user.
Closing Word
Enhancing comfort at work not only boosts your productivity but also makes you happier and healthier. It improves your relationship with your coworkers and also has a positive impact on your mental health. It won't be an exaggeration to say that increasing your comfort at work will pave the way for improved overall well-being, both physical and mental, and professional growth by boosting your productivity and efficiency. So, what's the wait for? Invest in enhancing your comfort at work today and start reaping benefits right away!
