Setting Up an Ergonomic Office For Maximum Efficiency

26 May 2021

Every single day of our lives, many of us end up at our workstations. Bad habits and poor posture can cause neck and back pain and aching wrists and fingers. By instilling ergonomics into your work environment, you can see drastic improvements and changes that you will be experiencing. 

Ergonomics can assist you in remaining comfortable in the workplace. The proper utilization of office ergonomics is a crucial factor in changing up the usual setup. This way, you can get a better work performing attitude.

Importance of Ergonomics in the Work Environment

Ergonomics is a technical subject that focuses on increasing productivity and economic growth, health, safety, and comfort. It's simply about tailoring the job to the person rather than the other way around.

Some individuals, for example, would feel more at ease with minor alterations like tilting the keyboard or altering the chair or display. The issue is that many workers are unaware of workstation ergonomics and hence are unaware of the dangers of sitting at a desk for long periods.

It would help if you customized your workplace furniture and equipment to meet your specific requirements. Like how you tailor a vehicle to fit your body, you should modify your office arrangement to an acceptable degree. 

Optimal workplace ergonomic posture is similar to sitting in a car, with your feet flat but legs extended and your body leaned slightly rearward rather than upright.

You might be lost right now but fear not; we will tackle this topic even more in this article. Here are some tips on how to set up your workstation. 

● Your Current Office Chair

Choosing an appropriate ergonomic office chair is likely the most crucial aspect of creating an ergonomic workspace. According to studies, around 50% of people in the industrialized world suffer from back pain, with many of these cases being directly attributable to lousy seat design. 

Spending 8 to 15 hours a day in any chair that is not optimum is begging for all kinds of problems down the line, such as back and neck pain.

You might want to look into the Ergonomic Office Chair with Padded Headrest and Double Padded Seat Cushion 9107 of FlexiSpot since this chair is curated correctly to amplify your comfort and experience.

Keep note that you should make sure that you sit correctly while minding your posture. Your feet should lay flat on the floor, and that you should ensure your upper and lower back is supported. 

A decent chair gives the back, legs, buttocks, and arms the support they need while eliminating awkward postures, contact stress, and forceful exertions.

● Monitor Positioning and Height

Choosing the right monitor and putting it in the right spot will help you avoid overexertion, unnatural postures, and overhead glare. This reduces the risk of health problems such as excessive weariness, eyestrain, and neck and back pain.

It will be beneficial if you place the screen firmly in front of you, above your keyboard. You might also raise the display to around 2 to 3 inches above your seated eye level. It's advisable to sit at least an arm's length away from the screen and then alter the distance to suit your needs.

You can also opt to use a monitor mount or stand that can help elevate your monitor's placement. This is especially helpful so you cannot strain your neck and shoulders. FlexiSpot's Monitor Stand workstation with Storage Organizer DIY Drawer S1W might do just the trick for you. 

● Your Desk Height 

If you work at a desk, it goes without saying that your workspace revolves around your desk. There are many various desk designs available, with varied shapes, cut-out regions, and heights. The height of your desk is the most crucial factor from an ergonomic standpoint.

A desk that is too high and not proportional to your body length will strain your forearms as you type, whereas a desk that is too low will lead you to bend over and hurt your upper body as you work.

There are lots of standing desks that are available on FlexiSpot's website. Maybe this innovative product is the one that you are missing out on. This not only improves your comfort but gives you a better perspective on the way you work. 

Learning How to Take Breaks Can Help Too Properly

Follow these simple steps so that you can replenish and recharge your energy. For an ergonomic office space to work out, you should also practice little activities and efforts to help you get in the work mood. This works well and compliments an ergonomic office setup.

- Every 20 to 30 minutes, take a quick stretch break to relax those stiff and sore muscles. Working for straight hours is also not optimal. You can take a break or switch tasks for at least 5 to 10 minutes after each hour of work. Whenever possible, take a break from your computer during your lunch break.

- Resting and refocusing your eyes regularly will help you avoid eye tiredness. You can try to look away from the display and concentrate on someplace far away in interval periods.

 -Covering your eyes with your palms for 10 to 15 seconds to relax them also is a good practice to prevent your eyes from taking in too much radiation and stress.

-When working, maintain proper posture. Make sure to monitor if you are slouching or not.

Please Note

You will never get the best results if you don't make all four of the recommended adjustments. You would not be able to reap the benefits of your ergonomic office workstation if you only set the computer monitor to a suitable height but do not modify how you are sitting or if your keyboard or mouse is not within your reach.

The effect of everything working together to put you in a neutral posture and keep you moving throughout the day is considerably more significant than the effect of any single modification.

Use healthy work habits when you have correctly set up your workplace. Prolonged, immobile postures, no matter how ideal the setting, will stifle blood flow and take a toll on your body.