This helps reduce heat buildup, which can improve the performance and lifespan of your laptop. Doing this will cause your table to “feel like work” and will make your family time less enjoyable. Whatever your budget or your work environment, there are some easy wins anyone can use to spruce up their remote work setup and make a day “in the office” more pleasant.
With the height correct, adjust the keyboard to the proper distance. You don’t want the keyboard too close to you, and you don’t want to overreach. As you type, your elbows should hang naturally by your sides without discomfort. Consider using a wrist rest to help achieve proper keyboard placement. If you don’t have one, a sock filled with rice will do, as will a rolled-up towel. Placing your keyboard at elbow height is only the beginning of proper keyboard ergonomics.
Work-from-Home Ergonomics 101: Setting Up A Remote Office
This is backed up by research done by the Department Of Design And Environmental Analysis at Cornell University. The results showed that 84% of employees that used natural light had decreased headaches, eye strain, and blurred vision. If you use more than one screen, ensure all the screens at placed side-by-side with each other in a way that there is no space between them. Keep the primary monitor in the middle and the others by the sides. However, if you use only two screens side by side, these screens should meet at your sightline, which is your direct eye level when you raise your head.
It gives tips on how to work effectively when you don’t have ideal conditions and gives guidance on staying mentally fit too. When you work from home, it’s easy to get caught up in a project and forget to rest, but breaks are incredibly important for your health. It may be helpful to set an alarm to ring every hour to remind you to sit up properly while working. The slouch-overcorrect exercise is also a great maneuver to do to remind yourself to sit with proper posture.
Monitor Height
If you can see the screen just fine when it’s straight, leave it. However, you will likely need to angle the screen to reduce glare and achieve proper head positioning. The top will push away from you, and the bottom will come toward you. First, the top of the monitor should be at or slightly below your eye level. When you look at the middle of the screen, your eyes should look slightly down. You should be able to hold your neck straight and easily see the top third of the screen.
Some of you might be working from home at a designated workstation or sharing your space with others. But whatever your situation, here are some home office tips from ergonomic experts on how to improve your workspace. Take the time to carefully consider your home office ergonomics when working remotely.
Common Office-Related Pain
Sure, it was likely just a cubicle—if you were lucky—or a seat at a shared table, but at least you had a computer, desk, and all the other components needed to do your job. Research comparing standing and sitting while working at a computer is varied. Some work from home ergonomics studies indicate that standing may be superior, while others show that sitting in the correct position is best. One of the most important things you can do while setting up your home office is to create distance between your work and personal life.