Working at Home? Be Good to Your Body!
April 17, 2020
Like many people around the world, you may be working from home at the moment—maybe for the first time in your life. While this can be an enjoyable experience (comfy slippers and no commute!), it may also create ergonomic challenges that can result in stiff muscles, eyestrain and achy bones.
However, a few easy changes to your workspace can improve your ergonomics while enabling you to work in the comfort of your own home:
- As tempting as it may seem, do not work from your couch. Sitting on the sofa prevents you from maintaining a proper cervical and lumbar posture.
- Make sure your view of your screen/monitor falls in the center of the display. If it doesn’t, raise the screen with boxes or books to find the right spot for you.
- If you’re worried about sitting too long during your workday, you might consider creating a standing desk. (Keep in mind that you may need a wireless mouse and keyboard to make this work.)
- Experts say it’s important to be consistent with your workspace. Do your best to work in one spot and not move from one place in the house to another. This also enables you to keep your screen elevated and maintain correct posture.
- Step away from your screen for five minutes every one to 1-1/2 hours. Walking around resets your body’s natural posture and helps to prevent you from getting comfortable in an ergonomically harmful position.
- Stretching is essential to keep your muscles flexible. Take some time to stretch before you start work for the day, and continue to stretch a few times during the day. Your body will thank you!