There is no doubt that you have heard all of the buzz around office ergonomics. But do you know how home office ergonomics can apply to you? Well, if you are your own boss, you are in charge of your office furniture and setup and you can control the ergonomics of your office, and ultimately your own health. A few simple adjustments in what you already own could save you a lot of pain and ultimately a lot of money in lost work and health bills. So what do you need to consider when you are looking at home office ergonomics? The most obvious thing and one of the simplest items is your chair. You sit in this chair for most of the day, every day so it should be comfortable. Not only comfortable but ergonomically correct. Your office chair should first and foremost be comfortable for you to sit in. You should have lumbar support from your chair to protect your lower back. And you should be able to sit with your feet solidly placed on the floor. Another culprit for office aches and pains is your keyboard. Do you type a lot, or work on your keyboard? If you do, you may have noticed aches in your wrists or fore arms. Take a look at where your keyboard is. Your keyboard should not be sitting on your desk; in fact, it should be lower than your desk on a keyboard tray. This is a very easy thing to fix; in fact you can easily install a keyboard tray on the underside of your desk. By having your keyboard at a lower level you will reduce the strain on your wrists and save yourself from a lot of pain. Be sure to position your computer monitor at the proper height as well. The top of the monitor should be at eye level or slightly below. You should not have to look up and strain your neck when you are looking at your computer screen. Keep your monitor clean, because even dust particles that gather on the screen will affect how you see the screen and can strain your eyes. If you use a computer mouse a lot, you should invest in an ergonomically correct mouse that minimizes the strain on your wrist. A traditional mouse demands that the wrist be held at an unnatural angle with a twist. If you use a laptop computer consider investing in a separate keyboard and mouse that you can set up properly. A laptop keyboard will cause a lot of unnecessary strain on your arms and wrists because of the condensed set up of the keys and by attaching a separate keyboard you will be able to prevent a lot of damage. Home office ergonomics are easier to accommodate because you are in control of your own environment now someone else. You can choose the proper equipment to benefit your health and maximize your productivity. |
