Did the sudden switch to home-office take you by surprise? Well, our intention is to help you change your room into the perfect set up for work. Health, safety and comfort are some of the aspects taken into consideration by our simple guide.
Health& Safety
Back and head aches, blurred vision or eye problems are some of the most common health issues caused by working for hours at the desk in front of a screen. Here are some tips on how you can avoid such health problems:
- Choose your chair carefully!
It might sound weird, but the quality of your chair is of utmost importance. You will ideally need a good quality task chair which offers a variety of features like height adjustability, moveable arms and strong lumbar support. The height of your chair should allow you to have a clear vision of the screen. The way you position yourself on the chair is important too: Make sure your feet are flat on the ground, with both legs at a 90-degree angle to the floor. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor, in order to avoid having problems with the lower back and legs. Your arms should be low enough for your shoulders not to be hunched up.
- Position your keyboard and monitor properly!
Your keyboard should be positioned slightly above the elbow height. You can adjust that by changing the height of your chair. Your wrists and elbows need to be in a relaxed, flat position, so the keyboard should be far enough from you, in order for this to happen. Your body should be centered and you should make sure the mouse is close enough to avoid stretching for it.
Your monitor or screen should be ideally positioned at a 90-degree angle to you and around 40-60 cm away from your face, depending on your eyesight requirements. The height should be so, that your line of vision is somewhere in the top third of the screen.
Comfort
Even if we are talking about a home-office, this does not mean that your working space should be dull. You spend hours in this specific place, so we suggest you personalize it according to your needs. Drink your coffee in your favorite mug, use plants or family photos to decorate your office and your fluffy blanket if you get tired. Do anything you can to help your body and mind work in a productive, yet cozy way.
We hope this short guide helped you, or at least gave you some ideas on how you can improve your working environment at home by yourself!