Working From Home: 3 Easy Adjustments for an Ergonomic Workspace at Home

Are you looking for ways to better adjust to working from home this year? If you’re improvising with an at-home workspace, you should make sure this space is safe and efficient for your workdays.

1. Start with your desk.

If you’ve been improving and using your kitchen table or counter as a desk, you may want to consider investing in a real desk this year. An ergonomic desk setup at home can help you avoid posture issues or back and neck pain. Make sure your desk allows you to comfortably fit your legs underneath so that you are not crowded or bumping into anything. 

Make sure your desk is the right height so that your mouse and keyboard are at elbow height when you are seated. To find the best desk height for you, sit comfortably at your desk and put your arms down naturally at your sides. Then, bend your elbows outward as if you were typing to find the right work surface height for you. 

If you’re having trouble choosing the right desk for you, consider having a virtual ergonomics assessment done for your workplace. This option is affordable and could save you money in the long run by helping you choose the most optimal desk for your work.

2. Re-evaluate your home office laptop setup. 

While laptops are a popular work from home option due to their ability to transport with ease, laptops tend not to be the best in terms of ergonomics. This is because the laptop keyboard and screen are connected which doesn’t allow for much customization or rearranging.

However, there are still a few things you can do to improve the ergonomics of your laptop, such as investing in an ergonomic mouse and keyboard and a monitor to connect to your laptop. 

This will allow you to use a laptop in a similar fashion as a desktop computer.

3. Monitor your screens. 

If you use multiple monitors, you will want to be mindful of how you place them on your desk. Monitors should be at or slightly below eye level so that you can keep your neck straight and still see the screen. Bend your monitor up or down if you find that you are bending your neck up and down to observe your monitor. 

Your monitors should also be an arm’s length away from you so that you can see the whole screen at once. This allows you to view the screen without moving your head. You may also want to adjust the tilt of your monitor to avoid glares and get the right head positioning. 

Read our recent blog: The Ergonomic Way to Sit at Your Desk and View Your Monitor

Ergonomics at home is just as important as ergonomics in an office setting.

As a remote worker, your home workstation may not be traditional, but you can still work to achieve the proper ergonomics at home. If you haven’t paid too much attention to your at-home work setup, your body and your productivity could be taking a hit. Use these tips to improve your home office today.  

Are you looking for a way to improve your home office workspace? Contact us today an affordable virtual ergonomics assessment.  All you need is access to e-mail or a smart phone.

Have a specific question about home office ergonomics? Contact the ergonomics experts at SolutionsNW.com, we will be happy to help you!

At SolutionsNW.com we value the importance of a positive workplace culture. Part of a positive workplace is a safe workplace, Contact Us to schedule an ergonomics consultation or ergonomics assessment for your office today.

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