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How to Set Up An Ergonomic WorkspaceBy Lisa Wood As someone who works at my desk all day, I've always made a conscious effort to have a well-designed workspace. When I recently set up my new home office there were some crucial elements that had to be in place: * a good desk - not too high, not too low, and large enough that I had room to spread things out * a good chair - one that had good support and cushion, and one that I could adjust the height * a good monitor, set at eye level * a keyboard that would be comfortable to type at I definitely had to make some adjustments as I set up my new space. I had already researched desks and purchased my perfect desk, so the rest was pretty easy. * My office chair that I had brought home from my old job was super comfy and supportive, but did not go up as high as I expected, so it was a little too short for the desk. I have fixed that problem by adding some memory foam cushioning to the seat for a little height boost. * My monitor was too low, so now it sits on top of an attractive wicker box - which I filled with old paperback books to make it sturdy and stable. * My keyboard is at a good position - so I do not have to stretch to reach it, and it is not too close as to cause wrist problems. * My laptop that connects to an external monitor and it was just too low - so now I have it sitting on a monitor stand, so that it is just below eye level to reduce neck strain. Why is this all so important? Believe me, it is important. Even though I take steps to optimize my workspace, I almost never sit with both feet on the floor. I sit on one foot, on both feet, indian-style, you name it. As a result, I have messed up my spine and spent the better part of the past month at the chiropractor. You don't want to make that mistake. So with that in mind, here are a few crucial elements of an ergonomic workspace: * Monitor height: The top of your monitor should be just about at eye level. You don't want to have to look up, down, or to the side to see it clearly. That only causes unnecessary neck and eye strain. * Desk and Chair Height: When sitting on your chair your feet should completely touch the ground (mine never do, so I use a footstool). Your desk height in relation to your chair should be set so that when typing, your arms rest at just about a 90 degree angle. Reaching down for the keys causes neck and shoulder strain. * Posture: Your chair should offer good lumbar support for your lower back. You should be able to sit up straight and not have to bend over or lean to reach what you need on your desk. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor to keep your spine straight. * Get good lighting - I'm still working on this one. I have a space with a high ceiling and fluorescent lighting. There are windows but none near me. I'm still shopping for a good lamp to brighten things up a bit. You want your lighting to be bright but not blinding. Take a look around you and see how your space rates. You'll be glad you did! About the author Lisa Wood creates websites for a living and teaches people how to improve their web presence at BestWebsiteTips.com. Get tips, tutorials, and honest product reviews at http://www.bestwebsitetips.com. |
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