The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the whole world, and as an effect, many people find it difficult to attend their offices and maintain physical distance simultaneously. So, it might be a perfect alternative to work from home to avoid physical contact if you are among these people. And, to make the work experience a whole lot better and increase productivity, you must make some ergonomic adjustments to make the workstation safe and comfortable. Here are some suggestions that you can work on to have a safe and work-friendly environment at your home.
Defining the workspace and environment
Firstly, it is of utmost importance to choose a quiet spot away from any distracting environment. An isolated room would work best in this case, but if you don’t have any study or spare room for this purpose, then any quiet corner of a room or wide hallway will do as well. Some other essential things that you need to keep in mind while setting up the spot are optimum lighting, ventilation, and room temperature. Having adequate lighting can prevent eye fatigue. Try to choose a spot by the window, as access to natural light can boost your morale and increase the work rate. Lack of proper ventilation can make you feel drained and have a headache. So, avoid congested areas while choosing a workspace and try keeping a window open in that area for better air circulation. Also, keeping the room temperature at a steady level is essential to maintain productivity.
Adjustment of the furniture
You need to adjust your furniture like the desk and chair, working tools like laptops or computers, and other apparatus at a comfortable level. If the positioning is not up to your comfort level, it can lead to injuries like back, neck, or shoulder pain. To minimize the strain level, you need to set up the laptop or computer at eye level. Consequently, it will help your shoulders rest comfortably at your sides while typing at the keyboard. If the natural positioning of the desk and chair doesn’t match up with your requirements, you can use boxes or books under the laptop or the monitor for better adjustment. In addition, your desk should have ample surface area for the computer or notebook, writing tools, and your phone and also enough legroom underneath for your feet to rest comfortably on the floor below. Hatil’s Smartfit Reading Tables can come in handy in this case. There is also a small storage unit next to these tables so that you can easily organize the necessary paper or files to keep at hand. However, if you need a printer, scanner, or any other heavy equipment for professional needs, you have to choose a wide enough table to hold those things. If you need a lot of paperwork and files for work, you can also keep a file cabinet in the office space. In comfortable chair storage units, you can use multipurpose shelves so that your home office decor can be matched with other furniture of the house.
Keeping the mouse and keyboard within easy reach
The positioning of the mouse and keyboard is crucial as being in an uncomfortable place can jam up productivity and strain the arms and wrist in the process. It’s better to keep the mouse and keyboard within easy reach to keep the forearms straight. Keeping them too far or too close will not be helpful for your situation. If you are working on a laptop, you can easily tilt the screen backward or forward according to your requirements.
Storage for personal items and other necessary equipment
You need to keep the workspace clutter-free to maintain a hassle-free environment. You can achieve this with some storage solutions like cabinet shelves, folders or files, a board and pins, desk drawer, rubbish bin, etc. You can use the drawers or the cabinet shelves to keep the necessary items that are not always required close to hand. Also, folders or files can help you keep the essential papers and documents organized. In addition, a board and pins can do the same but differently by lifting the reference materials off the desk surface and giving you a visual aid if required. Keeping a rubbish bin close to hand can help you get rid of waste materials immediately.
Finally, you need to adjust your seating position that best supports your lower back and never forget to take activity breaks throughout the work period. For sitting comfortably, it is necessary to choose a comfortable chair for the home office. Since you have to work sitting for a long time, you have to select a comfy chair and not harm your health. In this case, Hatil’s Rivera-120W or Aria-132 chairs can be matched with other furniture in the house for their brown and black color.
Sitting straight for an extended period is not suitable for your body. You can try moving around inside the house or taking a short walk around the neighborhood while working from home. Putting a small plant pot on your desk will help maintain a connection with nature and keep the air around you fresh and humid. Also, remember to keep a water bottle nearby to keep yourself hydrated.
