An Ergonomic Desk Can Increase Productivity
There never seems to be enough time in a day to accomplish all the tasks on my list. So I am always looking for ideas for making my day more productive and my work more efficient. Here are a few tips that have helped me. Some of them take some serious discipline, but in the long run can really make a difference.
Stand up! Did you know that simply standing up can boost your thinking power? According to a recent study at USC, standing up can increase brain function by 5% to 20%. Find some creative ways to occasionally stand up at work. Take a break and walk around to increase blood circulation. Get a headset for your phone and stand up while returning calls. Or, better yet, try a sit-or-stand ergonomic desk that attaches to your current work surface and elevates your monitor, keyboard and mouse in one, easy move.
Warm-up for work. Arrive a few minutes early to mentally prepare for your day. Prioritize your to-do list and work on the most important tasks first, before checking your email or returning phone calls. As you wrap up your day, spend a few minutes preparing for the next day. Clean off your desk and lay out the tasks for the morning. A little preparation can reduce stress and make your day more productive.
Improve your posture. A well-adjusted ergonomic chair can help your posture all day long. Maintaining a neutral typing posture will make you more comfortable and eliminate the sore muscles that drain your time and energy. To customize your chair, first correct the height so that your feet rest flat on the floor. Secondly, move your back rest to assure that you are well supported; you can also add portable lumbar support if necessary. Finally, make sure you have free movement of your elbows while typing; your arm rests should be out of the way.
Eliminate distractions. The average office worker loses more than two hours a day because of distractions, including interruptions, phone calls, e-mail and office noise, including co-worker chatter. Pay attention to what distracts you, and find a way to block it. Turn on a white noise machine to cover conversations and office noise. Turn off your phone and e-mail for a while and only check your messages once or twice a day.
Upgrade your keyboard. Most of us waste a significant amount of time while typing because of poor hand posture, bad typing habits and extra hand movements. Ergonomic keyboards are specially designed to support good hand position and make typing more comfortable and efficient. Consider trying a mini keyboard with a compact design that decreases the effort of each keystroke. When looking at a new keyboard, try several different designs to fine one that fits, and give yourself a few weeks to get use to it before determining if that is (or is not) the best keyboard for you.
Even small changes that increase your productivity can help lower your stress and make work more enjoyable. Start with a well-adjusted ergonomic chair that helps you maintain good posture. Next try standing for part of your day with an adjustable-height ergonomic desk. Making the effort to try new tools and create better work habits can help you increase your productivity at work.