Many people spend hours each day sitting at a desk, and most office workers complain that at some point they are uncomfortable or even in pain as a result of their workspace and habits. Here are some easy tips for creating a more comfortable, ergonomic workstation.

• Upgrade your chair. You chair is the foundation of good posture and pain-free sitting. A good ergonomic chair will actually encourage you to maintain good posture for long periods of time. But even if you can replace your chair, you should still adjust any chair you use to fit you properly. Begin by adjusting the height until your feet rest firmly on the floor. Next, raise or lower the backrest to best fit the contours of your spine. If you still don’t have enough cushion for your lower back, add portable lumbar support.  Finally, make sure your arm rests are low enough that your arms can move freely at the elbow as you type.

• Move your keyboard. Add an adjustable keyboard tray to your desk to provide fast, easy adjustment of your keyboard. This is probably the most important adjustment you can make to any work space. Proper keyboard placement relieves tension in the neck and shoulders and protects your hands a wrists from pain and injury. While typing, your keyboard should be only an inch or two above your lap, just below the height of your elbows. It should also be sloping slightly downward, away from your body. When adjusted correctly, your arms and hands should feel relaxed and you should be able to easily reach the top keys without stretching or reaching.

• Upgrade your keyboard. Did you know that poor typing posture actually wastes time, not to mention the aches and pains it causes?  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 determining if it is really the best keyboard for you.

With these tips, you can design your own ergonomic workspace. Taking the time to customize your ergonomic chair and adding ergonomic tools, such as a keyboard tray, can help you create a more productive and comfortable work experience.

Filed under: Category Uncategorized | Tags: back support,comfort,ergonomic chair,ergonomic keyboard,ergonomic workstation,keyboard tray,lumbar support,mini keyboard,productivity by christy