Whether you have a virtual or physical office space, you can still benefit from office ergonomics.
There are so many benefits to virtual offices; in many ways, they can even surpass even the best of brick-and-mortar offices. But one thing that virtual and physical offices definitely have in common is their ergonomics. Sitting at a desk all day can take its toll – physically, psychologically, mentally, the works. In many ways, virtual offices can be even more hard on the body than physical ones; some physical offices do include in built-in ergonomics that working from home simply doesn’t give you.
Unfortunately, sometimes it simply isn’t possible to take many breaks throughout the day as one would like and require. Still, there are many ways you can lessen the physical toll – and that’s through office ergonomics.
What Are Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the science of building the workstation or work space for maximum productivity and efficiency. With virtual offices, you can eschew the many distractors that plague physical offices; however, without good office ergonomics from home, you will be just as distracted as you would be among your co-workers in a brick-and-mortar office.
Office ergonomics can help you avoid back and shoulder pain from a long day at work.
Ergonomics serves above all to lessen the fatigue and discomfort you feel when you sit for long periods of time. Believe it or not, this fatigue and discomfort can be potent distractors and even erode your productivity for good if you’re not careful. Here are some quick and easy tips for how to optimize your virtual office for the best ergonomics:
- Avoid slouching. Slouching puts extra weight on your vertebrae of your back. Getting a chair with a lumbar support is ideal, as well as one that supports your spinal curves; above all, move your chair as close to your work as possible to avoid leaning and reaching.
- Make sure your arms be supported at all times. If they don’t, the muscles of your back and shoulders will be sore by the end of the day. You can do this by adjusting your armrests so that you arms can rest on them comfortably.
- Avoid screen glare. Make sure your monitor isn’t too close to a window where sunlight can be streaming in.
- Avoid eye strain. Make sure your monitor isn’t too close (about an arm’s length away is ideal, with the monitor at around eye level) and rest your eyes periodically by looking at a distance object for several seconds.
- Make sure your legs are not dangling while you’re seated. That can put strain on your leg muscles. Lower your keyboard or monitor or simply use a foot rest (a stool or a stack of sturdy books would do nicely as well). Make sure there is clearance for your feet, knees, and thighs under your desk. Don’t store items under your desk.
By following these tips, you would be preventing the worst of muscle and joint fatigue that comes from working in an office setting. Believe it or not, a bad or poorly designed workstation can lead to serious health problems for you later on. These include headaches and eye strain, as well as discomfort in the back, neck and shoulders, hands and wrists.
At Titan Business Suites, we can help you improve your business and productivity through our extensive virtual services. Our virtual offices combine the luxuries of a traditional office with the professionalism of a physical one. To rent your very own virtual office, call us today to get started!