5 Must-Have Items for Creating the Perfect Ergonomic Workspace
Workspaces Shouldn’t Be One Size Fits All
Despite rampant uniformity throughout office spaces and most standard desk and chair options, work spaces should be customized to fit the person, not the other way around. Given that the average person spends roughly 45 hours a week in front of a computer screen, it makes sense that we should invest the time and energy into making that a space that helps us thrive. Learning more about the benefits of an ergonomic workspace is the first true step towards living a healthy and happier personal and professional lifestyle!
5 Must-Have Ergonomic Workspace Investments
When you start to learn about the benefits of ergonomic living, it is astounding how much you can change with just a little effort. Here are the five must-have items to invest in first:
- Ample Lighting – Raise your hand if you’ve suffered through years of fluorescent lighting or dimly lit rooms while trying to make it through a workday? Good lighting is not only important to protect our eyesight and avoid unnecessary strain, but it can also greatly impact our overall mood and energy levels. Capitalize off of natural light as much as possible, but supplement with a combination of overhead and task lighting when necessary.
- Adjustable Desk and Chair – If you are on the taller or shorter side, it is likely that your desk and chair weren’t built to support you best. Regardless of your height, it is best to invest in an adjustable desk and chair so that you can set the height to the perfect position for you. Ideally you can sit comfortably, with both feet on the floor and your elbows bent on the desk.
- Mood Boosters – Everyone’s favorite part of ergonomic design are the accessories. A key element of ergonomics is finding ways to reduce stress and distraction to keep you focused and mindful. Consider incorporating house plants into your space to embrace nature or invest in a pair of noise cancelling headphones if you work in a particularly noisy or distracting environment.
- Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse – Most keyboards and computer mice are not designed to optimize the comfortability of most users. With a little research you can find products that were designed with ergonomics in mind and can help aid in preventing things like poor posture or wrist pain.
- Adjustable Monitors – We’ve mentioned posture a lot already, but despite your best intentions if you are looking up or down too much throughout the workday, this can negatively impact your posture. Adjustable monitors are ideal for ensuring your gaze is straight out in front of you and doesn’t leave you craning your neck in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time.
Bonus Tips
Once you get the basics of ergonomic work spaces under your belt, you can start to really educate yourself to make other lifestyle changes that can really impact your overall wellbeing. Here are two bonus tips:
- Get yourself a pair of blue light blocking glasses to protect your eyes
- Set an alarm to remind you to stand up at least once an hour and move your body around a bit!
Bring in the Experts
Whether you are a company looking to go ergonomic throughout your office, or an individual hoping to upgrade your workspace, the team at E3 Consulting is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you create the ergonomic workspace of your dreams!
