Office Ergonomics: Don't Be Your Own Worst Enemy!

Office comfort starts with you. Forming good operating habits will ensure you're at your best and ready for the demands of the modern work day. That being said, you don't want to be your own worst enemy. Bad habits can be really tough to break! Have no fear, we're here to help. Today we'll teach you how to effectively avoid bad posture and unhealthy operating strategies that lead to fatigue and limited productivity. Enjoy!

First things first, you need to analyze your workspace. Is it ready, willing, and able to meet your personal needs? All too often workers avoid taking the necessary steps to achieve high level comfort. When it comes to ergonomics, you can't procrastinate. If you're uncomfortable, don't be afraid to talk about it to incite change. Simply dealing with the inefficiencies in your workspace is frowned upon and can lead to major health risks.

You don't need to invest in every ergonomic gadget on the market. In truth, a few simple components will totally revamp your work day. It all starts with a comfortable office chair that's easy to use and ready to properly support you. If you're still working with a fixed arm office chair with no lumbar support, it's time to upgrade. These days you can promote good posture on a budget with chairs like the Eon from Cherryman Industries. It's just $245.00 and will make you feel like your sitting on a cloud. A good chair is like your best friend at work. It always has you back!

Once you've invested in a good office chair, we recommend incorporating a dual screen monitor arm. It will improve the rate at which you compute while simultaneously increasing usable desk space. If you're still using the factory base that came with your computer, you're missing out on key ergonomic values that have become the industry standard. Don't be your own worst enemy by avoiding this upgrade. With an adjustable monitor mount you'll be able to get your screens up to eye level where they belong to reduce visual strain and neck pain.

Don't be your own worst enemy by working with your keyboard tray sitting atop your desktop. This encourages unhealthy computing angles that can lead to office epidemics like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that kick productivity levels to the curb. With an articulating keyboard tray you'll be able to quickly recapture usable surface space. More importantly, you'll be able to type correctly, quickly, and healthy.

Last but certainly not least, you'll want to consider investing in an attachable sit to stand desktop riser to avoid extended sitting sessions. As we sit for hours on end, our muscles become tired and stiffen up. Over the long haul, this poor operating strategy can actually shorten your life span. Sit to stand risers like the 5100 model from OFM are rapidly becoming staples in both home and business work environments. They promote continuous movement, improve blood flow, and reduce fatigue.

In the long run, even the best ergonomic office components are only as good as their owner. If you've invested in new additions, take the time to learn them properly to maximize comfort and productivity. If you don't, they're nothing more than expensive paper weights.

Let's take the office chair for example. Don't be your own worst enemy by failing to memorize its independent functions. Taking a "set it and forget it" approach to your chair positioning will yield limited results. You have to be familiar enough with your chair to adapt and overcome at a moments notice to remain comfortable. This comes from practice.

Those who operate healthy have invested the time required to change bad habits. They avoid being their own worst enemy at all costs. We'll end today's post with a few helpful posture tips that will have you on the path to success.

Posture Tips To Remember:

• Keep your back in contact with chair at all times to maximize support. Leaning away from your chair and hunching over the keyboard to type will leave your back vulnerable to unnecessary strain.
• Keep your feet placed flat on the ground and facing forward at all times. Using the base of your chair as a footrest will restrict blood flow. When this happens, fatigue and cramping are soon to follow.
• Raise your computer screens to eye level to reduce visual strain and neck pain. If you're looking down at your screens when typing, solve the problem today with a stack of books or even a shoebox until you're ready to invest in an ergonomic monitor arm.
• Take a 5 to 10 minute break once every hour to stretch and hydrate. Sitting for long periods of time will cause even the best posture habits to break down.