You Should Make Your Home Office Ergonomic. Here’s Why (and How)

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If you’re working from home, you might have an office corner or a separate office room, but that doesn’t mean you’re quite comfortable in your home office. If you want to avoid cramped wrists, back pain, and enhance your posture – all while boosting your productivity – it’s best to make your home office more ergonomic and comfortable. Here’s why and how you should do it.

Support your wrists

You need wrist support while you use your mouse and keyboard in your home office. Having your hands and wrists in a straight, neutral position can make you more comfortable and potentially help to ward off carpal tunnel syndrome. If you’re feeling uncomfortable, it’s best to remember that your arms and hands should face forward and lay flat on the table. 

Update your mouse and keyboard

Your posture matters, so for an ergonomic home office computer setup, use an external keyboard and mouse to keep your neck and spine aligned. There are many different kinds of external mice you can use, but many experts recommend using a larger mouse instead of a smaller one that might cause your hand to strain. Gaming mice and vertical mice also make great working mice.

Keep your head and neck straight

Your computer monitor should be at eye level for an ergonomic home office. Your head should be in a neutral, straight position to avoid neck strain. If your monitor is too low, you can reduce possible neck strain by raising your monitor and keeping it less than two feet from your nose. 

Choose an ergonomic chair

An ergonomic computer chair can make all the difference in your home office, but it might not be easy to find the right chair. You don’t necessarily need an expensive chair as long as your chair has arm support, lumbar support, and thigh support. Additionally, your thighs should be parallel to the floor and your chair’s height should be adjusted so your feet rest flat on the floor.

Try a standing desk

You can make your home office even more ergonomic by giving your back a rest and switching to a standing desk. These desks can turn your regular computer desk into a taller desk and minimize the discomfort of sitting for hours. Standing desks may also help you burn more calories. If you do get a standing desk, it’s a good idea to also invest in a comfortable standing mat that can give your feet some support.

Stretch during breaks

Lastly, your home office should have extra space so you can do some easy office stretches. You can (and maybe should) stretch any time you take a short break from working. Stretches can decompress your spine and mildly reverse the effects of sitting on a chair for hours. 

You can increase your productivity by dedicating an area to stretch near your computer desk. In this space, you can stretch every hour or so to stay healthy while you’re working.

How do you make your home office space more ergonomic? Sound off in the comments!