Ergonomics, the home office

Ergonomics is the science of designing things to be used efficiently and safely. Ergonomics affects many things in our daily lives that are important. Can you think of a time when you got up from sitting on the couch slumped over and had to stretch your back, well that’s ergonomics. Ergonomics is related to things like your posture and can cause muscle strains and even carpal tunnel when harmful actions are repeated. There are many things that people can do to improve their posture after sitting at home all day. So, for perfect posture there are many practices that people should follow.

photo by One practice is when sitting at a desk making sure that things are located in arms reach to avoid straining. Reaching over and over again for things can have a negative impact on the body. Adjusting the seat to be at the right height helps to. Legs should be at a 90-degree angle and elbows should also be at a 90-degree angle when arms are rested on the table. It is most comfortable and does not strain the body. Neck strain is also a huge deal when looking at a computer screen for hours a day. A good rule to follow is making the top of the screen even with your eyes. The neck and back are major parts of the body that can affect the body tremendously. Many places we have to sit for hours and it is a big part of the day so allowing for a comfortable workspace has a big impact.

photo taken by me Not only is physical fatigue and posture a big deal but so is mental fatigue. Many jobs even at home require us to be at a desk for long hours, not only do our bodies get tired, but also our brains. Creating any time in the day to take outside or away from the screen can help with mental fatigue. Our eyes also deal with a lot of strain daily, from computer screens to lighting. Having too bright of lights can strain our eyes even more. Our computer and phone screens are hard enough on our eyes so taking time away from those helps to. Lower lighting is better for protecting our eyes.

photo drawn by me If not taken care of they can cause a lot of problems in the future. Our bodies allow us to move, work, have fun, etc, so we need to take care of them. The good thing about being in a home office is that we can adjust whatever needed to fix our problems. Many problems could be fixed if people would focus on the things they do daily. Ergonomics are a big thing that no one ever really thinks about that has a huge impact on our lives. Having a comfy and ergonomic workspace helps us to be happy, healthy, and productive. -Lin, C., Lin, C., carol@employeeconnect.com, C. L., & Carol@employeeconnect.com. (2023, February 21). The importance of ergonomics in the workplace: A guide for employers. EmployeeConnect HRIS. https://www.employeeconnect.com/blog/ergonomics-in-the-workplace/ -Ergonomics - overview. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). https://www.osha.gov/ergonomics