Office ergonomics: our standing desk experts explain the ideal set-up

For most of us, we spend around 8 hours a day at work.

And for many, the bulk of that time is spent in an office. Multiply that by 5 days a week, add any overtime you might accrue, and it quickly becomes apparent that much of our waking time is spent seated at a desk.

It’s no wonder so many people bring in photos, pot plants and other trinkets to personalise their desks.

What fewer people pay attention to however, is office ergonomics.

In addition to feeling comfortable and offering room to do your work, your desk space needs to be set up with ergonomics in mind.

Despite being mostly sedentary, office work comes with its own unique risks – risks which good ergonomics can protect you from!

This week, our standing desks experts help you understand how you can transform your static work desk into a dynamic space created for your specific work needs!

 

Office ergonomics for a more comfortable and productive workspace

1) Monitors, screens and ergonomics, oh my!

Ideally, your computer monitor should line up with your eyes at roughly the top half of the screen – this eliminates the need to angle your head or neck, which in turn protects you from neck pain.

You can improve ergonomics in both of these areas immediately by making some quick changes. Adjusting your monitor height only takes a minute to do alternatively, laptop stands can help with monitor height.

Looking to further improve your office ergonomics? In addition to standing desks, Ergomotion offers a range of ergonomic devices. That includes monitor arms, which allow complete freedom to adjust your computer screen.

 

2) Are you using ergonomic office equipment?

No doubt you’ve seen them before: mouse pads with the gel-filled bumps, curved keyboards with weird protrusions, or footrests to go underneath desks.

Believe it or not, each of these serve a specific ergonomic purpose.

For example, protrusions on mouse pads and keyboards provide wrist support, reducing the need to twist your wrists at awkward angles when you type or use your mouse (something you probably don’t even realise you’re doing), while footrests ensure your feet sit flat on the floor when seated at your desk.

3) Get active

The research is unanimous. Increasing your level of physical activity throughout the day is the secret to:

• Reducing your risk of cancer
• Increased energy levels
• Fighting diseases like diabetes

That doesn’t mean getting up and going for a jog during lunch break – it can mean increasing your levels of “incidental” exercise by taking the stairs, making that mad sprint to catch up to your train and even something as simple as doing your work while standing!

Build better office ergonomics with furniture, including standing desks

An ergonomic workspace begins with an ergonomic desk

What better place to start looking than with your desk itself?

From an ergonomics standpoint, it’s not enough for a desk to simply offer space to work – an ergonomic desk needs to be the ideal height.

Not to mention, it should also allow you to work either seated or standing so that you can increase incidental exercise.

Electric standing desks let you manually adjust the height of your desk at the push of a button. This way, you can set your desk height to perfectly match your body, whether you’re working seated or standing up.

Our standing desks allow you to effortlessly alternate between sitting and standing without interrupting your workflow.

Standing desk accessories

In addition to your electric standing desk, there are still plenty of ergonomic desk accessories that enhance allow you to enjoy the benefits of a standing desk.

Let’s start with standing desk platforms. Essentially, these are mini-standing desks that are placed on top of your existing desk. By providing extra height, these platforms can quickly help you switch your working environment from sitting to standing.

If you do a lot of your work by hand, you’ll need your own supports and accessories.

The Microdesk is specially designed to help those among us who still work with pen and paper. In addition to providing extra elevation, it also adds a more ergonomic pitch or angle to your writing space.

In a pinch, it can even function as a laptop riser!

All of this helps you maintain a “neutral” posture and minimise strain on your neck, shoulders, back and wrist.

The importance of ergonomic office chairs

It isn’t just your eyes and elbows that need support – so too does your back.

That’s why buying an ergonomic office chair is so important. When we sit, our chairs provide support and assist with posture. As such, you’ll want to select a chair that:

• Is adjustable for height
• Has adjustable armrests
• Provides lumbar support

Click here to browse Ergomotion’s range of ergonomic office chairs.

 

Ergomotion builds you a more ergonomic office

And we mean that literally!

In addition to our standard ergonomic office equipment, Ergomotion also creates custom-made electric standing desks.

Get in touch with our team about your unique ergonomic needs. With Ergomotion, you’ll enjoy a truly ergonomic desk and workspace.

Give Ergomotion a call today at (03) 9579 1545, or click here to talk to one of our office ergonomic experts.