Ergonomics When Working From Home
Since March 2020, a lot of us had to get used to working from home. Ten months later, some of us were able to reorganize our space to make it more proper for telework, but others simply don’t have enough space to do so or the adequate material. This article will set out a few recommendations and tips from specialists to work from home in the most comfortable and efficient way possible.
Working with a laptop
Working with a laptop can be advantageous for many reasons, whether it is for its lightweight or for its capacity to be easily transported from one place to another, which is sometimes very useful when working from home. However, working on a laptop can be very harmful for the posture and can create stiffness in the neck and the back. The use of auxiliary devices can be very useful in improving your posture while working. For example, the use of an additional keyboard and a mouse could allow you to put your laptop on a stand aligned with your eyes to keep your neck straight and not always in flexion. An additional screen could also help with this situation as you wouldn’t need to be leaned towards your laptop as much. Using headphones is also an excellent idea so you don’t have to keep your head in a side flexion to keep your phone in place if you need to type on your laptop at the same time.
If you don’t have the devices, there are a few things you can do to improve your situation:
1) First of all, push back your computer on your desk or your table so your forearms can be supported.
2) Then, use the 20-20-20 rule to prevent eye strain. Every 20 minutes, you need to look at an object that is approximately 20 feet from you (6 meters) for 20 seconds. Super easy to remember!
3) Finally, take small breaks to stretch regularly during your day.
Improve your workstation
If you don’t have a work desk and an adjustable chair, there are some tips you can use to make your workstation the most ergonomic it can be.
First of all, it is really important to choose a flat and solid surface to use as a desk where you can put your computer in front of you. The kitchen table can be a good option. Then, depending on your access to auxiliary equipment or not, you can use the tips and recommendations set out above. If you have to sit on a kitchen table or on any other chair that is not ergonomic, you can improve your posture by a lot using only a few things from home. If your chair is too small and you don’t have the desired height to be able to put your elbows at an angle of 90° on the table, then you can put a pillow on the seat to reach the appropriate height. To keep your back straight, you can either use a pillow or a rolled towel to put in-between your back and your chair. This will keep the temptation away from leaning too much into your chair. Finally, your knees and legs have to form a 90° angle with your chair, so you can once again use a pillow or a small box and put it under your feet for support.
If you are tired of working from home and are looking for a change of scenery, most of our properties have beautiful kitchen tables where you can put to use the tips and recommendations set out in this article. Our properties in Laval are comfortable, modern, and simply perfect if you want to get away from home for a few days and work in peace. If you are looking for something further away from the city where you can be surrounded by nature, our properties in Mont Tremblant will certainly charm you. You will be able to take advantage of your stay to do some winter activities after your hard day of work.
If you wish to have more information about our properties or to make a reservation, don’t hesitate to call our customer service directly by phone at 514 437-4000 or to write us an email at info@kasania.com at all times during our opening hours, being every day from 9 AM to 8 PM. It will be our pleasure to answer your questions!