• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Andrew Jensen

  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Efficiency Consulting
      • Business Efficiency
      • Efficiency Coaching
      • Time Management
    • Business Coaching
    • Customer Service
    • Sales & Marketing
      • Marketing Consulting
      • Internet Strategies
  • FAQs
  • Why Andrew?
  • Partners
  • Articles
    • Management
    • Employees
    • Customer Service
    • Communication
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Cutting Costs
    • Organization
    • Personal Efficiency
  • Contact
    • Contact Andrew
    • Media Inquiries
    • Public Speaking
You are here: Home / Efficiency / Tips for Office Ergonomics

Updated on August 8, 2011 by Andrew Jensen 2 Comments

Tips for Office Ergonomics

With instances of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other problems caused by poor office habits on the rise, more and more people are displaying a concern for abiding by proper office ergonomics. Changing your office habits for the better can have a number of health benefits, including reduced eye strain, back pain, wrist injury, and neck pain, among others. Below you will find the top four tips for improving your office ergonomics.

1. Change positions

When work and home life are both taken into account, the average office worker sits for upwards of fifteen hours a day, so one of the most important pieces of advice on improving your office health is to change positions often. Not only does this lessen the amount of strain placed on certain muscles and reduce the risk of overuse, but it also “restarts” the body. After an hour or more of inactivity, your body drastically slows the production of certain important enzymes, but by moving periodically, you prevent the production of these enzymes from ceasing. By doing so, you stand to lower your risk of weight gain, diabetes, and an unhealthy level of HDL (“good” cholesterol). Even regular exercise after work is not enough to offset the damage done by long periods of inactivity, so it is important to change positions, stand up, or take a short walk around the office at least once every hour.

proper seating is crucial for health and stamina2. Reposition your monitor

The most often repeated tip about positioning your computer monitor ergonomically is that it should be between 18 and 24 inches from your face. In actuality, however, it’s best for your screen to be as far away as possible while still being comfortably visible. Another misconception about computer screen positioning involves the monitor’s height. Previously, experts recommended that the top of the monitor be at eye level, but this is actually the HIGHEST height your screen should be. Your monitor should be positioned at the height that feels most comfortable for your eyes and neck, with the top of your screen being no higher than eye level.

3. Fix your keyboard

They keyboard is probably the most common offender of office ergonomics. When typing, your wrists should remain straight, and your forearms should be roughly parallel with the floor. There is nothing wrong with pushing your keyboard further towards the back of your desk, as long as your workspace is at a height that allows your wrists and forearms to remain in the proper position. Also, although wrist rests could be helpful for some individuals, experts now believe that they should not be used constantly. The carpal tunnel is located on the underside of the wrist beneath the palm, and, by using a wrist rest too frequently, you could be subjecting the carpal tunnel to dangerous amounts of unnecessary pressure.

4. Switch your posture

Although it is common for ergonomics articles to recommend a certain posture, in actuality, there is no single “right” way to sit. An upright posture with your hips at a ninety degree angle was once the most common recommendation, but this is actually no longer preferred. Instead, experts now advise office workers to strive for a seated position in which the angle of their hips (the angle between their torso and thighs) is greater than ninety degrees, around one hundred thirty degrees. Although, as noted above, switching positions is very important, this wide angle position is very ergonomic because it alleviates stress on your lower inter vertebral disks and also requires your back muscles to work less hard, as some of your body weight is now supported by your chair.

If you are concerned about having a faulty office setup, we recommend swinging by the website of Daniel Baumstark, one of Washington, D.C.’s top physical therapists, and taking advantage of his affordable online office ergonomic evaluation.

Filed Under: Efficiency, Ergonomics

About Andrew Jensen

Andrew Jensen, a business growth, efficiency & marketing consultant, provides business advisory services for clients in the Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; York, Hanover, Lancaster & Harrisburg, PA regions. Andrew advises regarding business growth, productivity, efficiency, business startups, customer service, and online/offline marketing.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Artem | MyErgonomicChair says

    July 17, 2018 at 3:15 am

    Great input, Andrew!

    From my experience, changing postures and taking regular breaks improves just about everything.
    I personally own an Aeron (top class ergonomic chair with a hefty price tag), BUT it still doesn’t solve all my problems – I need to take regular breaks to get the blood flowing.

    I use Pomodoro technique to guide me as well – taking regular breaks when my app tells me to do them is far easier…maybe it will help you as well.

    I hope so!

    Artem from MyErgonomicChair

    PS Linking to our collection of 13 best ergonomic chairs if you are interested – https://myergonomicchair.com/best-ergonomic-office-chairs/

    Reply
  2. Victor says

    April 30, 2019 at 6:28 am

    Well there’s a lot more thing which one can practice to become more productive during their working hours. We always felt lazy and tired when working continuously for several hours.

    People should keep taking regular breaks, watch movies during their breaks or also can play video games to freshen up the mind.

    Apart from all these things, It is important to have a comfortable office chair which can keep you away from any pain and can support your body properly.

    An ergonomic office chair can do the job for your comfort. We had a great list of such chairs If you wanna check.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Optimization Strategies for Success™

Contact Andrew Jensen, a business growth, efficiency & marketing consultant, to learn how he can help strengthen your business or nonprofit organization.

Andrew provides business consulting services on-site, by phone & by email for companies nationwide.

Andrew advises regarding business growth, productivity, efficiency, business startups, customer service, and marketing (both offline & online).

Areas Served

Andrew places an emphasis on personal, onsite consulting with clients. He primarily serves clients throughout the United States. International clients are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Andrew is conveniently located within a short drive of Baltimore, Hunt Valley, Bel Air, MD; Washington, D.C.; Wilmington, DE; and Harrisburg, York, Hanover & Lancaster, PA.

Popular Articles

  • Why Is College So Expensive?
  • 5 Ways to Properly Greet a Customer
  • How Office Lighting Affects Productivity
  • When Is the Best Time to Conduct Meetings and Important Business?
  • How Does Workplace Attire Affect Productivity?
  • How to Handle Employee Insubordination
  • How to Become an Efficiency Expert
  • Should You Work More Than 40 Hours a Week?
  • Holding Employees Accountable for Performance
  • 5 Ways to Create a Motivating Work Environment

Recent Comments

  • Carla M. on When Is the Best Time to Conduct Meetings and Important Business?
  • Eli Richardson on Combating the Mid Afternoon Productivity Lull in the Office
  • Tom Melhuish on How Office Lighting Affects Productivity
  • PIUS BYEGARAZO on How to Handle Employee Insubordination
  • Brooke on How to Become More Productive at Work

Footer

Areas Served

Andrew places an emphasis on personal, onsite consulting with clients. He primarily serves clients throughout the United States. International clients are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Andrew is conveniently located within a short drive of the following cities: Baltimore, Hunt Valley, & Bel Air, MD; Washington, DC; Wilmington, DE; Harrisburg, York, Hanover & Lancaster, PA.

Contact Andrew

Andrew Jensen
Sozo Firm Inc
New Freedom, PA

Note: Due to high demand, Andrew currently has a wait list for new projects.

Email Andrew
Toll Free: 800.460.SOZO
Office: 717.885.2312

Services Offered

Business Consulting
• Efficiency Consulting
• Customer Service Consulting
• Sales & Marketing Consulting
• Startup Consulting

Audits
• Business Efficiency Audit
• Customer Service Audit
• Advertising & Marketing Audit
• Website Usability Audit

  • Management
  • Employees
  • Customer Service
  • Communication
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Cut Costs
  • Personal Efficiency
  • Be Organized

Andrew Jensen - Efficiency, Growth & Marketing

Sitemap · Privacy Policy · Copyright © 2023 Sozo Firm Inc · All Rights Reserved · 800-460-7696