Home office
The home office has become the “new normal” in the work world as people have been forced to adapt to the massive lifestyle changes caused by the pandemic. Because of this, proper ergonomic support and stretching has become more crucial than ever. Lets face it, at least when you go to an office, you are forced to get in and out of your car, take lunch breaks somewhere other than your desk (hopefully), and move around a little bit more than at home. When your desk, kitchen and bathroom are all within 15 feet of each other, your mobility tends to suffer due to lack of activity, which means that your joints and muscles will pay the price.
So what can you do to avoid the aches and pains of your new work environment? Well the first part of the answer is easy… Move more! Try and take breaks at least once an hour just to get up and walk around your house. Maybe throw a couple stretches in there or foam roll if you are feeling wild and crazy! The movement will help your body stay more limber and handle your new work environment better.
Aside from stretching, make sure that your office space is setup ergonomically correct for you. For example, make sure your chair doesn’t sit too high or too low, a proper 90 degree angle with your feet flat on the floor will keep excess stress off of your hips and legs. Make sure your screen is at the proper head height (eye level) on your desk to avoid putting undo stress on your neck (by having your head tilted up or down for long periods of time). Lastly, if you are working with dual monitors (more than 1 display) make sure they are the exact same make and model. Far too often people mix and match their displays which can cause eye strain from the constant transition of starring at two different types of screens.
There are a number of ways that we can make sure to avoid the aches and pains of day to day life, but when it comes to these home office setup; moving, stretching and proper ergonomics are key!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Novick
Personal Trainer
