Home workstations are a great way to create remote working flexibility but they are not often set up specifically for your posture and don’t have the ability to be adjusted. Below are some useful tips to help you keep yourself well in this environment.
Laptops have the advantage of portability but they often lack in adjust ability. When the screen is at the right position for your head and neck it is often in a poor position for your arms and vice versa. This results in poor working posture.
If you’re sitting at any workstation for prolonged periods of time you should do the following to ensure good health and musculoskeletal health. Try these tips:
Musculoskeletal strain
Caused by incorrect posture
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Tips to consider
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Sleeping problems
Artificial lighting that is given off from computer screens can actually trick your brain and suppress its release of melatonin – the substance that assists your sleeping patterns.
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Tips to consider
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Recommendations for the safe use of laptops
Limit usage time
- Have a break away from your screen every 30 minutes to move, stretch and give your eyes a rest – take a walk out in the garden or along the street for 5 minutes or so
- Avoid using laptop on a high surface as this will result in elevated shoulders cause shoulder and upper back pain
For extended periods of laptop use
- Where possible, use a separate keyboard and mouse (wireless are the best option)
- Take regular breaks (as above)
- Raise the height of the laptop screen with a laptop stand, old skool phone books!
- Adjust the font size if needed. You can do this by right clicking on your desk top and select Display Settings, increase the percentage under Scale and Layout
- Position your laptop to avoid glare and reflection on the computer screen
- Set up your workstation as recommended in this video how to work more ergonomically at home in this NYPost article
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Tips to Consider
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