11 Office Ergonomic Tips For Easing The Workplace Stress Caused Due To Working Long Hours!

“No day in your working life will be so bad if you follow the right ergonomic techniques.”

Usually, an employee working at the desk has a habit of working for longer hours without following proper ergonomic techniques. In order to avoid stress throughout the day and work with maximum alertness, you need to follow some ergonomic techniques.

Ergonomic techniques are very important to ease the stress and work with maximum alertness. When you spend maximum amount of time in front of your desk, you should be aware of how the arrangement and design of your equipment can impact your health, comfort and overall productivity.

These tips are highly effective for modern workers.

1. Create a great computer work space!

In designing your office work space, it is essential to think creatively and innovatively. Employees with longer limbs experience a greater risk with congested work space, so ensure that the space is large enough.

Provide proper place for the equipment and the things that are essential to make your dream workstation.

2. Right way to organize the desk or workstation!

Standard desk sizes are not suitable for everyone’s needs, so choose the desk that is right for you. If the desk is for a group of people, then prefer adjustable furniture.

• Organize the desktop to access the things easily without any strain.
• Place frequently used objects at a closer distance to avoid excessive extensions.
• Accommodate the place below the desk suitable to your legs at correct height and the place should be free for stretching.
• Use a foot rest if your feet don’t rest flat on the floor after adjusting your chair height.
• Use matte finish on the work surface to minimize the glare or reflections.
• Use a document holder, if you need to refer documents during keying.

3. Make suitable chair adjustments!

Begin your work with correct chair height. To arrange the chair in an ergonomic position, just stand in front of the chair and adjust the chair height to your knee length.

Adjust the chair’s backrest in order to support your lower back. Then tighten the chair’s backrest, so that it does not give away with your body weight.

Throughout the working day, re-adjust the chair to your various body postures. Don’t stay in a single static position for long hours. Alternate your posture between sitting and standing positions when you are performing daily tasks. Take small breaks and walk for few minutes.

4. Maintain accurate ergonomic monitor distance!

You need to sit in an awkward position if the monitor is too close or too far to your eyes. Finally this can lead to an improper ergonomic posture thus causing eye strain. Forward leaning can fatigue the eyes and put stress on the torso because there is no support for your back.

Follow the below tips to reduce the eye strain:

• Clean monitor surface.
• Attain optimum comfort by adjusting the contrast and brightness.
• Maintain right distance from the monitor to the user i.e. 18-30 inches.
• Place the monitor at an angle of 90 degrees to the windows.

5. Seek right ergonomic keyboard!

Do you spend most of your work time in typing? Using the keyboard and placing it can greatly affect the risk of getting RSI and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Follow these techniques in order to reduce the risk of these injuries:

• First make suitable chair adjustments, then place your hands comfortably at your sides. Your forearm should be at an angle of 90 degrees with your upper arm.
• Place the keyboard in such a manner so that your arms should be parallel to your thighs.
• If needed, place a keyboard tray to achieve right ergonomic posture.
• Follow right typing techniques.
• Set the keyboard at a closer distance from you to avoid unnecessary trouble in reaching the keyboard.
• Gently press the keys and don’t hold them down for extended periods.

6. Exercise at your desk!

Desk exercises offer relief to computer users from pain, stiffness and posture problems. Computer work at office involves maintaining same posture for long periods resulting in muscle stiffness and tension.

Practice simple stretching exercises which can be performed at the desk. Stretching exercises improves flexibility and decreases the risk of injury, physical stress and improves performance.

7. Light your working area!

Improper lighting can cause visual discomforts like burning eyes, eye strain, itching, and blurred vision. So, adjust the lights to reduce the glare and also position your monitor at an angle to reduce the reflection.

Reduce the eye fatigue by following the below tips:
• Avoid intense lighting in your working area.
• Monitor should be at an angle of 90 degrees to the windows.
• Use desk lamps, instead of overhead lights.
• Use monitor shield to reduce the glare due to overhead lights.

8. Know the right usage of input device!

Whatever might be the input device you use, make sure that it must be within your reach and don’t hold it too tightly so that there is less stress on the muscles. If you are not feeling good with your mouse, try an alternate one like trackball or touch pad.

Placing the input device too close or too far can cause discomfort in your forearm, shoulder, elbow and wrist.

Follow these tips to overcome from these discomforts:
• Place the mouse at your comfortable reach for natural relaxation and comfortable eye-hand coordination.
• Avoid bending wrist upward and ensure that you are sitting lower than your elbow height so that holding the mouse can be easier for you.
• Make sure the mouse surface is stable.

9. Give priority to the work habits!

Working at the desk can cause discomfort on your upper extremities and on your eyes. So, to avoid these discomforts, you need to learn some work habits.
• Take frequent breaks for every 20-40 minutes, get up and walk around for 2-3 minutes.
• Don’t stay in one static position for longer hours, change the posture periodically.
• Provide your eyes with vision breaks for every hour.
• Stretch your neck, back, and hands for every hour.
• Substitute the mouse usage by using alternative keystrokes.

Follow these work habits, so that you won’t experience any stress on any part of your body.

10. Identify Proper usage of laptop computers!

Work on a laptop computer only when it is on the table but not on your lap. If you need to use it very frequently, it is better to use separate mouse and keyboard to reduce the stress on your hands and wrists.

Techniques you need to follow while using laptop computer:
• While typing, place your hands straight so that your wrists should not bend and should not be resting on your lap, table, or on a palm rest. Use palm or wrist rests to give support in the break.
• If the table you are using is too high for keying, then use a laptop holder by tilting the laptop towards you.

11. Know how to use the phone at your desk!

Avoid placing the phone receiver between your shoulder and neck as it can cause strain on your neck muscles. Use a headset or put the call on speakerphone to reduce the stress on neck muscles.

You can notice an amazing improvement in your work related discomforts and also in the quality of your work after following these techniques. Visit Office Ergonomics

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Workplace" article category.

People interested in the above article "11 Office Ergonomic Tips For Easing The Workplace Stress Caused Due To Working Long Hours!" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

Disability Discrimination in Workplace and its Justification

Discrimination on the ground of disability is a curse of our civilized society and yet, the most workplaces end up discriminating among its employees. Though in some cases it may be justified, but its harmful impact on productivity can cripple the progress of a nation.

Anatomy of an Injury: A Series of Bad Decisions

Poor choices made while at work can lead to a serious incident causing injury or even a fatality. Consider your choices the next time you go to work: Are you wearing your PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) are you following the safety procedures, do you have a poor attitude about safety practices. Do what it takes it make sure nobody gets hurt.

Tips for Communicating With Your Staff

For many employers, effectively communicating with their staff members is a matter of necessity and one of the hardest aspects of business to master. After all, you are trying to nail down the art of communicating thoughts, ideas, processes and procedures to a group of people that all possess different methods of communication.

Leave Work at Work

When your workday is done, wouldn't it be wonderful to shed all that stress with every step you take out the door? By the time you turn the key in your ignition, wouldn't you love to have your mind solely on your personal life? It's easier to do than you think. Your job is just your job, your life is something else, something larger and more important.

Employee Safety Improvement

In business world, the primary concern of every company is the safety of their employees. To avoid accidents, it is a must that company have their preventive measures. Training is an effective way to educate the workers on how to keep their work area's safe. During trainings, the workers are properly oriented of safety signs and the importance of following it. The success of these trainings will ensure good workplace safety and accident prevention.

Nothing Square About Carpet Tiles

Carpet tiles have established themselves as a logical choice for office refurbishment. They're hard wearing, relatively cheap to buy, and it's easy to replace small areas of damage or wear. But it's generally accepted that this convenience means sacrificing design freedom. A square tile doesn't lend itself to curves and circular motifs.

Employee ID Cards Benefit Business

Most companies use identification cards for their business. It is utilized for employee identification purposes. One of the benefits of using identification card is that it provides security to the company. Authorized personnels can verify who are entering the business premises. Taking care of your employees by securing their workplace will make you a better company in the long run.