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In recent months, the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in India has seen thousands of employees set up an office in their very own homes. In fact, according to many reports, COVID-19 pandemic could lead to Work From Home (WFH) becoming a regular thing. WFH is today an accepted norm in many sectors, especially in the tech sector, as it promotes a good work-life balance and enhances productivity.
However, there is a downside to this. With remote working on the rise, more and more employees are experiencing pain and discomfort due to poor workstation setup at their homes.
Working from the bed/sofa/dining chair at home, however appealing it could be, might do permanent harm to your posture and productivity.
Especially for those living in compact spaces working from home can sometimes feel more like a stressor than a perk. Trying to work comfortably while constantly rotating between the bed/sofa/dining chair and the floor is not only irritating but also potentially bad for your health with the most common physical issues being Neck stiffness, hunched posture, wrist aching and fatigue.
In this scenario, the first step for every home office is to set up a standard permanent workstation with a good ergonomic chair.
Here are some tips for setting up ergonomic work tools and accessories that suit all your WFH needs ensuring complete comfort and enhanced productivity.
The Perfect Chair
Finding the perfect chair is an important first step when creating a healthy comfortable workspace. A good choice would be a comfortable ergonomic chair, especially one that automatically adjusts to the sitter so they don’t need to fumble with confusing knobs and levers to be comfortable as they change tasks and positions throughout the day. This can lead to an increase in alertness as well as an increase in blood flow, benefitting a person’s well-being.
Desk
The next step is to find a desk. It’s important for people to be able to move freely throughout the day in order to be healthy, comfortable, and focused at work. Ideally, a good sit/stand desk is recommended which should be simple, intuitive, and easy to use, so if a person needs to stand or sit while working, the process of raising or lowering the desk is seamless.
Natural Light
Natural light in the workplace is widely recognized as a positive influence on productivity, creativity, and mood, but is just one of many light sources needed to fully address wellbeing at work. With the rise of backlit screens and open floor plans, task lighting, as a supplement to natural or overhead lighting, is necessary for optimal work experience.
Monitor Arms
Though often overlooked, monitor arms promote a clutter-free workspace and support a healthier, more ergonomic working posture, making it a must-have for the ideal desk setup. Many professionals tend to lean in toward their computer monitor in order to see it better, whereas monitor arms enable them to pull the monitor closer so they can sit in a healthy posture, with their back against the back of the task chair, and still see the work on their screen.
Keyboard Tray
And finally, a keyboard tray is another vital tool that helps achieve an adapting, ergonomic workspace. This underrated tool brings the keyboard and mouse closer and encourages professionals to sit in a healthy, neutral posture without leaning forward.
With each of the above-mentioned tools working in harmony to provide ergonomic support and comfort, anyone can have a “perfect” workstation while working from home and be healthy and safe ultimately leading to increased productivity.
Alastair Stubbs, Country Manager India, Humanscale, Bangalore - Alastair relocated from England to India and has been based in Bangalore for the past 11 years, with his Punjabi wife and two children. He holds OCI status which is a lifetime visa. He has 32 years of experience in office interiors and prior to Humanscale, he worked with brands such as Vitra, Bene and Herman Miller.