Ergonomics, the home office

     When it comes to working from home, or even just working on a desktop, is important that we factor in pleasant workspace. Whether we are working for hours on end or even just playing a simple game, we want to be able to sit comfortably. Not having a neck cramp or burning shoulder can really effect one's pace of work and performance. This is why when designing a home office, we aim to design for comfort. 

Sitting at the right height helps make sitting for long periods more comfortable.

    Setting up the right work space can be the difference in a productive work day versus one that drags by. For me personally, I have noticed that sitting at a desk comfortably has tremendously improved my productivity. When I do homework and lay in bed or sit on the floor, I tend to get bored or fall asleep because I am too comfortable. However, if I sit at my desk in my room it is really uncomfortable and I just want to move somewhere else to do my work. The trick is to try to find a place somewhere in between.

Coffee shop chairs placed too high to be comfortable for sitting long periods of time.

    The solution to this is a variety of things, but the main one being a chair specifically designed for ergonomics. The Herman Miller designer, Bill Stumpf created the famous Ergon chair that was designed for "improving comfort for the human body and sustaining physical health." This is done so by allowing for postural movement and embracing the body. Now many other chairs have been designed by Herman Miller and other companies to maximize comfort in home offices. 

    A big part of working comfortably is making sure your chair is adjusted at the right height, your eyes are not too close or far from the computer, and no singular part of your body is continuously straining. If your chair is too high and your eyes are looking way above your computer, your head will get sore looking down at it all day and vice versa. If your chair is too far from your desk, your arms and eyes are straining to reach. There are ways to adjust these things such as putting a book under your monitor to make it higher or adjusting your office chair height. Either way, it is important to make sure you are not straining your body.

The difference in good posture can greatly impact productivity.

      Not only is the positioning of your chair and workspace important, but it is also crucial to take little breaks throughout the day while working, Everyone gets burned out after working several continuous hours, and a quick 5 minute refresh can really clear your mind. Designing work spaces to maximize comfort can help improve one's productivity. 

Citations

History of the office chair: Who really invented it? Penketh Group. (2019, October 15). Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://penkethgroup.com/knowledge-centre/history-office-chair-really-invented/.

Shine, R. and. (2020, September 22). Online learning ergonomics: Tips for keeping your child engaged and strain-free. Rise and Shine by Children's National. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://riseandshine.childrensnational.org/online-learning-ergonomics/.