This year has had no shortage of transitions so far — from adjusting to homeschooling and mask-wearing to learning to work from home, pretty much everything we thought to be “normal” has gone out the window.
If you’re still dialing in your work from home setup, we’re here to help!
In this post, we’ll share some tips and tricks to help you create the ideal ergonomic workstation in your home office, living room, bedroom corner, or wherever you’re working.
Step One: Find Your Designated Workzone
The first step in creating the ultimate ergonomic workstation is finding a designated workspace that’ll not only fit your office essentials, but also be conducive to your productivity and work style.
Besides picking a space that gives you enough, space, here are some other things to keep in mind:
- Lighting: Ideally, you’ll want to find a space that has plenty of light to get your work done, but not so much so that you’re squinting from working under such luminance for hours on end. If you can pick a place near a window, definitely do so!
- Noise level: Closeby construction, noisy neighbors, and stirring housemates can be incredibly distracting when you’re trying to get into the zone. Try your best to find a spot in your home where you can close the door if you need to, or at the very least, invest in some noise-cancelling headphones.
- Temperature: Being too hot or too cold can present more productivity problems than you think. If your home doesn’t have the central AC benefits of your office, invest in a portable AC unit for summer weather and a portable heater to keep warm in the winter.
Step Two: Furnish Your Space Wisely
When it comes to working from home effectively, comfort is key — and we don’t just mean working in your pajamas.
To create a workspace that’s kind to your body and conducive to productivity, it’s a good idea to invest in an ergonomic setup.
A standup desk, high-quality office chair, or an ergonomic balance ball chair are all great options to keep your back, body, and mind feeling good throughout the workday.
Here are a few other ergonomic ideas to consider as you dial in your setup:
- Laptop stand — sets screen at eye level
- Lumbar support pillow — positions your lower back in an upright, comfortable position
- Under-desk foot hammock — footrest supports your feet and promotes healthy seated position
Step Three: Invest in Ergonomic Tech Essentials
In addition to ergonomic office furniture, there are plenty of tech essentials designed for your ultimate WFH comfort.
Level up your setup with these products:
- Ergonomic keyboards
- Ergonomic laptop mouse
- Desk monitor arm — positions your monitor at or slightly below eye level to avoid craning your neck
- Ergonomic phones and phone cases
Step Four: Add Some Personality
As important as it is to make your home office as ergonomic as possible, you should also put some time into making it a space that you want to be in.
Keeping your space tidy and organized with desk organizers will give you the peace of mind you need to be productive, while framing art from your kids will make your home office a sweet place to really love.
Step Five: Embrace Healthy Work from Home Habits
Now that you have your remote office all set up, it’s time to get to work! As you begin your work from home, remember to embrace healthy habits, doing so will help you sustain the morale and productivity you need to get the job done.
Below, you’ll find a few of our top work from home tips for parents:
- Protect your vision with a pair of blue light-blocking glasses
- Take plenty of breaks throughout the day — a quick walk outside works wonders!
- Cook yourself a healthy lunch to keep up your energy throughout the workday
- Keep the kitchen stocked with healthy snacks
- Set boundaries with your little ones and your partner
- Create a daily to-do list, break down big tasks into smaller, more manageable ones
- Take time off when you need
- Don’t be too hard on yourself
How is your workstation coming along so far? Share your journey with us in the comment section below!