It is important to spend the time to properly set up your office. After all you will be there for a good portion of your waking day (and sometimes night!)
It’s not difficult or necessarily expensive to create an efficient and comfortable workspace. Rather it’s a matter of taking the time to get it right.
The Ergonomic Workspace
Whether you work from home or in an office, there are easy ways to optimize your workspace for productivity and health. The ideal workspace will minimize your risk of injury and will make it easy to stay organized. Here are some factors to consider:
• Your location
Ideally, your desk should face the door, so when you are seated you are facing it. This is not only the position found to be the most calming for the occupant, but is also the most welcoming for someone entering the room.
• Natural light
If at all possible, find a space with a good source of natural light. A window allows you to give your eyes a break by looking out every so often, not lose track of time, improves your mood and lessens eye fatigue from looking at a bright screen. Plus if you are a graphic designer or illustrator, natural light will help you view colours accurately on printed materials.
• Your chair
In all likelihood you will spend at least eight hours a day in this chair, so it is worth investing in a good one. When looking for a chair, it is best to go into a store and sit on the chair before purchasing it. You may wish to find a better price online after that, but don’t skip giving it a test-sit, so to speak.
If you don’t have an office budget, let alone a chair budget, you may want to try an exercise ball. They cost around US$20 to US$30 and makes a great interim office chair. Exercise balls help your posture and increases core abdominal strength, which will help you avoid back pain. When purchasing an exercise ball, go to a fitness store and get assistance finding the right size for you.
• Your desk
It is pivotally important that you get a desk that is the right height. Work on a desk that is too high or too low and your posture and circulation can suffer, increasing the risk of strain and injury.
• Your screen
It is important to adjust the brightness of your screen. A good rule of thumb is that your screen should not be brighter than the brightest point in your room. This means you should never work in the dark!
Glare or reflections on your screen can be very distracting, not to mention bad for the eyes. Avoid facing your screen towards a light source.
Finally your screen should be at least an arm’s length away from you. When seated, you should have your screen positioned so that you are staring straight ahead with a relaxed neck.
• Your keyboard
Your keyboard should be relatively close to your screen, so that when you type your elbows can rest on your desk. This puts your arms in a resting position and reduces the strain on your wrists.
Tips and Tricks For Your Workspace
Along with ergonomic considerations, there are other factors involved in optimizing your workspace. Here are some tips and tricks:
• Lock your workspace door
If you have unruly kids or pets, get a lock on the door and get used to using it when you leave your desk. It may feel strange to lock a door in your own home, but keep in mind that your livelihood is behind that door. Little accidents like a spilt drink or a deleted file could cause serious consequences. If you do choose to lock your door when you’re away from your desk, give a key to someone you trust also, just in case.
• Buy some sound-isolating earphones
You don’t want your neighbour’s construction or heavy-metal marathon ruining a whole day’s work. These cost between US$30 to US$80, depending on the sound quality and protection you want.
• Keep it light
If your space feels dark, get a cheap mirror and place it opposite a window. This will increase natural light and give the impression of a larger room
• Empty the room of clutter
Since you’ll be spending a lot of time in your office, it’s worth keeping it clutter free. If there’s anything in the room that is not related to your business (a spare bed, boxes or exercise equipment for instance), move it somewhere else. The space should as feel roomy and airy as possible.
• Avoid patterned or dark walls
If your space is a dark colour or has patterned wallpaper, consider painting it white. White walls keep you alert and if you are a designer looking at printed materials, the reflections won’t alter colours.
• Consider a bulletin board or white board
These are all terribly handy for organisation, and if you place them a little ways away will make sure you occasionally get up out of your chair!
It’s not difficult or necessarily expensive to create an efficient and comfortable workspace. Rather it’s a matter of taking the time to get it right.
The Ergonomic Workspace
Whether you work from home or in an office, there are easy ways to optimize your workspace for productivity and health. The ideal workspace will minimize your risk of injury and will make it easy to stay organized. Here are some factors to consider:
• Your location
Ideally, your desk should face the door, so when you are seated you are facing it. This is not only the position found to be the most calming for the occupant, but is also the most welcoming for someone entering the room.
• Natural light
If at all possible, find a space with a good source of natural light. A window allows you to give your eyes a break by looking out every so often, not lose track of time, improves your mood and lessens eye fatigue from looking at a bright screen. Plus if you are a graphic designer or illustrator, natural light will help you view colours accurately on printed materials.
• Your chair
In all likelihood you will spend at least eight hours a day in this chair, so it is worth investing in a good one. When looking for a chair, it is best to go into a store and sit on the chair before purchasing it. You may wish to find a better price online after that, but don’t skip giving it a test-sit, so to speak.
If you don’t have an office budget, let alone a chair budget, you may want to try an exercise ball. They cost around US$20 to US$30 and makes a great interim office chair. Exercise balls help your posture and increases core abdominal strength, which will help you avoid back pain. When purchasing an exercise ball, go to a fitness store and get assistance finding the right size for you.
• Your desk
It is pivotally important that you get a desk that is the right height. Work on a desk that is too high or too low and your posture and circulation can suffer, increasing the risk of strain and injury.
• Your screen
It is important to adjust the brightness of your screen. A good rule of thumb is that your screen should not be brighter than the brightest point in your room. This means you should never work in the dark!
Glare or reflections on your screen can be very distracting, not to mention bad for the eyes. Avoid facing your screen towards a light source.
Finally your screen should be at least an arm’s length away from you. When seated, you should have your screen positioned so that you are staring straight ahead with a relaxed neck.
• Your keyboard
Your keyboard should be relatively close to your screen, so that when you type your elbows can rest on your desk. This puts your arms in a resting position and reduces the strain on your wrists.
Tips and Tricks For Your Workspace
Along with ergonomic considerations, there are other factors involved in optimizing your workspace. Here are some tips and tricks:
• Lock your workspace door
If you have unruly kids or pets, get a lock on the door and get used to using it when you leave your desk. It may feel strange to lock a door in your own home, but keep in mind that your livelihood is behind that door. Little accidents like a spilt drink or a deleted file could cause serious consequences. If you do choose to lock your door when you’re away from your desk, give a key to someone you trust also, just in case.
• Buy some sound-isolating earphones
You don’t want your neighbour’s construction or heavy-metal marathon ruining a whole day’s work. These cost between US$30 to US$80, depending on the sound quality and protection you want.
• Keep it light
If your space feels dark, get a cheap mirror and place it opposite a window. This will increase natural light and give the impression of a larger room
• Empty the room of clutter
Since you’ll be spending a lot of time in your office, it’s worth keeping it clutter free. If there’s anything in the room that is not related to your business (a spare bed, boxes or exercise equipment for instance), move it somewhere else. The space should as feel roomy and airy as possible.
• Avoid patterned or dark walls
If your space is a dark colour or has patterned wallpaper, consider painting it white. White walls keep you alert and if you are a designer looking at printed materials, the reflections won’t alter colours.
• Consider a bulletin board or white board
These are all terribly handy for organisation, and if you place them a little ways away will make sure you occasionally get up out of your chair!
