ergonomics: Tips To Optimize Your Home Office

8 Tips to Set Up an Ergonomic Home Office

Is your makeshift Home Office working against you?

Does the idea of turning your current Home Office into a Pinterest worthy Pin make you nauseated?

You aren’t alone! Due to the novel Coronavirus, people across the globe are being forced to work from home for who knows how long. You may be feeling like you just need to make do with this temporary work situation so that you can do your job as effectively as possible. Well, I am here to put the F-U-N in Functional!

I put together some practical tips to help you make your Home Office more functional so that you can focus on what matters most… doing your job well!

An ergonomic Home Office may not be the most attractive office, but it is sure to promote productivity and functionality.

First, allow me to explain what ergonomics is. Ergonomics is the process of designing a workspace with products and systems that fit the people that use them. The scientific findings of ergonomics aim to improve workspaces and environments to minimize the risk of injury. The ultimate goal is to create safe, comfortable, and productive workspaces.

So with that, let’s get to it!!

#1 Stand Up and Get Moving!

Sitting for hours on end without moving can take a toll on your entire body. Taking frequent breaks from sitting allows for movement improving blood circulation, comfort, and performance. Moving also decreases the risk of injury.

Sit-to-stand desks are a great option, but they have to be properly used. According to Cornell University professor Alan Hedge advises “the optimal sit to stand cycle is 20 minutes of seated work followed by 8 minutes of standing, followed by 2 minutes of moving around” courtesy of www.pcmag.com.

Take frequent breaks to stand up, do a few jumping jacks to get your blood flowing, and make sure you are postured properly when seated.

Humorous cartoon to illustrate “Sitting Is the next Smoking”.

#2 The Right Chair

You don’t have to spend a fortune on a fancy orthopedic desk chair. I do, however, recommend you use an appropriate office chair. A hard wooden dining chair is bound to give you back and neck pain! Using an appropriate office desk chair with adjustable settings that can be customized to your personal needs will greatly relieve back pain as well as reduce the urge to slouch. If you need extra lumbar support for a chair that you are already using, try rolling up a towel and placing it at your lower back.

Having the right chair is critical, but you need to also consider your posture. Are your feet flat on the floor? Do you find yourself slouching? An ergonomic chair will help to posture yourself for productivity.

#3 Let There Be Light!

Sufficient lighting makes work easier. We strain our eyes staring at screens most of the day. Don't make it worse by limiting lighting in your Home Office. Use natural lighting as much as possible, but make sure to supplement where it falls short. Change out bulbs if necessary. If your Home Ofice lacks natural light, try adding a task light with different lighting options.

If you are able, position your desk to face a window. Facing the desk towards the window allows your eyes to rest (studies show that periodically while working on the computer, one should look up and into the distance), cut down on computer screen glare and have a nice view. 

A well-lit office is a happy, productive one.

#4 Noise. What Noise?

Are you struggling with disruptive noises when taking phone calls? Are your family members loud in the other room while you are trying to concentrate?

You may need to consider a White Noise Machine. A white noise machine is more than recordings of ocean waves, they are a collection of sounds that have the same intensity through the audible range thus creating a uniform sound perfect for masking loud disruptions.

Pretend you are at the beach for a few minutes. There are hundreds of people surrounding you. You are able to hear that people nearby are speaking, yet you barely hear what they are saying. The sounds are muffled. A white noise machine is like this - it will gently block disruptive sounds outside of your office creating a buffer from any noisy family member or neighbor. Your outside distractions will be minimized allowing you to focus on your tasks.

#5 Stay Organized

Before you stockpile organizational bins and file cabinets, put some thought into how you actually organize. If you already scan your receipts and keeps things digitally, why buy a filing cabinet? You have the flexibility of creating your workspace the way you need it. Do it in a way that will work for you long term.

#6 Elevate Your Thinking

Even the smallest home office can be fully stocked with great decor and organizational solutions. The trick is to think up. Maximize your vertical square footage by adding floating shelves or installing wall cabinets. Fill them with useful bins alongside colorful books or meaningful artwork. Wall shelves will also make it so you have to stand up to reach what you need!

#7 Cut the Cord Clutter

One of the worst things about offices is all the tech clutter that accumulates. You probably need your computer and printer, but that doesn't mean you have to stare at cord tangles all day. Take steps to free your home of cord clutter. Mount a power strip underneath or on the back of your desk. Use cable ties and command hooks to wrangle any cords that get plugged into that power strip and feed them along the back of furniture out of sight. You'll be amazed at how removing that eyesore of cords will make your office feel clean and bright.

#8 Bring the Outdoors In

Bring in organic, comforting materials like plants, seashells, candles, and wood to promote relaxation and purification. A potted plant will add a sense of warmth and life to an indoor space.

Allow your eyes to “rest” by looking out into the distance. Bring organic elements of nature indoors to add life and warmth to your workspace.

I hope that these tips have been intuitive and are helpful to you.

Peace in place. Stay well.

Interested in updating your home office for yourself or your kids? Check out these e-Design vision boards!

Tiffani Michalenko

HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner