How to make the most of your workstation
Tips for setting-up a workstation ...
"It doesn’t take a genius to work out that if your work desk is an ergonomic shambles your productivity will suffer. Sarah Campbell asks the experts how to beat the workstation blues
What's your desk like? Is it an ergonomic haven of order and creativity next to a window with views over a park? Or is it a paper-strewn, wall-facing mess with a broken chair, wonky keyboard and flickering striplight overhead? Even if you are slumped in a poky corner of an open-plan super-office, there are ways to make the most of your work environment.
1. Sit up straight. Well, don’t, actually. Ergonomically, the best angle to sit at is 110 degrees to your desk, not 90 degrees, says Tim Hutchful, a chiropractor in Leicester. He adds: “The ideal desk position is that of a draftsman, because it supports the body’s normal curves.”
2. Know your furniture. “Your equipment might do more than you think,” Hutchful says. Even if the stuffing is falling out of them, office chairs are designed to be adaptable. Try tilting the seat forward about four degrees and the back of the chair back a little bit, although if it causes discomfort try a different position. And it’s not just about the chair. “The chair and the desk need to marry up,” he says. Check your desk – it might have feet that allow you to adjust the height.
3. Prioritise your desk space. Why is your phone to the right of your computer when you always hold it with your left hand? “Put the bits that you use regularly quite close,” Hutchful says. Try not to stretch to reach heavy files – put them closer to you. You’ll save time, too.
4. Don’t hotdesk. OK, you don’t get a choice in this, so investigate how flexible the furniture is at each new workstation. And if you have a fairly regular desk, Hutchful suggests marking the chair with Tippex so that you can set it to the right height and tilt every time you use it." (Continued via Times Online) [Ergonomics Resources]
"It doesn’t take a genius to work out that if your work desk is an ergonomic shambles your productivity will suffer. Sarah Campbell asks the experts how to beat the workstation blues
What's your desk like? Is it an ergonomic haven of order and creativity next to a window with views over a park? Or is it a paper-strewn, wall-facing mess with a broken chair, wonky keyboard and flickering striplight overhead? Even if you are slumped in a poky corner of an open-plan super-office, there are ways to make the most of your work environment.
1. Sit up straight. Well, don’t, actually. Ergonomically, the best angle to sit at is 110 degrees to your desk, not 90 degrees, says Tim Hutchful, a chiropractor in Leicester. He adds: “The ideal desk position is that of a draftsman, because it supports the body’s normal curves.”
2. Know your furniture. “Your equipment might do more than you think,” Hutchful says. Even if the stuffing is falling out of them, office chairs are designed to be adaptable. Try tilting the seat forward about four degrees and the back of the chair back a little bit, although if it causes discomfort try a different position. And it’s not just about the chair. “The chair and the desk need to marry up,” he says. Check your desk – it might have feet that allow you to adjust the height.
3. Prioritise your desk space. Why is your phone to the right of your computer when you always hold it with your left hand? “Put the bits that you use regularly quite close,” Hutchful says. Try not to stretch to reach heavy files – put them closer to you. You’ll save time, too.
4. Don’t hotdesk. OK, you don’t get a choice in this, so investigate how flexible the furniture is at each new workstation. And if you have a fairly regular desk, Hutchful suggests marking the chair with Tippex so that you can set it to the right height and tilt every time you use it." (Continued via Times Online) [Ergonomics Resources]
Messy Desk
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