Ergonomic Tips for the Home Office

Decking out your home office with the latest ergonomic gear?  Here are a few tips on what to look for from a book called Home Office Solutions: Creating the Space That Works for You (with comments inserted from yours truly):

• Buy the best office chair you can afford (I have to agree with this one; my first "home office chair" was a wooden thing swiped from the dining room table set--my rear end still winces at the memory of sitting on that for multiple hours).
• Invest in ergonomic keyboards, an alternative mouse (to avoid repetitive clicking), lumbar cushions (many higher end ergonomic chairs come with lumbar supports), and a hands-free headset for the phone (some people actually get a type of RSI from tilting their heads to hold the phone against their shoulder while they continue working with both hands).
• Use halogen lights for task lighting, and adjust lights and ambient lighting to eliminate glare on the computer monitor.
• For writing or drawing, choose an inclined surface rather than a flat desk.
• Place all your equipment at levels/in positions that put minimal strain on your neck, shoulders, arms, and back (you should be comfortable at your desk not just for the first fifteen minutes but for as long as you need to work).

For more tips and information on setting up a home office, check the book out from your local library (it's interesting to browse through, but I'm not sure it's the type of book you need to add to your collection).

Comments

[Bob Balfe]

Wow, what a great site! I started working from home about a year ago and a few month ago I started getting serious neck problems. I attributed it to my desk and then my monitor for sitting up so high. I then got rid of my monitor and got this new LCD with a convenient hinge where I can tilt it however I need. I blogged about it here: http://balfes.net/cgi-bin/blog.cgi/Things-I-Like/FlatronSlimLineLGMonitor.html

Once again, nice site.