Ergonomics and Tech Gear for the Ultimate Work-from-home Experience
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown radically changed work environments in 2020. Since then, many companies have maintained work-from-home flexibility work employees who can perform their jobs remotely and may keep these arrangements even after the pandemic and its ripple effects subside. Employees and employers alike have experienced the many benefits of remote employment for certain jobs and may make this a permanent shift.
Even though the work environment dramatically changed for workers worldwide, one principle remains true; employees need the right tools to get their work done. However, work-from-home employees now have to create an ideal work environment on their own. If you’ve found yourself in this situation or make the switch to remote work in the future, you’ll want to establish a comfortable and productive workspace with all the following tech gear and ergonomic solutions.
A Suitable Desk
Whether your workspace is a separate home office or the corner of your bedroom, you’ll need a designated desk to get work done. The desk style you should purchase depends on several factors, such as your budget, space, and function requirements.
Traditional desks work well for those who have standard desk needs. Ideally, it should be at a height that allows you to type or write with your forearms at a right angle to your torso.
If you’re up for it, you can try standing while working, even for just a portion of the workday. This practice has many health benefits, such as reducing back pain and increasing activity levels. For those who feel comfortable doing so, a standing or convertible desk will better fit your needs.
An adjustable desk offers the best of both worlds, allowing you to switch back and forth between a standing and sitting position throughout the day. Changing positions throughout work ensures your body doesn’t get stiff, preventing aches, pains, and fatigue.
A Supportive Office Chair
Along with a desk, a comfortable chair is an essential piece of any office. Even workers who use a standing desk will likely want a high-quality chair to take a rest in every once in a while.
An ergonomic chair design addresses your comfort and physiological needs. They’re usually bulkier than regular chairs, but for good reason. Their design caters to a human body’s weaknesses and pain points by providing substantial comfort and support. Ideally, your chair should provide:
- Lumbar support
- Adjustable chair height and armrests
- Rolls or wheels that match your surface for easy movement
- A swivel base to help you maneuver and reduce strain
A Second Monitor
For employees in some industries, such as software or web development, having a second monitor is a necessity, not a luxury. If your work involves looking through multiple programs, browser tabs, or documents, then you should consider using a second monitor as well. Using two monitors can increase your productivity because it helps you organize your work better and makes cross-referencing different documents or pages easier.
When purchasing a second screen, make sure to check your computer or laptop compatibility first. Also, note that some monitors come with a power supply, and others use a USB connection.
A Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
With the computer, router, and numerous devices in your workstation, the number of wires running around the room and across your desk can become unsightly and overwhelming. To minimize the chords you need and maximize desk space, you may want to invest in wireless devices like printers, keyboards, and mouses.
A Mic and Headset
If you work on any sort of team, you’ll likely have numerous video calls throughout the week. While you may try to create a quiet environment to make calls from, the universe may not comply. Sometimes, you won’t have control over the noise around you coming from children, roommates, neighbors, and passing traffic.
Having a headset will allow you to focus on the voice or video call audio, and using a microphone will help your coworkers hear your voice loud and clear. You can also use the headset to mute your environment and focus on your work with a noise-canceling feature or music that helps you get in the zone.
A Computer Repair Plan
Although not technically an item that lives in your home office, a computer repair service plan is something to consider to ensure your work efficiency.
When you worked in the office, you likely had IT support to identify and remedy technical difficulties with your devices. But now that you work from home, you may be on your own. To ensure computer malfunction doesn’t stall your work for days on end while you wait for a repair shop to fix your device, consider purchasing a plan with a computer repair service provider that offers remote support.
Getting into Gear for Remote Work
If you know you’ll be working remotely for the long haul, it may be time to invest in a home office or workspace that promotes productivity. And, since it’s your own home, you have the freedom to get creative and make the perfect workspace for your style and comfort.
