National Ergonomics Month
It’s National Ergonomics Month, and we’re here to remind you of the importance of maintaining good posture in the workplace. It’s easy to take your health for granted when you’re sitting at a desk all day—but it can make a huge difference in how you feel physically and mentally. We’ve put together some tips on how to improve your posture at work so that you can stay healthy and look great while doing it.
but first, what exactly is ergonomics?
Do you ever wonder why keyboards are designed as they are? Simply, to make it easier to use. Fast typing people are able to memorize and master the keyboard because of its pattern.
Let’s make it easier, one of the most common forms of ergonomics is Microbreak. You take your break simply, to relax, reset, or cool down.
Ergonomics can be in a form a device, stress relieving activities, but at work it is basically having a good body posture in every activity to avoid strains or injuries. But ergonomics comes in three ways which are Physical, Mental, and Organization, and we are going to focus on work ergonomics.
Now that you already have an idea of what is ergonomics, let’s go ahead and explore the importance of ergonomics in the workplace.
Why Ergonomics is important?
Most people tend to misunderstand that what they think is comfortable is good for them. Why? Let’s say your work involves computers.
You slouch because you feel relaxed and your body could rest until such time you feel back pain once you get up. Can you relate?
And Let’s say you are driving your car, you are handling your steering wheel so hard that it would eventually cause you cramps.
Would you want your boss to give you an additional workload that results in additional pressure and would stress you out the whole day? No wonder, this may put you in a terrible mood.
So see, ergonomics helps us to boost our mood which will make us efficient.
Improving your posture at work can actually improve your mood, prevent pain, and make you look more confident.
- Good posture is an important part of good health—a study found that people with poor postural habits were more likely to suffer from neck problems and headaches than those who had good posture.
- Not only can poor posture lead to injury (and even disability), but it also affects your appearance: if you slouch all day long, no wonder people think you’re lazy!
- An improved appearance will help make up for any physical disadvantages due to poor posture—and maybe even earn some brownie points with co-workers too!
Set up your computer desktop so it’s at a comfortable height.
As you sit at your computer, the screen should be at eye level. If it’s not, adjust the height of the monitor so that it is comfortably close to you and within arm’s reach.
The keyboard should also be at elbow height to promote an ergonomic posture. The mouse should be placed on top of the desk or table so that it won’t slide away from you as you move around in front of it.
Sit up straight and keep your head level.
Sit up straight. This is the most basic rule of ergonomics, but it’s also one that many people forget about. When sitting at a desk for long periods of time, make sure you sit up tall with your shoulders back and chest out so that you can maintain good posture throughout the day (or night). If possible, find a chair that has extra support or cushioning so that your legs don’t have to support too much weight while sitting down—this will help reduce fatigue over time!
Keep your shoulders relaxed and back.
- Keep your shoulders relaxed and back.
- Your shoulders should be relaxed and back, not hunched over or rolled forward. A good rule of thumb is that they shouldn’t be too high, but also shouldn’t be too low either (i.e., you don’t want to look like someone who’s just crawled out from under a rock). If you find yourself feeling tense in this area, try sitting up straight with your hands on the table—this will help keep them in place while also reducing stress on other parts of your body (like knees).
Use your chair properly, or get a new one.
If you’re sitting in a chair, stand up and walk around it. Ask yourself: how comfortable is this chair? Does it need to be replaced? If so, what kind of chair would work better for your body type and needs?
If all else fails, get a new one!
Take breaks from sitting all day with stretches that can help you keep good posture. These can be done even if you’re in a small office space without leaving your desk.
Stretching is a great way to get your body moving, especially when you’re sitting all day. It helps relieve muscle tension and improve circulation. Stretch by:
- Standing up straight for about 30 seconds; then sit back down again
- Sitting with the back straight against a wall or desk (don’t lean forward) for at least 30 seconds; then stand up again
It’s important to take care of yourself at work!
- Take breaks from sitting all day
- Get a new chair if yours is uncomfortable
- Get a standing desk if you can
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
- As a business owner invest in an ergonomic device,chair, mouse, keyboard. Investing in these devices will give effeciency to your people which will eventually result to better outcomes of the projects.
Conclusion
We hope this post has helped you learn about ergonomic problems that are common in offices and how to fix them. Keep your body healthy and strong by keeping your posture correct at all times, using a comfortable chair and desk, taking breaks when possible, and working out regularly. It may seem like a lot of work, but it will make a huge difference for both your health and productivity!
