No, Your Kitchen Table is Not Ergonomic.
If you didn’t work from home before March 2019, chances are you're still sitting at your kitchen table, working from your corporate-issued laptop, and feeling the physical strains of remote work. The sudden shock of transitioning to remote work in March 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to the improvisation of remote workspaces including workspaces with varying couches, dining room tables, and outdoor patio furniture. While these make-shift desks may get the job done without the need for a total home redesign, these spaces are likely not ergonomically optimized. Studies show that home office spaces lacking ergonomic design can increase the likelihood of back pain, neck pain, poor posture, low metabolic rate, respiratory dysfunction, and stress.
So, if you're still sitting at your kitchen table or other unconventional workspace settings, now is the time to officially upgrade your home office set-up. Still not convinced that you need to ditch the kitchen table? Let us put this into perspective for you...
Although standard height dining tables are similar in height to desks (29 to 30 inches in height), this doesn't mean you should use them interchangeably. Not only will you lack organization by working at your dining room table, but some ergonomic desk chairs may not fit within your dining room area.
The Mayo Clinic recommends working on a surface that is at or below elbows height with a screen that is at an arm’s length away viewed at a slight downward angle. When sitting, your knees should be level with your hips, and you should be sitting at about a 90° angle to your hips — no hunched back.
The dining room chair you’ve been relying on is only meant for short-term sitting – not a full day. So, if you're searching for the source of your neck, back, leg, and hip pain, this is it. When shopping for a chair designed to support you throughout your workday and week, consider the following features:
Highly Adaptive. Your office chair should be adaptive to accommodate your unique body shape, size, and weight with easy-to-adjust settings that allow you to personalize the seat for your work style. A true ergonomic chair will movie with you as you change posture, never lacking support.
Posture Improvement. It’s easy to adopt unhealthy habits, like slouching and staying still for too long. Make sure the backrest of your chair fits the natural contour of your back and reinforces your spine as you sit to maintain a healthy alignment.
As tempting as it is, your couch is not an optimal place to work at your computer for the entire day. Although it may be comfortable, having your legs or full body in a vertical position can lead to muscle numbness and discomfort. Instead, opt for a comfortable and ergonomic office chair that boosts your productivity throughout the day.
Working from home without the proper setup can be challenging both mentally and physically but having an ergonomic office space can make you just as productive as if you were in the office. So, as you continue to power through your workday sitting in your uncomfortable workspace, consider this your sign to officially upgrade your home office set-up.
Let the OfficeWorks team help you find the right solution based on your space and your work needs. We’ve got you covered. Contact us today to get started!