What are the qualities of a healthy workstation

Research illustrate a positive correlation between workstation ergonomics and reducing various health issues. From a stiff neck to tingly food, even high blood.

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Why Do Ergonomics Workstations Matter?

Workstation | Sitting Vs Standing

Want Better Posture?

Workstation Best Practices

Sitting Vs Standing Desk?

As we discussed above, finding a quality office chair at a posture perfect size can be challenging for shorter people. Recommended sitting dimensions are even harder to find on the official chair's website. Luckily I did the research for the both of us.

Type	Sitting Desk	Drafting Desk	Standing Desk
Average Height	29" - 32" inches	30" - 36" inches	36" - 44" inches
Reccomended Break	Every 30 Minutes	Every 20 Minutes	Every 20 Minutes
Reccomended Chair	Office Chair	Drafting Chair	Drafting Chair

How to you know if my desk is at the posture perfect height?

Your legs will fit comfortably underneath the desk. You should have enough space across your legs when both feet are flat on the floor.

There should be a 90° - 110° degree angle between your forearm and arm should while seated your desk.

We wrote all about the importance ergonomic workstations. If your interested in more tips on creating a healthy working environment.

Sitting Desk

Traditional desk is where most great art is made – writers, coders, illustrators. Do you think George ll Martin is writing Game of Thrones using standing desk? At the end of the day who wants to come home from work and game on a standing desk? Console gamers, tats who.

WHAT WE LIKE

Compared to standing desk, traditional desk are cheaper in price.
Conventional office desk offer a better gaming experience. How many people do you know that game on a standing desk? [Nada]

OH MY YIKES

- Back Ache
- Back Knots
- Sore Tailbone
- Sore Shoulders
- Stiff Neck
- Poking Out Neck
- Sweaty Backside

Standing Desk

I’ve said this once on the blog and ill say it again…Sitting is the new smoking! Stand up to sedentary diseases with ergonomic protection in the form of a drafters chair or perhaps a standing desk?

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Research suggests that sitting for long periods is linked with health problems, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels.”

WHAT WE LIKE

Standing burns more calories than sitting.
Compared to sitting, standing stretches out the body & healthier blood flow.
Research shows that stand up desks can boost productivity and cognitive function.
Switching to a standing desk was reported to improve sleep.

OH MY YIKES

Laptop + Standing Desk = Bad viewing angles and sore shoulders.
There is more hype around this standing desk trend in the workplace than research has to prove its efficacy.
Just like sitting for to long, standing for to long is not healthy. Standing in front of your desk is not the same as walking around and can lead to muscle-joint strain, back pain, swelling of the feet, and body fatigue.
Some studies found that using sit-stand desks at work does not not change workers productivity.
Your still prone to bad posture using a standing desk.

What are 3 Issues With Standing Desk?

Compared to sitting around all day, sitting desk are great. However there are still concerns surrounding standing around all day.

You Take on Too Much Too Soon and start using a standing desk full time after years of using a sedentary sitting workstation.
Stillness is really what creates stiffness in the body and make your feet achy. Standing desk will make you work harder to keep still and also create muscle imbalances.
The expectation of change will happen over night. Standing desk are not a cure all and will only help in combination with a healthy life style.

Why Ergonomics Matter?

Since 1950 sedentary jobs have increased by 83%. Due to this trend, various health issue have linked to sedentary sitting. Half of the jobs back then involved some sort of physically activity, today only 20% of the US workforce is as physically active.

Research from the American Heart Association illustrates a positive correlation between workstation ergonomics and reducing various health issues. From a stiff neck to tingly food, even high blood pressure can be affected when sitting at a non-ergonomic workstation.

Benefits of Workplace Ergonomics

Ergonomics Reduce Doctors Visits | Using an ergonomic chair reduces the chances of injury and chronic pain.
Ergonomic Improve Productivity | These chairs are design to promote healthy posture that will keep you alert and more productive.
Good for Business | Ergonomic chairs in the workplace show the employees that their health and safety matters. This type of attention to detail boost staff morale and decreases the cost of workplace injuries.

Tips While Working At Sitting Desk

Don’t Try To Sit Through The Pain

Take breaks every 30 minutes if your sitting at your desk. If you get distracted by any pain it may be your body telling you its time to start your break early.

Sit up Straight With your Back Curved.

Evenly distribute your Weight

Your body will naturally form an “S” shape when you evenly distribute your weight by firmly planting both feet on the ground.

If your sitting in a chair that is to big and your feet dangles, getting a footstool will correct your posture.

Slow Motion Is better than No Motion

Moving just even a little at your workstation throughout the day will keep your body from getting sore and stiff. When using a standing desk it’s important to remember:

Keep both feet flat on the floor
Keep your head, neck, and torso aligned vertically.
Use a rug/standing mat if your feet get tired.

Sitting vs Standing Desk — Combat Between Horse and Footsoilder Lameme, CC0 Public Domain Designation

Standing Desk Workstation Tips

Take A Rest From Standing

Don’t try and to stand all day, walk away from your desk every 20 minutes if your body starts to ache.

Get A Pair of Comfortable Shoes Just For Your Workstation

Wearing uncomfortable foot-wear like high-heels, or cleats is a recipe for blisters. If your not committed enough to pick up a pair of indoor shoes, try a pair o gel inserts.

Evenly distribute your Weight

Both feet should be firmly planted on the ground. If your standing on a hard surface, using a standing mat or rug will save your feet from fatigue.

Slow Motion Is better than No Motion

Moving just even a little at your workstation throughout the day will keep your body from getting sore and stiff. When using a standing desk it’s important to remember:

Keep both feet flat on the floor
Keep your head, neck, and torso aligned vertically.
Use a rug/standing mat if your feet get tired.

Workstation best practices

Sitting or Standing; the practices covered below are worth trying.

Stay Eye Level With Your Screen

As with a sitting workstation it important to have the top of your monitor at eye level. If your using multiple monitors place make the largest screen as your main and secondary screen in portrait position to reduce neck strain or awkwardly twisting your body too much.

Distant: The monitor should be about 18-24″ inches in front of you (Arms Length).
Monitor Angle: Your screen should be at an angle between 10° – 20°.
Height: Your screen monitor should line up at your eye level to reduce neck strain.

Computer Glasses To Reduce Eye Strain, Especially At Night

Save your eyes! Most things with a screen emit Blue light emitted, this has been shown to cause of tired eyes, suppress melioration production, and even blindness.

Keep Your Most Used Items At Arms Reach

Keep your most used objects, such as your phone, notepad, water bottle or printed materials — in close proximity to prevent excessive stretching.

Staying hydrated will do two things; Keep you hydrated of course and also keep you frequently heading to the restroom. Which will act as a needed break from being sedentary.

Organize your workstation into different zones.

Primary Zone: Your Mouse & Keyboard

2nd Zone: Phone, headphones, bottle of water

3rd Zone: Computer monitor, glasses, notebook

Remember that Done Is Better Then Perfect! Implementing just one of these practices will do some good.

What are the qualities of a healthy workstation

Sitting Vs Standing Desk?

Sitting Desk

WHAT WE LIKE

Compared to standing desk, traditional desk are cheaper in price.

Conventional office desk offer a better gaming experience. How many people do you know that game on a standing desk? [Nada]

OH MY YIKES

Back Ache

Back Knots

Sore Tailbone

Sore Shoulders

Stiff Neck

Poking Out Neck

Sweaty Backside

Standing Desk

WHAT WE LIKE

OH MY YIKES

Why Ergonomics Matter?

Benefits of Workplace Ergonomics

Ergonomics Reduce Doctors Visits | Using an ergonomic chair reduces the chances of injury and chronic pain.

Ergonomic Improve Productivity | These chairs are design to promote healthy posture that will keep you alert and more productive.

Good for Business | Ergonomic chairs in the workplace show the employees that their health and safety matters. This type of attention to detail boost staff morale and decreases the cost of workplace injuries.

Tips While Working At Sitting Desk

Don’t Try To Sit Through The Pain

Sit up Straight With your Back Curved.

Evenly distribute your Weight

Slow Motion Is better than No Motion

Standing Desk Workstation Tips

Take A Rest From Standing

Get A Pair of Comfortable Shoes Just For Your Workstation

Evenly distribute your Weight

Slow Motion Is better than No Motion

Workstation best practices

Stay Eye Level With Your Screen

Computer Glasses To Reduce Eye Strain, Especially At Night

Keep Your Most Used Items At Arms Reach

Organize your workstation into different zones.

Primary Zone: Your Mouse & Keyboard

2nd Zone: Phone, headphones, bottle of water

3rd Zone: Computer monitor, glasses, notebook

Related Questions

SOURCES

Claude

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