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Working Remotely

Tips for a Healthy Work Experience

Eyestrain? Sore back? It is amazing how making even small tweaks to furnishings or work habits can make you more comfortable and energized over a long work day. To reduce your risk of injury, and improve your performance no matter where you work, consider these practical ergonomic tips.

01.

Adjust Your Immediate Surroundings

 
Start with a Good Chair

Start with a good chair.

Stick with proper ergonomic seating products. Anything else greatly increases your chance of injury or muscle strain. Choose a flexible agile seating experience that supports a range of postures, and your need to shift between different work tasks. Adjust the seat so your feet are flat on the floor. For a change of pace and a bit more comfort, move to a sofa, club chair or other soft seating while reviewing documents or making calls.

Consdier your Screen

Position your screen correctly.

To reduce eyestrain, position your screen at least 20-30 inches from your face (an arm’s length). To decrease neck strain, the screen should be centered directly in front of you at eye height and tilted up a bit so that the screen surface is perpendicular to your face. Investing in a high-quality monitor arm will let you make these adjustments with ease.

See the Light

See the light.

Lighting needs to be balanced for the task at hand. An adjustable task light will allow you to fine tune illumination for desktop projects as well as minimize glare, reducing eyestrain and headaches. To avoid glare on the screen, position the light to the side of the monitor, rather than behind or in front of it. For video calls, optimize visibility by having the light come in front of you, rather than a window behind you.

Consdier your Screen

Keep it clean.

Whether you’re working from home or at a shared workspace, wiping down surfaces and tools with disinfecting wipes before and after your work day lowers the risk of transmitting germs.

02.

Incorporate Movement and Visual Breaks into Your Work Day

 
Keep moving.

Keep moving.

Take a short walk during your lunch break or before you hunker down in the morning. Use a wearable fitness device to remind you to stretch or do some yoga poses every hour. Build in opportunities to use stairs or add a few more steps. Instead of a thermos of coffee that sits on your desk all day, use a mug that requires a trip back to the coffee pot for a refill. Even better: take a walk to your local café in the afternoon.

Vary Your Posture

Vary your posture.

Consider a sit-to-stand desk that allows you to switch positions and postures through the day. Adding an active stool allows you to perch or gently move to relieve some pressure. For more movement while standing, add a balance board to help boost energy and focus. If a “sit-stand” worksurface is not available, use a combination of worksurfaces that offer both seated and standing height work postures, such as a dining table and a bar-height counter. Some people like to stand during virtual meetings, walk during phone calls, and sit for reading and computer work. Whatever your preferences, standing even occasionally during your workday is good for your health.

Rest Your Eyes

Rest your eyes.

When your eyes are focused on an object in the distance, they’re meeting optical infinity, in which eyes are totally at rest. Practice the “20-20-20 rule.” For 20 seconds every 20 minutes, take a break and look 20 feet away. Also, remember to blink more. People under normal conditions blink 12 to 15 times a minute, but those reading on a screen blink only seven times.

03.

Nourish Your Spirit with Connections to Nature

 
Expose yourself to sunlight.

Soak up some sun.

Sunlight, even filtered through a window, has been shown to improve mood. Try to situate your workspace so you have natural light streaming in. If that’s not possible, walk around through the day or try working outdoors so you’re exposed to daylight and nature.

Surround yourself with plants

Bring in plants.

Plants reduce stress and create a feeling of well-being. Placing plants in or near your workspace can also help improve air quality and lower background noise.

View nature while working

Give yourself a view.

A growing number of studies suggest that views to, or images of, nature boost memory and focus. If possible, select a work location with views to the outdoors and natural objects (trees, sky, clouds, greenery, etc.). If this is not possible, wood grain furniture and colors of nature such as blues and greens have been shown to boost productivity and creativity. Images of nature on your walls or screen saver can also provide similar benefits.

Related Research

About Knoll Workplace Research

Through research, Knoll explores the connection between workspace design and human behavior, health and performance, and the quality of the user experience. We share and apply what we learn to inform product development and help our customers shape their work environments.

To learn more about this topic or other research resources Knoll can provide, visit www.knoll.com/research.

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