3 Must-Have Pieces of Ergonomic Equipment for Your Home Office

Almost everybody with a desk job is now working from home at least one or two days a week, and some of us have even moved to a full time remote working situation. That's great for freedom, no commuting, and being able to work in your slippers. But most of the time, it's not that great for your body.

A lot of new work-from-homers start to get aches and pains that they didn't have before. They probably assumed that their office workstation could be replaced by a comfy couch and a laptop.

Well, not if they want to be pain-free and amazingly productive.

With the rise of remote work, it's important to have a home work area that's comfortable, a nice environment, and ergonomically designed to suit your body.

Sitting in front of a screen for hours on end can take a toll on your body. So let's take a look at 3 must-have pieces of ergonomic equipment for your home office.

1. A Sit to Stand Desk

Sit to stand desks are easily available and pretty affordable these days so when setting up your workstation at home it's the obvious choice.

Having a sit-to-stand desk not only means you can adjust your desk to the perfect height when sitting so you don't need to use a footrest but also (no surprise, it's in the name) allows you to work while standing too.

Why is that good? We keep our body moving when we change positions, so it reduces the risk of musculoskeletal fatigue and pain while increasing increase blood flow and keeping you more energised during the workday. We often have a much better posture when standing too. Plus, if you have back pain when sitting down for too long, it's the perfect option to allow you to keep working at your desk without pain.

Some people have pain in their body (back or hips) that means they need to change between sitting and standing every half an hour so it's a great option if you have an injury that means you can't sit for too long or stand for too long.

But, everything is good in moderation right? So, make sure you don't stand all day either. Find a good balance by swapping between sitting and standing at intervals that work for you and your body.

How do you choose a sit-to-stand desk?

It doesn't have to be electric, which can often be heavy to lift and install (but not always). There are so many other options including desks with a winding lever to raise or lower your surface or a portable desk surface to place on top of your existing desk, if you don't want to remove your old one.

Here are some great options:

For an electric sit-to-stand desk:

Desk Bird

Agile 2 Electric Height Adjustable Desk

Or find a secondhand one on Trademe

For a desk surface to put on top of your existing workstation:

Arise Deskalator

Electric Scissor Desktop Riser

2. A Fully Adjustable Chair

Because you can't stand all day, an ergonomic, fully adjustable chair is a must-have for your home office. Fully adjustable chairs are designed to provide proper support and promote good posture. They've got adjustable lumbar support, seat tilt, seat height, and back tilt so you can adjust your seat to fit you perfectly.

Some good options are the Spectrum 3 Chair or Spectrum 2 and Arena High Back Chair.

However, keep in mind that most of the best chairs can be on the pricier side, so if you choose a cheaper option make sure you try the chair out first and that it's fully adjustable.

3. Dual Screens

Now that your seat and desk are sorted, let's move on to your computer screen. Research shows that productivity increases significantly with Dual screens.

If you don't have two screens, you can use your laptop as your second screen as long as it's positioned at the same height as your other screen. It's important to position both monitors so the top is at eyebrow level so that you don't strain on your neck and shoulders.

You also need to make sure it's at an arm's length distance from your face. If you find yourself squinting or leaning in, it's time to move it towards you.

Also, if you use both screens equally then position them in a V formation with the V right in the centre of your viewing position. But if you use one screen more than the other then place that screen in front of you and the secondary screen to the side and angled at 45° like the example below.

Happy working everyone.

Take charge and invest in your own or your employee’s well-being by booking an ergonomic workstation assessment today.

Or contact me for more information about Ergonomic Workstation Assessments.