Tips to Make Working From Home Less of a Pain

Working from home sounds fun. You could roll out of bed and walk straight to your working area. You also get to enjoy the company of family members throughout the day, among other benefits. But, these perks can be quickly overshadowed by the inconveniences of a makeshift home office.

 

Most people do not have a proper workspace at home. They do not have a comfortable desk or chair and spend the day sitting on a stool hunched over the kitchen counter or a coffee table. Spending an extended amount of time in this position is quite tiring and not suitable for your posture. It may even cause some injuries.

 

The tips below may help to make working from home less of a pain.

 

Don’t Work from the Couch

The couch might seem like a comfortable place to sit. But, the sofa does not position you properly or provide the support you need to work for an extended period. Let the sofa be for when you want to sit or lie and relax, and not for when you need to concentrate for hours.

 

Get a Proper Work Surface

Get yourself a surface that has enough space for your equipment above and adequate leg space below. If your work surface does not allow you to pull up, you will have to work bending forward, trying to reach the keyboard.

 

Get a Proper Chair

A chair is possibly one of the office comforts you miss. If you cannot get an adjustable office chair, you may still use your kitchen chair but boost its back support. Buy a special flexible mesh or place a rolled-up towel or a couch cushion on your back for support. If the work surface is too high or the seat is too hard, consider sitting on a pillow or couch cushion.

 

Sit Back in Your Chair

Once you have a comfortable seat, sit at the back of your chair. Pull up to your work surface so that you are not hunched forward. When you lean forward, you bend your lumbar spine, putting a lot of pressure on your intervertebral lumbar discs. So, sit back in your chair so that the chair supports a large section of your body weight. But be close enough to reach your keyboard and mouse.

 

Let Your Feet Lay Flat on the Ground

Your feet should reach the floor and rest on it flat. If they don’t, find foot support such as a wooden box, a footrest, a pile of books, or any other raised rigid surface. Don’t dangle your feet in the air or pull them back underneath the chair. Doing so would put tremendous pressure on your thighs’ backside, restricting blood flow to your legs beneath.

 

Avoid Working on Your Bed

Even worse than working on your chair is working on your bed. Your legs become the support for your laptop, and from this angle, you must hunch over. But, if the bed is your only option, you can place a pillow behind your back and another on your lap. Your laptop will then be at a comfortable height, and you do not strain your back and neck.

 

Replicating the workplace space at home may be challenging, but you can create a workable workspace with some improvisation.

 

Learn more about improving your workspace and other chiropractic services, contact Cashae Spine & Sports in Silver Spring, MD at (240) 219-8975.