Sitting at a desk all day at work is tough –and that’s before you consider the endless amount of challenging and tedious tasks you have to complete.
Being sedentary can lead to all sorts of aches, pains and health problems that make desk work seriously dismal.
In fact, Mayo Clinic obesity expert James Levine says, “Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV, and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death”.
But not to worry – there a plenty of tweaks that you can make to your desk space in order to minimise the risks associated with office working and extended periods of sitting.
So for you overworked office workers confined to a desk for hours on end, here are 10 terrific hacks to help maximise your comfort.
Laptop stand
If you’ve ditched the old school desktop in favour of a snazzy little laptop, you definitely need to get a laptop stand for your desk. This will allow you to position your device so that it’s eye level and maintain a good posture instead of sitting hunched over like Quasimodo and straining your neck muscles.
Back rest
You have cushions on your sofa at home, so why not cushion your desk chair with a back rest? These products are specially designed to support your posture and protect your lumbar spine so that you can sit comfortably without damaging your back. For more information, check out an ergonomic products provider such as Posturite.
Lighting
The fluorescent lighting that you find in most offices isn’t great for your eyes, nor is relying on your laptop or computer screen for illumination on those dark and dingy winter working days. However, with desk lighting such as a lamp or fairy lights, you’ll have a better quality light source to rely on.
Exercise
When you’re too tired to hit up the gym after work and sprint along the treadmill like Usain Bolt, some deskercises (desk exercises) are a fantastic option. They’ll keep your blood flowing healthily and your muscles strengthened. This article on Ergonomic Trends has more info.
USB fan
Few things are worse than working in a hot and stuffy office and if there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to start arguments, it’s temperature control. However, if you buy a USB fan from a furniture retailer such as Dunelm, you’ll be able to power it from your computer and enjoy a delightful cool breeze whenever you like, without worrying about colleagues pecking your head.
Adjustable desk
Height-adjustable desks are a genius invention because they enable you to switch between sitting and standing throughout the day. However, if standing sounds too tiring, mat specialists such as Kleen-Tex produce anti-fatigue mats which provide added comfort and support.
With these hacks to hand, you’ll be a lot happier and healthier when working from your desk.
