Putting Ergonomics To Work For Your At Home Company

Ergonomics is defined in the dictionary as the laws of work, and it can be a significant – if silent – player in your at home company. These laws don’t refer to policies or legislation regarding your business, but rather the laws of physics and and how forces externally affect your body and its ability to produce work. When people refer to ergonomics, they are generally referring either to the process by which a person does work – the repetitive motions of a job – or the equipment a person uses to get work done. Your at home company might not require a lot of heavy machinery, but you may have more ergonomic issues on your hands than you realize. Two of the most common sources for complaint in home offices are the computer and the desk chair. These two items can make all the difference in your level of comfort while you work from home and in your overall productivity.Your computer can be an issue for many different reasons. First, your computer screen should be large enough and bright enough that you can easily see the screen. If you cannot replace your computer screen to make it brighter or bigger, you might consider experimenting with different lighting in your office to ease the strain in your eyes. Over time, eye strain can lead to headaches and migraines that will significantly impact your ability to work.Your computer’s keyboard is another source of possible irritation. Many people who work from home rely very heavily on their computers and spend many hours a day typing. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a syndrome a person acquires over time through the repetitive motions of typing, can seriously damage blood flow to your hands and cause tingling and discomfort in your fingers. Serious cases often require surgery to correct vessel structures. If your computer keyboard is uncomfortable, an ergonomically appropriate keyboard can provide better support and a better angle to type from.Your desk chair might seem like an after thought. You might work from any old chair you could confiscate from the house and steal away to your office. For short periods of time, any chair can work, but long work hours require a chair that properly supports your weight so that you do not wind up with building tension around your back and shoulder muscles. This can lead to swelling in hip joints, discomfort in shoulder joints, and tension headaches originating in the neck and traveling into the temples. It is difficult to concentrate and continue to work under these circumstances, but desk chairs are seldom first guessed as the source of irritation.As you work long hours in your office, pay attention to your movements and equipment. If you find it difficult to work for very long stretches or you are unable to work for long due to pain and discomfort, look at these common sources of trouble first to better your experience in your at home company.