9 simple tweaks to make your work space way healthier

Sitting down for eight or more hours a day can give you a pain in the neck, lead to obesity, and even drive you to an early grave. Those are just a few of the reasons adjustable desks that allow you to work standing up or sit down are becoming more popular. Dr Zarinah Hud, sports medicine expert, agrees that office workers should modify their desks for comfort and health. You should aim to stand more than you sit because the average person burns up to 50 more calories in an hour standing, she says. Even if you use a standing desk and anti-fatigue mat, she recommends you still aim to change position regularly. An adjustable standing desk that can easily be lowered to a sitting position, like the Varidesk, is ideal. She suggests all workers set their alarm for every two hours as a reminder to stand, stretch, jog in place for one minute, and drink water. “This provides hydration, cardiovascular conditioning, improves flexibility, improves blood flow to the brain, and can improve energy and focus.”

Here are more ways to help your body recover from a day of sitting.

It’s time to rethink your traditional swivel chair, too. “I love inflatable exercise balls as chairs in the home or workplace office, because you must activate your core to maintain correct posture,” Dr Zarinah says. Studies show that one can burn approximately six percent more calories sitting on exercise balls compared to sitting in a regular chair. A study by the European Journal of Applied Physiology also found that exercise balls burn more calories than sitting in a normal office chair. Although it isn’t a huge increase in calories burned, every little helps!

If you suffer from any back pain, including sciatica, or you just want to sit better you might consider trying a posture trainer and support that features a comfortable pad and straps that go on your back and knees to promote better posture.

Back sore? Try these 6 back stretches that can ease lower back pain.

The average desk harbours more than 400 times the germs of a toilet, which makes keeping your desk clean, tidy, and organised necessary to maintaining health and keeping germs at bay. It’s so much easier to dust and clean your desk on the reg when pesky wires are kept out of the way.

It’s a good idea to make sure the air in your home office is clear and pure to protect against a variety of airborne viruses that can lead to colds and allergies. Try a humidifier which creates a relaxing aromatic experience in your room. Caroline Blazovsky, of My Healthy Home, a home investigator for over 17 years, suggests, “Make sure carpeting and surfaces are vacuumed with a HEPA filter and sealed system vacuum. Dust your desk regularly. Both vacuuming and dusting help reduce dander, proteins and dust mites from contributing to allergens in your work space.” You can even invest in an air purifier to keep your triggers at bay.

Lighting is very important to encourage productivity and to help you to maximise your working day, as dim lighting can strain your eyes and make you feel tired. You can select the best light for your mood and create the perfect ambiance either for work or play.

Check out these 10 tips for staying healthy while working from home.

If your job requires you to make a lot of phone calls, holding the headset in between your shoulder and head can cause serious neck pain. It can also be hard to concentrate in any office setting with excess noise. Solve both problems by donning a pair of wireless headphones. Look for a set featuring touch-interface controls, audio sharing, and smart play/pause. You’ll be able to concentrate in peace and make phone calls without straining your neck.

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Office workers can be prone to developing a range of repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel and arthritis. If you are using a laptop you might find the included touch mouse pad a little fiddly, especially if you are spending long hours working. Try a wireless mouse held with an ergonomic pen like grip, more like a stylus, thereby reducing the impact of repetitive stress injuries and strain on muscles.

Many of us use our laptop as the name suggests, on our laps. But after a while, this can become very uncomfortable and strain a variety of muscles including those in our eyes, not to mention, leaving you with hot laptop legs. Using a raised platform offers great ventilation to your computer and ensures your screen is optimised for comfort. But you still need to clean it – those laptops can get really dirty!

Next, try these tips on how to avoid germs at the supermarket.

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Source: RD.com