Gone are the days of ergonomic chairs and standing desks – for now at least. If (like me) the sofa is your newfound working space, your posture has probably taken just as much of a hit recently as your social life. This can cause muscle tension, headaches and poor circulation. Here’s a few things you can do to maintain good posture while working from home.
By Beth Ludolf
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1 Set up your desk space
Ideally, your screen should be about an arm’s length from your face. If you’re working from a laptop, try using a separate mouse and keyboard (this way you can position them where feels comfortable). The centre of your screen should be at eye level, so place it on top a couple of thick books to get it to the right height.
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2 Make sure you're sitting properly
Ask yourself regularly if you’re sitting properly (both feet on the floor, neck and back straight). It can even help to set reminders on your phone. Drop your shoulders and relax your arms and legs. Oh, and try to avoid sitting cross-legged – your circulation will thank you.
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3 Get up regularly
Stand up every half hour – have a little walk, make a cup of tea, stretch. Just move around. Set reminders so you don’t forget. If you can, do some work standing up for a bit – it’s doesn’t have to be for long, 15 minutes every couple of hours is fine. Being sedentary is just as bad for your mental health as your physical health.
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4 Do some desk exercises
Shoulders hunched over? Place your hands on them and circle your elbows rolling the shoulders down and backwards. Place two fingers on your chin and push it back, straightening your neck – hold for a few seconds and repeat. Give yourself a massage to relieve any existing tension.
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