Working in an office can be fun and rewarding. However, the nature of most office jobs can lead to adverse physical effects, such as strain, muscle pain, headaches, and more.
If you want to make your office life as comfortable as possible, here are some strategies you can try:
1. Wear comfortable clothes
If you are fortunate enough to work in an office that has a liberal dress code, take advantage of it by wearing more comfortable clothes. This doesn’t mean you can trade your custom-printed workwear for sweatpants, however. It means you can choose better-fitting office-appropriate clothes instead of tight pencil skirts or uncomfortable slacks all the time.
2. Choose the right pair of shoes
Stop going to work in high heels or too-tight Oxfords if it means you have to go home with horrible foot pain. Instead, invest in a pair of comfortable shoes that are still within the dress code.
3. Practice proper posture
Improving your posture is the best way to prevent back pain and muscle stiffness. Since you are sitting for practically the entire workday, learn how to sit properly at your desk. If you want, you can also buy a posture corrector to help you maintain proper posture at work.
4. Use the 20-20-20 rule
Staring at the computer for too long is bad for your eyes and can lead to eye strain and headaches. To avoid straining your eyes, practice the 20-20-20 rule (look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds for every 20 minutes of work). It also helps to use a screen filter on your computer’s monitor and lower the brightness of your screen.
5. Get up and stretch
Stand up from your chair every once in a while to stretch your entire body. If you can, walk around the office or get a drink to give your body a break.
6. Cushion your wrists
Avoid wrist pain by placing your keyboard near your body and using palm support to keep your wrists from bending too much.
7. Support your spine
If your office chair does not provide enough lumbar support, you can use a small pillow or a folded blanket to make yourself more comfortable.
8. Declutter your desk
A cluttered desk can add to the stress of your work, which can lead to other detrimental effects such as increased discomfort and fatigue. To make your workspace less stressful and more conducive to productivity, remove clutter from your desk and make it a habit to keep everything in its proper place.
9. Use a headset
If you take in calls frequently at your job, use a headset instead of your mobile phone or telephone handset. Alternatively, use a small Bluetooth headset if you don’t like the feeling of having the headset against your ears.
Don’t wait for the back pain or eye strain to get worse–once you feel the adverse effects of sitting in an office all day, use these strategies to address the issue and prevent it from getting worse.