Whether you’ve transitioned to work from home during a career change, have a full-fledged side hustle, or are taking classes to develop your career skills, you know the importance of having a comfortable home office. You can’t focus on your work if you’re in pain from slouching over your computer or turning your head at a weird angle to look at a monitor. Here are some easy tricks for setting up an ergonomic home office that will help make any workload a breeze. 

Consider Proper Desk Height

Every office needs a desk or table. An adjustable desk is ideal, as it lets you switch between sitting and standing throughout the day. But if you don’t have the money for one, that’s okay. The point of having an ergonomic work desk at home is to keep you comfortable throughout the day. So if you just want to prop your laptop or monitor on some books to get it to the optimal height, go for it. Just remember to keep your keyboard and mouse at elbow height.

Get a Comfortable Chair

You can’t stand all day without causing leg, foot, or joint pain, so you need to find the right chair for your setup. Just like your desk, your chair should be adjustable so that you can sit at the appropriate height for your desk and legs. Your thighs should rest straight on your seat, and your feet should be flat on the floor. If your seat isn’t adjustable and you find your feet dangling, rest them on top of a stool or box. Make sure your back has support so that you’re not leaning too far in any direction. Having a chair with lumbar support or even just putting a pillow against the small of your back will make a huge difference in comfort level.

Think About Your Accessory Setup

Now that you have your two big pieces of furniture, you need to arrange them and their accessories correctly. Additional computer monitors, mousepads, and notebooks should encourage good posture. Your spine and head should remain in neutral positions as much as possible. Furthermore, your arms should be at 90-degree angles, and your feet should be flat on the floor. While adhering to these posture recommendations, you should also move your accessories (or even your whole laptop) frequently. Switching your mouse from one hand to the other or changing your secondary monitor from the left to the right of your desk will prevent repetitive movements, which can cause pain.

Allow for Movement

The last key to having an ergonomic home office is to allow for movement. Walking while taking phone calls, stretching between meetings, or even just switching from sitting to standing every few hours will keep your body in motion and help you feel better.

These four easy tricks for setting up an ergonomic home office will help you stay comfortable in your workspace. Whether you work on your side hustle for a few hours a day, do coding classes, or work from home full-time, these tips will help prevent pain and increase productivity.