Five tips for healthy home computing
Make working at a desk all day as comfortable as your favourite pair of kicks
By Jessica Padykula
You might think working at a desk means workplace health and safety concerns don’t apply to you. But according to the Ontario Ministry of Labour, workplace ergonomic-related injuries are responsible for roughly 40 per cent of all injuries leading to lost time at work.
“Start today! Live it everyday!” is the slogan of North American Occupational Health and Safety (NAOHS) week. Running from May 4 to 10, NAOHS week promotes health and safety in the workplace.
Here is helpful advice for avoiding injury and staying healthy while you work — or play — at your PC.
It’s not just heavy lifting that can put strain on your back. Sitting at a computer all day can also cause pain and discomfort. Many of us don’t even realize how much we slouch, lean and hunch over when working at a desk, but all this poor posture can take its toll.
Minimize your chances of injury and strain by taking regular breaks, buying a supportive chair and trying not to hunch over or sit at the edge of your seat.
Read more: Take a seat at your desk the right way
Just because you work at home doesn’t mean you’re immune to stress. You don’t have as much structure in your day when you’re on your own schedule, so it can be hard to find a balance between work and play. Make your home office as harmonious as possible by reducing clutter, taking frequent breaks and using the right lighting.
Read more: Stress-free strategies for your home office
The time before a jog or an exercise class isn’t the only time it pays to do a little twisting and turning. To avoid the pitfalls of working long hours at a desk, you can do several exercises to loosen your limbs, stretch your back and maintain proper posture.
Read more: Stop slouching, start stretching
With all that typing, pointing and clicking, our wrists get quite a workout! Learn to identify the signs of carpal tunnel syndrome from frequent computer use, and find out what you can do to alleviate problems. You may not want to give up your mouse and keyboard, but there are ways to reduce the strain.
Read more: Protect your wrists from typing
Comfort is important when choosing a bed and even a couch. After all, we spend a lot of hours using both. Many of us also log a lot of hours at a desk, and to avoid pain and possible injury, the comfort-criteria should also apply here. Consider stability, price and fabric when buying a chair to ensure you get the one that best suits your needs.
Read more: How to buy a desk chair
