With the average person working approximately 90,000 hours in their lifetime, it’s safe to say we spend a lot of time sitting behind a desk, looking at screens in positions that cause various aches and ailments.

The worst part is that many of us endure these aches and pains, overlooking ergonomics in the workplace in a bid to maximize output. In doing so, we ignore the harsh reality that these concerns are often the very things prohibiting us from achieving maximum levels of productivity in the first place.

Establishing harmony between workers and technology, an ergonomic workstation enhances movement and comfort, positively impacting both wellness and productivity.

Although laptops have many benefits in the workplace, they are not designed for prolonged use. Yet, since laptops reign supreme as the choice for both ease and convenience, it’s high time we learned how to create an ergonomic laptop setup that supports our needs.
Here are our top five tips for creating an ergonomic laptop setup that enhances productivity:

"From back pain to eye strain, we encounter many discomforts in our working lives that have varying short and long-term health effects."

Raise your screen

Although convenient for working in short bursts, long-term laptop use causes various aches and pains. The most prevalent cause for concern is the neck strain caused by peering down at the screen that’s below eye level.
Ergonomic monitor height helps workers to maintain the correct working posture and reduce the risk of neck strain. Careful screen positioning using a laptop riser or ergonomic laptop stand prevents us from hunching over a screen and causing unnecessary neck pressure.
Ergonomic laptop stands like Oripura are portable, foldable and ideal for creating an ergonomic workstation. Adjustable laptop mounts like Lima and Ollin offer further flexibility to change the angle and height of the screen to establish the most comfortable screen positioning.

Align your wrists

An ergonomic laptop setup with a raised screen includes the use of a separate mouse and keyboard. Awkwardly bending the wrists to reach a raised keyboard and mouse for a long period causes discomfort and increases the risk of incurring repetitive strain injuries such as tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
A separate mouse and keyboard allow workers to adopt a neutral position where wrists align with forearms at a 90-degree perpendicular angle with the elbow joint.

Choose ergonomic seating

An office chair that supports the body is a core component of any ergonomic laptop setup. Keeping the neck aligned with the spine and maintaining the spine’s natural curvature, ergonomic chairs support good posture to reduce excessive back and shoulder pain for those who sit at a desk for prolonged timeframes.

Keep your feet flat

Ergonomic furniture should be adjusted so that workers can keep both feet flat on the ground and therefore evenly distribute body weight across the hips. If both feet cannot comfortably reach the ground, a footrest can help workers to adopt a neutral position with the calf and thigh at a 90-degree angle.

Keep your muscles active

Sitting for extended periods can cause various health concerns including musculoskeletal pain, obesity, diabetes and more. Ergonomic furniture like the Monto sit-stand riser helps to keep muscles active throughout the day and combat the effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
Likewise, taking regular breaks can help workers to reduce eye fatigue, muscle strain, and headaches. The 20-20-20 formula is highly effective for eliminating eyestrain while stretching different body parts is highly beneficial for relaxing the neck, shoulder, and spine.

Improve your Ergonomic Laptop Setup