Want to create a home office that’s actually comfortable?
With 22.8% of US employees now working remotely at least part time, millions of workers are setting up home offices for the first time. But here’s the thing…
Most of them are doing it wrong.
A home office that isn’t set up properly doesn’t just look bad – it can seriously wreck your productivity and your body. But it’s so much easier to fix. Here’s how…
What you’ll learn:
- Why your home office comfort matters
- The home office furniture mistakes to avoid
- How to properly set up your desk
- Professional touches to make your home office complete
Why Home Office Comfort Matters
Fact: Most home office setups are completely wrong.
61.2% of homeworkers experience musculoskeletal discomfort at some point while working from home. And these aren’t the same people every day – that’s a huge portion of the remote workforce dealing with pain from their home setup.
Plus, bad ergonomics = lower productivity. If you’re sitting in a chair that causes pain, or leaning over a desk that’s too low, you’re going to be more distracted by discomfort. If you’re not in the right position, you’ll try to compensate with other muscles which leads to even more strain and pain.
The problem is that most people don’t give their home office comfort a second thought. They use whatever chair is around, put their laptop on the kitchen table, and call it a day. But your body isn’t going to let you get away with that.
Get the furniture right first.
The #1 most important part of your home office comfort is your chair. If you can’t sit in it all day without discomfort, the rest of your setup doesn’t matter.
Guess what?
41% of home office chairs are too low. That’s almost half of home offices causing back pain before the user even gets started on their work day.
Look for these key features in a home office chair:
- Adjustable height so your feet are flat on the ground
- Adjustable and effective lumbar support
- Adjustable or removable armrests
- Locking backrest
Your desk height is also crucial. The right desk height lets you rest your elbows at a 90-degree angle while typing or using your mouse. Too high or too low, and you’re straining your shoulders and wrists.
Standing desks are great when used correctly. The key is to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day, not just stand for 8 hours straight.
The professional home office infrastructure matters.
Did you know that the most comfortable home office is a waste without the professional infrastructure to actually do work?
You need to consider choosing the best virtual mailbox service to have a place for your business mail. When you’re working from home, keeping your personal mail and your business mail separate is how you keep your home office clean and your mind clear.
The same thing is true for your technology setup. A second monitor or laptop is crucial to prevent neck pain and tension from staring down at a laptop screen all day.
Don’t skimp on the essentials:
- Proper monitor (or two)
- External keyboard and mouse
- External webcam for video calls
- Good lighting for video calls
- Mail management
Get the lighting right.
This is the easiest change you can make that will have the most impact.
The lighting in most home offices is the absolute worst.
Most people either work in a room with zero natural light or face a window directly all day, causing glare on their screen.
Put your desk perpendicular to windows, not facing them. And use both ambient lighting (overhead) and task lighting (desk lamp) to prevent eye strain.
If you can find a lamp that has adjustable brightness, even better. You can then adjust it throughout the day as natural light changes.
Your monitor height is probably wrong too.
Let me show you something…
The monitor height of most home office setups is all wrong. You can usually spot it right away if you walk into someone’s home office – the monitor is so low, their neck is craning to see it all day long.
Fact: The top of your monitor should be at or slightly below eye level.
Raise that monitor up so you’re not craning your neck downward all day. And sit back in your chair so your elbows rest comfortably on the armrests while typing or using your mouse.
Position your monitor 1 arm’s length away. Too close and it strains your eyes, too far away and you’re leaning forward all day.
Fix your keyboard and mouse.
Believe it or not, your keyboard and mouse are making a huge difference to your home office comfort.
How many times have you heard of a wrist injury or carpal tunnel syndrome at a workplace? The answer is lots.
The reason? Bad ergonomics. People slouch in the wrong chair, sit at the wrong height, and use the wrong equipment. It all adds up to chronic pain.
The most common mistake for home offices is using the laptop keyboard and trackpad all day long. Seriously, have you ever tried doing that for 8 hours straight without your wrists killing you?
The fix:
- An external keyboard so your wrists are straight while typing. And a proper mouse that fits your hand (not too big, not too small).
Position your keyboard at elbow height – when your elbows are by your side, your wrists should be straight.
Quick Home Office Comfort Fixes
Got no time or money to spend on a new home office setup?
These are the easiest, fastest things you can do to make your home office more comfortable starting today.
The 5 minute fixes:
- Throw a cushion on your chair for better back support
- Raise your monitor with some books or a laptop stand
- Set a timer to stand up and stretch every hour
- Keep most used items within easy reach
- Adjust your chair so your feet are flat on the ground
Trust me – your body will thank you for even these quick changes.
Breaks
One huge problem about working in a home office that nobody talks about.
When you work in a real office, you’re moving constantly. Walking to meetings, printers, water coolers, etc. So you’re naturally getting up from your desk and stretching throughout the day.
But a home office… You’re far more likely to sit for hours without moving. You need to force breaks into your day.
The 20-20-20 rule for eyes is great: Every 20 minutes, stare at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It gives your eyes a break from the screen. Get up and walk around every hour or so, too. Even just the walk to the kitchen and back to fill up a water bottle can help.
Wrap Up
Setting up a comfortable home office isn’t complicated or expensive.
Focus on the fundamentals first. Get your chair and desk height right. Have proper lighting and a comfortable monitor setup. Add the professional infrastructure you need to do real work.
Focus on fixing the worst problems first. Chair too low? Adjust it now. Monitor causing neck pain? Lift it up. Awful lighting? Move your desk or add a lamp.
Musculoskeletal disorders account for almost 30% of work-related injuries. That’s lost time at work, medical bills, and chronic pain that can all be avoided by a simple setup adjustment.
Your home office should work for you, not against you. Make these changes and see how much better you feel at the end of the day.
