46 | JULY 11 • 2024
J
N
H
ow’s your office
working for you?
According to a recent
survey from organizational
solution brand Mind Reader,
86% of people see their
workspace as having an impact
on their happiness — which
makes an organized office at
home or at work essential to
keeping a positive mood.
If you’re setting up your
workday in different spots
at home throughout the day
(18%), hunkering down at your
dining table (17%), or working
exclusively from bed (16%) it
might be time to revamp your
workspace to an ergonomic,
organized and functional area.
Your overall health, well-being,
and productivity will thank you.
A comfortable home office
not only supports a positive
mindset but can allow you
to maintain good posture
throughout the day, reducing
strain on your neck, back and
shoulders and helping you
feel your best when powering
through a busy day.
Positioning your computer
correctly, whether you’re using
a monitor or a laptop, can
reduce eye and arm strain and
fatigue, not to mention the extra
focus you’ll get when you’re not
hunched over your screen all
day long. Even something as
simple as organizing your office
supplies cuts down on wasted
time and frustration.
According to the survey from
Mind Reader, 83% feel more
productive if their workspace is
organized and — if it were more
organized — believe they could
increase their productivity by
38%. Creating an ergonomic,
organized workspace at home
or in the office doesn’t have to
be complicated or fancy. It’s
about finding simple, intuitive
solutions that you can use to
transform a corner of your
home or apartment into a place
where you can focus on your
work and get the job done in
comfort.
Here are a few simple ways to
create a comfortable, ergonomic
home office.
Desk. Start with the basics.
You do not need an enormous
mahogany desk suitable for the
Oval Office. Just a work surface
big enough for your laptop or
monitor, or both, where you
can comfortably type with your
arms at a 90-degree angle. If you
prefer a standing desk, you can
find models for under $50 that
are adjustable and portable.
Chair. A supportive,
ergonomic chair is half the
battle. You’ll be sitting in it for
much of the day, so make it
work for you. But, you don’t
have to invest hundreds of
dollars in a new office chair.
You can transform the chair you
already have with inexpensive
back supports and cushions.
Mind Reader, the experts in
creating organized, ergonomic
home workspaces, offers a
few varieties of backrests and
cushions, all for under about
$40. It’s that affordable and easy.
Screens. Now let’s talk about
your screens. To avoid eye
strain, you should position
your monitor or laptop at eye
level. Oftentimes, this means
you need a monitor stand. You
can make it dual-functioning
by finding one that has
drawers underneath for paper
and pens. That handled, be
mindful of how long you stare
at that screen. Eye professionals
recommend using the 20-20-20
rule — every 20 minutes, look
at an object 20 feet away for 20
seconds. This gives your eyes
a reset from all of that screen
time.
Foot rest. You will be
surprised by how much
difference an ergonomic foot
rest makes when you’re sitting
at your desk all day. It helps you
maintain correct posture and
reduces the strain on your back
and legs, alleviating swelling
in your ankles and feet. Many
models are adjustable and come
with massage rollers for an
added boost. Again, these don’t
have to be expensive. This Mind
Reader Foot Rest is under $30,
adjustable and includes those
massage rollers.
Cables. All of those tangled
cords are just plain messy and
disruptive to look at. Wrangle
them with a cable tray you can
position under your desk, a
cable management snake, or ties
and clips to keep them under
control and out of your line of
sight.
Storage. If you’re set up at
your kitchen table, where are
all of your office supplies? The
solution is a wheeled storage
cart with drawers. You can pop
your office supplies like printer
paper, notepads, pens, and
whatever else you use into the
drawers. Roll it out when you
need to use it and tuck it into
the corner when you end your
workday.
With these simple tips,
you can create a better home
workspace that will elevate your
productivity and contribute
to your health and well-being,
too.
Boost Your Productivity
(BPT)
REAL ESTATE
Six easy ways to boost productivity and create
a comfortable, ergonomic workspace.