Work From Home: How An Ergonomic Desk Setup Will Save You From Medical Bills Post Quarantine
Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash
An ergonomic desk setup will have your back, safely.
Yes, we all are home-bound and working from either our overtly comfortable sofas or uncomfortable dining table and chairs. One of the biggest challenges the ongoing pandemic has thrown at the working professionals is the inability to efficiently work from home without compromising the health in the longer run.
WFH IS DESIRABLE…
A few years back I used to spend close to 4 hours daily commuting to Gurugram. It turned out more than just brutal when the initial discomfort of sitting long hours in the cabs grew into a chronic back pain. Various painkillers and floor exercises later I realized, the problem wasn’t just the commute, it was the extended sitting hours while working as well. Like many others, working from home is desirable for me for dozens of reasons, the biggest being the comfort factor.
BUT HOME ISN’T AN OFFICE!
Homes are designed to look and feel like a resting place and one doesn’t expect it to have a disciplined office setup. However, the sheer comfort of not traveling for hours to the office makes working from home much more desirable. Admittedly, it begins with the ever-inviting sofa feeling like the perfect place to work before you end up feeling sleepy and think of moving to the dining table when it gets uncomfortable after a couple of hours and you decide to move to the bed to eventually doze off in the middle of work. ( I know I am not the only one! )
Home isn’t an office. True. But one can make subtle tweaks to make it conducive for efficient and healthier working. How? For starters, install a work desk. Now, not all homes are spacious to have a dedicated spot that can be turned into an office or studio and even if there is, traditional work desks are as harmful at home as in the compact office cubicle.
MAKE THE DESK WORK’OUT’ FOR YOU
Initially, I too invested my money in an Ikea chair and table setup. It would be lying if I said it didn’t help me. The compact setup felt more ‘disciplined’ and added the much-needed support to my frailing back. However, it still wasn’t enough because my long work hours continued to take a toll on my overall health.
This is where a standing desk worked like magic for me.
STANDING DESK, BOON FOR HEALTHY WFH
Photo of WorkFit-S on Ergotron
I recently upgraded my home-workstation to the WorkFit-S from Ergotron. It is a height-adjustable standing desk that I have attached to my existing desk setup. Because of its excellent flexibility and ergonomics, I am able to comfortably switch between a relaxed sit-down mode and a fully standing style.
A flexible standing desk attachment is a great addition to a home-workstation when you have to balance between work, home space, and health. Not only did the sit-stand setup help me become more efficient in my work as I felt less sluggish, but it also helped ease my sore back.
Improved posture and reduced back pain are some of the strongest pros for having a sit-stand or standing desk, but there are also other benefits such as a lowered risk of gaining weight, reduced risk of heart disease, and lower blood sugar levels as well.
INVEST FOR HEALTHIER RETURNS
Photo of my WorkFit-S setup
Workspaces don’t often allow us to choose how we treat our bodies while working. But home does. Consider opting for a flexible desk set up as an investment for a healthier body and efficient work from home. While the initial cost may seem a tad high, it will be more rewarding in the longer run, including saving you from costly medical bills and painful surgeries.
Having switched to Ergotron’s solution, I am also planning to further invest in an ergonomic chair to add to my home-workstation. My next big purchase once the lockdown situation improves is going to be a Herman Miller Embody Chair which is designed for the right pressure distribution and supports the natural alignment of the back. I recommend all professionals, from the same industry or otherwise, to invest in a good desk setup for their home because lockdown or not, work won’t stop and a sore back shouldn’t hamper your success or longevity.