Adding an under-the-desk footrest is one way to be more comfortable while working. Tap or click here for three of the best options. But that’s just one of many steps you might need to take to alleviate pain from working multiple hours. There is a right and wrong way to position your monitor, chair, and keyboard, among other PC components. Let’s talk about how to work more comfortably and alleviate those pains.
Let’s start with monitor placement
Take a look at your monitor and pay attention to this. Are you looking up at the monitor or down? Look at where the top of the monitor is. It’s supposed to be level with your eyes or just below eye level. If your monitor has an adjustable stand, lower it, so you look down instead of up. If you can’t adjust the height of your monitor, adjust your chair or desk height. This will alleviate strain on your neck almost instantly.
Check that chair height when you stand up
You have a position you take every time you walk away from your PC. It’s called the sit-to-stand position, and nobody considers this when they think about back pain. If your chair is so low that you must lean forward and fold your torso to stand up, you’re straining your lower lumbar area without realizing it. Make sure your chair is high enough to lift off with your feet when you stand without turning into a human pretzel.
Consider getting a footstool
When you sit at your PC, your lower lumbar feels under fire from every direction. Your feet could hang too low if you’ve boosted your chair and adjusted your monitor height. Think about your skeletal system for a moment. If your legs are angled down while you keep your tuckus flat on your chair, it begins to pull on your back for support. Have you ever found yourself resting your feet on the wheel casters of your office chair and feeling more comfortable? That’s a clear sign it’s time to invest in a footrest.
Put your shoulders straight and sit up
We’ve corrected external factors. Now let’s focus on your posture. It’s easy to slouch forward and bend our upper backs without needing to while working on the PC. Pull your shoulders up, straighten your back and sit up straight. If this feels uncomfortable at first, it could signify poor posture problems. Consider investing in a lower lumbar support pillow. These help you stay in the correct sitting position throughout the day and feel pretty great simultaneously.
Say goodbye to back pain
What do you think of your new setup and how it feels? Give it a few days and pay attention to how that discomfort in your back, shoulders and neck starts to wane. It won’t be immediate, but it will be noticeable.
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