🎒 Microlesson

🪞 Reflect

Be honest—are you hunching over your desk or laptop right now? 

💡 Concept

Ergonomics should be non-negotiable for remote work—it's the key to a pain-free, productive grind. A well-designed workspace isn't just about comfort; it's your armor against backaches and repetitive strain. Nail ergonomics, and you will boost your energy and focus. 

Here are some tips to help you design an ergonomic workspace for remote work: 

Desk. Whether you’re working at a desk or a kitchen table, be sure there is enough clearance for your knees, thighs, and feet to fit comfortably underneath. 

Standing Desk. Our bodies are not designed to sit for eight hours straight. If you don’t have access to a standing desk, feel free to get creative. Try setting up your laptop on a high counter or shelf for about 30 minutes at a time to avoid sitting all day. 

Monitor. Your screen should be about an arm’s length away from your head (roughly 18 to 20 inches or 45–50 cm). The top third of your screen should be at eye level.

Keyboard. Be sure your keyboard is tilted downward toward you. When you are typing, your arms should be bent at a 90-degree angle and your wrists should be straight.

Mouse. Your mouse should be even with your keyboard or slightly farther from the body.

Chair. Your feet should rest flat and your thighs should be parallel to the floor. Try using a footrest to achieve this if you cannot adjust the height of your chair to get the angles correct. You should be able to gently rest your arms on the armrests with your shoulders relaxed. Finally, be sure your chair offers plenty of lower back, or lumbar, support. 

Telephone. Consider using a headset if you use the phone frequently or for long periods of time. 

Lighting. Natural light is recommended. If possible, try to set up your workspace so your window is on the side instead of in front of or behind you to avoid glare and unnecessary eye strain. 

Wrist cushion. Use wrist rests for your keyboard and mousepad to avoid resting your wrists directly on the hard surface of your desk. You can purchase these cushions from an office store or make your own with a folded towel or washcloth. 

🎬 Take Action

• Audit your remote workspace—are your monitor and keyboard in the ideal positions? Make any necessary adjustments to optimize your workspace.

• Purchase any equipment that you need to make your workspace more ergonomic, such as a laptop stand or external keyboard. 

• If you often find yourself hunched over your laptop, set a recurring reminder on your calendar to check your posture. Or, consider sticking a written reminder in a conspicuous place, like a post-it on your monitor. 

• Take regular breaks to keep from staying in the same position all day. 

✅ Check In

🧠 Keep Learning

Learn more about how to set up an ideal remote workspace in the Workplaceless Remote Work Certification course.

🎁 Learn with your team!

Refer our weekly microlessons to your team members to learn as a group! Just follow the instructions in the section below to get started.