1 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the 3 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: new world of work, where location and hours are more 4 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: flexible than in the past. Today's tip is about how 5 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: to set up a comfortable and ergonomically sound office space. 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: This will help you work with better focus and prevent 7 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: physical discomfort from infringing on your day to day productivity. 8 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: These days, many of us are settling into newly minted 9 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: at home work spaces, whether that means a private office 10 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: or a corner of the kitchen table. Skipping a daily 11 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: car commute is likely a good thing for everyone's overall 12 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,480 Speaker 1: physical well being, but it can be hard to feel 13 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: comfortable right away in a new office space. This is 14 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: especially true if you just grabbed whatever space seemed most 15 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:56,279 Speaker 1: convenient in mid March. Perhaps you're working with a laptop 16 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: setup that forces you to crane your neck down at 17 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: an awkward angle to see the screen, or maybe you've 18 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: repurposed a dining room chair for nine to five duty. 19 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 1: We all have different thresholds for comfort, and many of 20 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: us get used to little aches and pains. However, if 21 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: you want to set yourself up for maximum success in 22 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: your new corner office. It's a good idea to optimize 23 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 1: the ergonomics of your space as soon as possible. Back 24 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: pain is one of the most common reasons for missed 25 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: work in the US, and even a little bit of 26 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 1: physical discomfort can be distracting when you're trying to do 27 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: meaningful work. Would stay at home orders currently in place, 28 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: you may be limited in how much you can change 29 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: your setup. You likely aren't going to be able to 30 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: hire an ergonomic consultant to come to your home or 31 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:43,040 Speaker 1: go shop in person for the perfect chair, but smaller 32 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 1: tweaks can still have a big impact. For example, if 33 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: your computer screen is too low and you find your 34 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: neck getting sore, try changing up the angle by placing 35 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: a thick book or two under your laptop or monitor. 36 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: If you find your wrists or shoulders straining, try to 37 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: adjust your desk and chair so that your forearms are 38 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: level with the desk when you type. If you already 39 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: have equipment like a standing desk or a balance ball, 40 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: now is definitely the time to try it. Ordering relatively 41 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: inexpensive items such as a wireless keyboard and mouse through 42 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 1: online delivery can also make quite a difference. Try to 43 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: find what experts call your natural posture while sitting spine 44 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 1: stacked shoulders, relaxed feet on the floor. Then set up 45 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: your screen, keyboard, and mouse so that you can use 46 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: them while maintaining this posture. Another even cheaper idea is 47 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 1: simply to change your position multiple times through the day. 48 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: There may be times when you'll need to be seated 49 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 1: at your desk for a while, but simply migrating between 50 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: the couch, the kitchen table in your office chair throughout 51 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 1: the day can lessen the effect of any flaws in 52 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: your office set up. Take standing or stretching breaks once 53 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: an hour or whenever you take a bathroom break, and 54 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: you'll likewise lessen any strain. The key is to avoid 55 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: get being stuck in any one position for too long. 56 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: Discomfort is distracting. That slightly too low table might have 57 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: seemed okay when people thought this would all be over 58 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 1: in a few weeks, but remote work will likely be 59 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 1: at least part of the mix for a while. So 60 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: take a few minutes right now to check in with 61 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: your body. Fix what you can, and you just might 62 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: get a new outlook on life, or at least a 63 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: better view of your laptop screen. In the meantime, this 64 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's the succeeding in 65 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: the New Corner Office. The New Corner Office is a 66 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts, visit the 67 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: i Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 68 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.