1 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the 3 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: new world of work, where location and hours are more 4 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: flexible than in the past. Today's tip is about how 5 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: to set up a comfortable and ergonomically sound office space. 6 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: This will help you work with better focus and prevent 7 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: physical discomfort from infringing on your day to day productivity. 8 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: These days, many of us are settling into newly minted 9 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 1: at home workspaces, whether that means a private office or 10 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: a corner of the kitchen table. Skipping a daily car 11 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: commute is likely a good thing for everyone's overall physical 12 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:46,959 Speaker 1: well being, but it can be hard to feel comfortable 13 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: right away in a new office space. This is especially 14 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: true if you just grabbed whatever space seemed most convenient 15 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: in mid March. Perhaps you're working with a laptop setup 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: that forces you to crane your neck down at an 17 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 1: awkward angle to see the screw, or maybe you've repurposed 18 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: a dining room chair for nine to five duty. We 19 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: all have different thresholds for comfort, and many of us 20 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: get used to little aches and pains. However, if you 21 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: want to set yourself up for maximum success in your 22 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: new corner office, it's a good idea to optimize the 23 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: ergonomics of your space as soon as possible. Back pain 24 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 1: is one of the most common reasons for missed work 25 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: in the US, and even a little bit of physical 26 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: discomfort can be distracting when you're trying to do meaningful work. 27 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: With stay at home orders currently in place, you may 28 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: be limited in how much you can change your setup. 29 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: You likely aren't going to be able to hire an 30 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,119 Speaker 1: ergonomic consultant to come to your home or go shop 31 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: in person for the perfect chair, but smaller tweaks can 32 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: still have a big impact. For example, if your computer 33 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: screen is too low and you find your neck getting sore, 34 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: try changing up the angle by placing a thick book 35 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: or two under your laptop or monitor. If you find 36 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: your wrists or shoulders straining, try to adjust your desk 37 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: and chair so that your forearms are level with the 38 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: desk when you type. If you already have equipment like 39 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: a standing desk or a balance ball, now is definitely 40 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: the time to try it. Ordering relatively inexpensive items such 41 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: as a wireless keyboard and mouse through online delivery can 42 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: also make quite a difference. Try to find what experts 43 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: call your natural posture while sitting spine stacked shoulders, relaxed 44 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: feet on the floor. Then set up your screen, keyboard, 45 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,519 Speaker 1: and mouse so that you can use them while maintaining 46 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: this posture. Another even cheaper idea is simply to change 47 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: your position multiple times through the day. There may be 48 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: times when you'll need to be seated at your desk 49 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: for a while, but simply migrating between the couch, the 50 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: kitchen table in your office chair throughout the day can 51 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: lessen the effect of any flaws in your office set up. 52 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: Take standing or stretching brakes once an hour or whenever 53 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: you take a bathroom break, and you'll likewise lessen any strain. 54 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: The key is to avoid being stuck in any one 55 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: position for too long. Discomfort is distracting. That slightly too 56 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: low table might have seemed okay when people thought this 57 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 1: would all be over in a few weeks, but remote 58 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 1: work will likely be at least part of the mix 59 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: for a while. So take a few minutes right now 60 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: to check in with your body. Fix what you can, 61 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: and you just might get a new outlook on life, 62 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: or at least a better view of your laptop screen. 63 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and 64 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: here's to succeeding in the New Corner Office. The New 65 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: Corner Office is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts, 66 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 67 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.