---

Ergonomic Design for People at Work: Volume 2

The Chiropractor's Complete Self-Help Back and Body Book: Your Complete Guide to Relieving Aches and Pains at Home and on the Job

Total Health at the Computer: How to Be Pain Free and Relieve the Symptoms of Computer Stress Syndrome

Do you think an aching back, sore neck, and eyestrain are just part of your job description? If you've resigned yourself to feeling this way at the end of a long day at the office, think again! You can make your workday as comfy as that pair of ratty bedroom slippers you refuse to throw away! Just take a look at these tips for arranging your workstation to fit you.

• Protect your assets. OK, so life at a desk isn't glamorous. You spend the day parked in a chair staring at a screen. However, a well-adjusted chair can make all the difference in your day. By increasing the chair's backrest position and height to fit your body, you'll improve your circulation and prevent backaches and fatigue. Features to look for when choosing a chair include a five-pronged stand, adjustable seat and height, lumbar support, and adjustable armrests. Think it'll cost you? Not much. You can find a chair to cushion your day for as little as $30 at Target.

• The home stretch. Have you ever found yourself straining to reach for something in the farthest corners of your workstation? Arrange your area so that you can work more efficiently. Make sure that items you need throughout the day, such as your phone or document folders are within reach. By reorganizing your office and giving everything its proper place, you'll find that you can concentrate on work rather than that pesky, disappearing stapler.

• Oh say, can you see? Reducing Eyestrain during your workday needn't be expensive. First, adjust your monitor to the correct height and viewing distance, or you'll be begging for cucumber slices at day's end. Then, reduce the glare on your screen from sunlight or overhead lights by adjusting the monitor's angle.

• Exercise the demons. Yes, that's exercise, as in strengthen, not exorcise as in Poltergeist! Even though some of you'd rather face the ghouls than tone those glutes, it's important to exercise regularly and get an adequate amount of sleep each day. Living a healthy lifestyle will help you to feel and work at the top of your game.

• Escaping the tunnel. Typing on a computer all day can cause severe pain in your wrists and hands, otherwise known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. You can prevent repetitive stress injuries by taking regular breaks from typing to massage your hands. Also, make sure to raise the height of your chair so that your forearms are level with the keyboard, so you won't have to flex your wrists to type.

Written by Jordan Meffert

Have you found any other ways to increase your workday comfort? E-mail us!

No, we're not testing your knowledge of Einstein's theory, we're simply testing how comfortable you are at your workstation. So don't go changing your name to Forrest Gump, just check out these questions to see whether comfort is in your future.

• Are your eyes strained and tired at the end of the day?

• Do your neck and shoulders feel stiff and sore after a long day at your desk?

• Do you ever feel pain or discomfort in your back while sitting at your workstation?

• Have you experienced tingling, numbness, or pain in your forearms, wrists, or hands?

• Does your body feel tired, achy, or stiff?

• Do your legs cramp or do you have swelling in your ankles and feet?

If you answered "YES" to even one of these questions, your workstation is crying out for an ergonomic overhaul!