Telework has become part of life for millions of Americans after the COVID-19 pandemic has proven that many jobs can indeed be done remotely. According to the Pew Research Center, about 22 million or 14% of all employed adults work from home.
As the number will likely go up to 22% by 2025 according to an Upwork study, there are a few things you need to know to avoid getting yourself injured while teleworking.
Here are 5 tips for those who work from home:
- Set up a dedicated workspace. As tempting as it is, working away from a desk or table setup for long periods of time could lead to neck and back pain.
- Work at an appropriate height. Your elbows should fall naturally on your desk. Your eye line should be level with the address bar on your web browser. Your keyboard and mouse should be low enough to allow you to relax your shoulders. Here’s what a user- friendly workstation looks like.
- Use a laptop stand if you have a laptop. Here’s how you should position yourself while working on a laptop.
- Use an office chair if possible. Use a chair with lower back support and seated cushion. If you don’t have an office chair, add a seat cushion and roll up a soft towel or blanket to place in your lower back area for support.
- Get up often and stay hydrated.
Happy teleworking!