We’re going to let you in on a little secret. Ready for it? Stress is bad for your health… Okay, maybe it’s not a secret. But it is something we all tend to push to the side. With numerous studies showing that the largest cause of stress is coming from the very place you spend most of your waking time …work!
With 40 percent of workers reporting their job as very or extremely stressful, how do you, as the person in charge, make things easier for them? I’m glad you asked. There may be things you may not notice that are causing stress.
Work-Related Neck Pain
62 percent of workers have reported that at the end of the work day, they are experiencing neck pain. This can be caused by postural strain, which can come from sitting for several hours (sitting too much has also been linked to diabetes, heart disease and early death). It can also affect your back and shoulders. What happens is the muscles around your spine and shoulder become tense and as the muscles fatigue, it starts to get more painful.
So how do we combat that? Well, obviously good posture is the solution in a perfect scenario. But what can do you to help? Sit-stand desks are always a great option to provide your employees. Most are adjustable, giving workers the option to sit or stand at any given time. A study by the CDC also found the use of a sit-stand desk reduces upper-back and neck pain by 54 percent after just 4 weeks. It can also improve mood and and energy levels.
Stressed-Out Eyes
44 percent of workers have reported suffering from “office eye syndrome,” aka stressed-out eyes. Staring at a computer screen is usually the root of this issue. However, it can also be caused by dry air from your air conditioning or heater. How do we fight eye strain? Staring at a computer screen is the usual cause. It can also come from dry air from your air conditioning or heater. How do we fight eye strain?
A properly setup workspace! The most ergonomic way to organize your desk is to have your monitor between 50 and 80 centimeters away from your body. Also, to avoid muscle strain, your arms should be at a 90 degree angle or lower and your keyboard should be one to two inches above your thighs.
Joint and Wrist Pain
38 percent of people who work in an office have complained about joint pain. The first thing you can do to combat this discomfort is to stay hydrated by keeping water at your desk. Drinking more water has many benefits. It can drastically improve not only your joint health, but also your overall health.
You should also remember to get up and take breaks. It can be difficult to break concentration and take some time for yourself. But all you need is a quick walk to a coworker’s desk or around the office. It’ll give your wrists some time to recover from all the typing. Not to mention, sitting for long periods of time can put a lot of pressure on your knees.
Moral of the story, there are common issues every person at an office deals with on a daily basis that you may not even think about. You can provide the comfiest of chairs, but that doesn’t mean your employee is benefitting from sitting all day. You can get them a state-of-the-art monitor for their desk, but is it positioned correctly?
This is where we come in! Visit our showroom located on Shaw and Brawley in Fresno, CA to meet with an expert and explore how we can make your office environment a comfortable and productive one!
