| When you excessively repeat a physical | | | | avoiding uncomfortable backaches or worse. |
| movement such as typing, you can stress the | | | | But, there's more to ergonomics than just the |
| musculoskeletal system of your hands, wrists, | | | | physical conditions of the workplace. Sure, if you |
| elbow, shoulder, neck and back to the point of | | | | feel cold easily, you'll work better in a warmer |
| minor or even major injury. | | | | temperature - after all who can be productive |
| The best way to avoid this type of injury is to | | | | when they're shivering all day? But ergonomics |
| better fit your body to the workplace, by | | | | also takes into consideration the psychology of |
| redesigning your workspace into a more | | | | the worker and their ability to think reason and |
| ergonomic - or comfortable - design. Sometimes | | | | solve problems. |
| this is done by redesigning the tasks you do on | | | | By analyzing your individual job requirements |
| an everyday basis to eliminate overuse of the | | | | against your personal strong points and not so |
| same muscles. Giving yourself a break from | | | | strong areas, you can determine a better |
| repetitive tasks, or enlisting the help of others (or | | | | ergonomic way to complete the task at hand by |
| specialized office tools) can help save you from | | | | redesigning them to incorporate your human |
| muscle strain and pain. | | | | needs (rest time; meals; bathroom breaks), with |
| Or, you may need to consider completely | | | | your strengths (ability to reason effectively) to |
| redesigning your workstation to better fit your | | | | crate a better working relationship with yourself |
| personal capabilities and limitations. If, for instance, | | | | and those around you. |
| you are of smaller stature than the average | | | | In this way ergonomics can help ensure that you, |
| person, it may b necessary to lower wall | | | | as a human worker, can better work with the |
| mounted computer monitors to avoid consistently | | | | technological aspects of your job in better |
| stretching you neck and shoulders. Or, if you are | | | | harmony with all of your equipment and tasks |
| on the taller side, you may need to raise | | | | aligned for better productivity. |
| desk-mounted monitors to avoid slouching. | | | | While these concepts may seem a bit strange to |
| Lighting too can be a big issue. Eyestrain can | | | | some, many have found that by physically making |
| cause headaches, fatigue and irritability, which can | | | | their work environment more comfortable, as well |
| all affect productivity. | | | | as helping to create a more aligned psychological |
| Poor posture can also be a cause for concern, so | | | | work environment helps them feel better about |
| using the right height and type of chair can be a | | | | themselves and their job an makes them much |
| wonderful aid to maintaining good posture and | | | | more productive on the job and beyond. |