Lower-Back Pain
Low back pain is an office health risk that’s extremely common among both men and women. Sitting for hours isn’t doing your posture any favors, and results in slouching that can put strain on the lower back. But constantly pushing your shoulders back into a straight, awkward position can also have negative effects. To prevent this, be aware of your posture while you sit, and don’t forget to stand and stretch every so often to give your back a break.

Other Muscle & Joint Pain
We’ve mentioned this before, but 85 percent of Americans suffer from muscle or joint pain at some point during their lives. Pain doesn’t discriminate, men and women are equally effected, and in more than one place on the body. The most common areas include the knees, neck and joints. These office health risks can be avoided, if you remember to switch from sitting to standing periodically throughout the day. The key is small movements at designated intervals. Once you’re home for the night, take a walk around the block and perform a few stretches before bed. It will help both physical and mental stresses.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If you’re constantly at a computer, chances are you’re typing the majority of the day. If you’re not, then gripping a pen and scribbling notes can eventually cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Any motion that’s repeated isn’t ideal for the wrists. Before you have to result to prescriptions or surgery, stop and stretch your wrists during the day. If you have a keyboard platform, you can adjust it so the wrists are in the most ergonomic position to prevent any kind of strain.

Eyestrain
Beyond damaging your wrists, eyestrain is another common office health risk experienced among desk workers. After staring at your computer for several hours, you may notice your vision start to blur and your eyes become more sensitive. Headache, neck strain and dry eyes are another symptom of eyestrain. Prevention starts with making sure the computer screen is an adequate distance from your eyes. You can use one (or both) of our monitor arms to help you achieve the best placement. We’ve covered eyestrain prevention extensively in a previous post, so learn more HERE.

Stress
Stress—it’s probably the most common office health risk experienced today. It’s the biggest cause of employee illness and absences, which means productivity loss. Less serious stressful situations can be controlled by breathing and relaxation tools. Another option is to walk away. Leave your desk and take a break, then face the problem head on. In case you missed it last week, check out our post on “How to Cope with Office Stress” to learn more about how to deal with difficult work situations.

The post How to Avoid Office Health Risks appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

The majority of desk jobs today require you to stare at a computer screen for a marathon period of time, but if you’re not looking for a career change, how do you prevent this from happening?

Read on and we’ll tell you.

Eyestrain is a common ailment among workers throughout the country, and symptoms can range from sore, dry eyes to a lack of focus and headaches. If you’re experiencing more severe symptoms like a noticeable change in vision or double vision, it’s time to see a doctor.

Not only does eyestrain occur from the extended use of a computer screen, but also from exposure to bright light, dry air and stress – all things workers come into contact with on a daily basis (those harsh fluorescent lights above your standing desk aren’t ideal for eyes).

Thankfully, eyestrain doesn’t have long-term consequences, which means you won’t go blind anytime soon. But it is an unpleasant complaint to deal with when you’re trying to focus at work. That’s why it’s important to learn how to prevent eyestrain before it starts, and to know what to do once your eyes start to blur.

Check out these steps on how to prevent eyestrain:

• Look Away
According to the Mayo Clinic, to prevent eyestrain you should give your eyes a break every 20 minutes. They suggest the 20-20-20 rule: look away from the computer every 20 minutes, and stare at something that’s 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Take this opportunity to make a phone call, switch from sitting to standing, or make a trip to the water cooler.

• Update Your Space
Having a flexible workspace is vital to health, happiness and productivity. And you can do this easily with an adjustable height desk. Sit to stand desks give you the freedom to move, make adjustments to fit your needs, and ultimately give those tired eyes a much needed break. So get moving and improve your workspace!

• Chill Out
It’s easier said than done, but take time to relax! Everyone experiences negative stress, but take a deep breath, close your eyes and chill out. Stress induces eyestrain, and increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other harmful physical complications. Practice relaxation exercises to calm down when you’re feeling tense. And if that’s not enough, check out these songs to help you relax during a stressful day at the office HERE.

• Franken-Four-Eyes
In honor of Halloween yesterday, we had to insert a cheesy joke somewhere! Ok, let’s move on. If you have to wear glasses or contacts, make sure they’re the correct prescription and tailored to work at a computer screen. If you want to get really fancy, you can invest in hi-tech computer glasses. They use anti-reflective coatings to reduce the glare from the computer screen. Check out this option HERE.

• Blink and Repeat
When was the last time you blinked? It sounds like a weird question, but think about it: you stare at a computer screen most of your day when you’re concentrating on work that needs your attention. And consistent staring leads to dry eyes and eyestrain, so don’t forget to blink! Blinking produces tears and moisture to lubricate your eyes and lessen the chance of strain.

The next time you find yourself with painful eyes, stand up, walk away, and come back and reread this post on how to prevent eyestrain before it starts. We can’t emphasize enough the benefits of using a flexible workstation as a preventative step. Having the freedom to sit, stand and move around does wonders for irritated eyes.

Try out these tips and let us know how it worked!

The post How to Prevent Eyestrain at Your Adjustable Desk appeared first on Xdesk Blog.