5 Ergonomic Tips for 2016

It's time to kick those bad posture habits to the curb. Make 2016 the most comfortable and productive year ever with the help of modern ergonomics. In today's post we're highlighting 6 simple and easy to follow tips to help you achieve improved performance in the workplace. Put these tips to use and form the good habits needed to dominate 2016.

1.) Work Standing Up

Sit to stand products are the latest craze. Wondering why? As sitting for long periods of time can actually shorten your life span, it's important to promote continuous movement in the workplace as much as possible. That's where sit to stand products come in. A sit to stand desk or keyboard tray will help improve blood flow and reduce fatigue. You'll be operating more efficiently and comfortably throughout the day while simultaneously fighting back against office health risks that are looking to bring you down.

2.) Use A "Smart Chair"

Even the most luxurious and expensive ergonomic chair is only as good as it's owner. If you don't put your chair adjustment features to use, you'll gain little support and find yourself wondering why discomfort is still playing a key role in your work day. As most chair operators hate having to pull levers and adjust tension knobs to find the correct sitting position, industry leading seating manufacturers have introduced "smart chairs" that reduce the need for constant adjusting. Smart chairs make finding comfort a breeze. Cutting edge smart chairs like The 6671-2 model from the Global Total Office Ari collection articulate like a human spine and mimic the user's profile.

3.) Reduce Eye Strain

It's hard to work effectively if you're constantly rubbing your eyes and fighting blurred vision. Let's be honest, starring at a computer screen all day long is a problem. That being said, it's likely unavoidable for those looking to keep their jobs. A simple screen filter can be picked up at your local office store. It's a good place to start. To take things a step further, we highly recommend attaching an articulating monitor arm to your workstation. Visual strain can be quickly reduced by raising your computer screen to eye level. An articulating monitor mount will help you tackle this task in minutes. If funds are tight, don't skip this tip. Just use a stack of books or magazines to raise your screens. You can make the switch to a professional monitor arm when you're ready, but do what you can to fight visual strain in the mean time!

4.) Promote Good Blood Flow

When blood flow is reduced, you're muscles can cramp and "fall asleep". We've all had it happen, and it's no fun. Luckily, there are some great ways to fight back. First and foremost, work with your feet facing forward and flat on the ground. Don't cross your feet or prop them up on the base of your office chair like a foot rest. In addition, you can promote good blood flow by using an ergonomic task chair with a waterfall seat edge. When all else fails, take short breaks! Stand up from your desk. Shake out those muscles. Walk around for a few minutes, and get the blood flowing before returning to your workstation.

5.) Use Posture Reminders and Ergonomic Tips Charts

Studies have shown that workers who placed a list of tips and reminders within eye sight of their computer screen yielded positive results. The best part, it's free! Print out a list of good posture tips and ergonomic reminders today to start forming the good habits needed to operate at peak performance levels in the workplace. We've provided a few of our favorite tips to help.

Helpful Workplace Tips:

• Keep Back In Contact With Chair At All Times
• Don't Hunch Over Keyboard Tray To Type
• Keep Feet Flat On Ground And Facing Forward
• Take A 5 to 10 Minute Break Once Every Hour
• Keep Computer Screen At Eye Level
• Don't Look Down To Type
• Compute At Correct Angles

6 Cures For A Holiday Hangover at Work

Family has come to town, meals have been cooked, and the house has been repeatedly cleaned. The 2015 holiday season has left many of us exhausted. The overwhelming fatigue can leave us with a major hangover that will no doubt transfer into our work lives if we're not careful. Luckily, we've got 6 surefire cures to help you transition into the new year. Enjoy!

1.) Get Good Rest

Hangovers of any kind are cured with good rest. Your body is no doubt tired from all the holiday festivities. Over the next couple of weeks, commit to going to bed early. Don't stay up late watching TV and movies that can be seen on the weekend. Tuck yourself in around 9:00 and allow your body and mind to recharge effectively.

2.) Eat Healthy

The words holiday and healthy don't often get mentioned in the same sentence! As we've all been pounding pie and gorging on baked delicacies, it's time to get back to eating healthy. We typically expect to gain a few pounds in November and December, but January is a time for getting our lives back on track. Don't start off your mornings with a donut this month. Instead, consider healthy alternatives like fruit and yogurt. Skip the burger and fries at lunch and go with a tasty salad. Provide your body with the nutrition it needs to fight the holiday hangover and shed those unwanted pounds. Instead of eating lunch at your office desk alone, take your lunch outside and get some fresh air. It will do you good!

3.) Exercise

It's hard to get back into exercise mode after the holiday season. That being said, exercise is a great way to fight back against the holiday hangover that's no doubt got you down. Did you know you can exercise right at your desk? It's true! This popular activity is better known as deskercise! There's lot's of simple stretches and workplace activities you can do to get the blood flowing. Doing a little stretching once a day at the office will help you fight fatigue and combat workplace discomfort. Use your office chair or desk as a stretching station for about 15 minutes in the morning and again after lunch. You'll no doubt find yourself all the better for it!

4.) Make A Work Plan

Don't rush through your day without a plan. This is bound to leave you flustered and equally frustrated. When you arrive at work, sip your cup of coffee while creating a plan of attack for the day. Write down a list of daily goals and estimated competition times. Mark your tasks off one by one and enjoy a sense of renewed vigor and accomplishment. An effectively plan will keep you on track and ahead of the curve. Leave the holiday hangover in December by being well organized and efficient.

5.) Commit To Ergonomics

Leave no doubt, workplace ergonomics will be bigger than ever in 2016. A solid commitment to good posture and ergonomic practices will help you tackle your work day in comfort. Take the time to master your ergonomic chair and it's features. Doing so will have you ready, willing, and able to adjust at a moments notice. Don't take a "set it and forget it" approach to your workstation. Integrate popular ergonomic office tools like a monitor arm, sit to stand keyboard tray, and CPU holder. You'll see an increase in productivity and a decrease in fatigue. For those looking to fight back against a holiday hangover, what could be better?

6.) Get Organized

Start the new year off right by organizing your personal workstation. Rid your file cabinet of old and outdated materials. Organize your desk top and remove the clutter. Take the time to vacuum under your desk. There's no doubt some leftover holiday crumbs that have no business under your feet in 2016. In the long run, a well organized workspace will have you more effective and productive in the new year.