Life Behind the Desk: 7 Ergonomic Products for Improved Functionality

Life behind the desk is no easy task. With impractical office tools, inefficiency, unproductiveness, and even office-related pain can become a daily occurrence. However, with these top notch ergonomic devices, you and your workplace can be running smooth in no time. Today we highlight seven great products for improved office functionality. Enjoy!

Monitor Arm

Those suffering from office-related back and neck aches know the struggles of trying to play through the pain. Unfortunately, even something as simple as turning one's head repeatedly to view a computer screen can put the neck, shoulders, and upper-back muscles all out of whack, causing terrible chronic muscle cramps. This is where monitor arms save the day! Adding ergonomic monitor arms for computers is one of the best ways to improve an office workstation. These devices mount to walls or desks, saving space, and allowing users to adjust computer screens to a proper viewing position to prevent pain.

* Helpful Hint: The proper position for a computer screen is directly in front of the user at eye-level, about an arm's length away from the face. This helps ensure the body stays upright for optimal viewing and reduces the pain caused by improper posture.

Keyboard Tray

Arthritis, wrist pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome are just a few conditions that can worsen during regular office activity. The chief cause of these sorts of pain comes from improper typing practices. With the assistance of retractable keyboard platforms, users can adjust the tilt and distance of their keyboards to promote better wrist posture and blood flow, reducing pain. With the keyboard off the desk, users also get more surface space to work with, decreasing clutter and improving office efficiency.

Sit to Stand Desk

Ergonomic experts have discovered that sitting at a desk often promotes poor posture without the assistance of quality ergonomic chairs to pick up the slack. For this reason, adjustable standing desks are the perfect tool for sufferers of chronic office-related back pain. Because the human body is better equipped for long periods of standing than sitting, desks that can switch between the two are ideal. Working while standing promotes better health and posture, and has been reported to also increase focus and energy to promote workplace productivity!

* Helpful Hint: Standing desks are fabulous for reducing pain and maximizing potential, but don't forget that standing for long periods without a break can also result in leg and foot pain and poor blood circulation. Taking brief 30 minute sitting breaks every few hours provides a good respite for maximum health in the office.

CPU Holder

Tired of hitting your knees on the drive under your desk? Then a CPU holder is always the best solution. For those who find themselves constantly rewiring or fighting with the hard drive for leg room, CPU holders provide the perfect ergonomic accessory. These nifty devices mount underneath a desk to support a hard drive, leaving more leg space for the user and reducing the risk of a hard drive overheating. Many CPU holders also possess maneuverability for easy rewiring - no more cramming yourself between the desk and the wall for basic computer maintenance!

Desk Lamp/Charging Station

Everyone loves a BOGO deal, and this round of cool ergonomic products offers two tools for the price of one. Of course desk lamps are a common sight in the workplace, but cell phones, tablets, mp3 players, and other electronic devices all fighting for charger space, sometimes the wall outlet can get a little crowded. Thankfully, with products like the Dual Purpose Solstice Lamp from ESI, you can charge devices and work by sufficient lighting all at the same time. This special lamp not only illuminates workspace, but it also features a USB port for when your computer is all tied up. You'll never have to settle for less again!

Portable Power Module

Speaking of energy efficiency, why risk a device ever running out of power. With portable power modules, like the Symmetry Isle Power Tower, you can charge multiple devices without having to worry about which ones to sacrifice. Power towers are perfect both for the shared workspace and for users who rely on numerous devices all working at the same time. With nine available power outlets and six active USB ports, the Isle makes a superb addition to conference rooms, training areas, lobbies, reception offices, or anywhere tech users congregate!

Foot Rest

Because most desk workers sit, few office employees realize their chronic foot pain could be an office-related condition. Once again, improper posture while sitting is often the culprit. When a seated person's feet don't touch the ground, the unsupported weight puts stress on the backs of the knees where they bend over the edge of a chair, cutting off circulation and resulting in numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet. The best solutions to this problem include height adjustable office chairs with waterfall seats to reduce knee stress, and office foot rests. Foot rests may tilt to support the feet at an ideal angle, lifting them up so blood flow is easier and pain is reduced. Without chronic pain as a distraction, office workers exhibit better focus, health, and productivity!

5 Ways To Promote A More Healthy Workplace This Summer

Summer is the season for staying fit and healthy, but sometimes, a desk job can often seem like kryptonite to the perfect health plan. Fortunately, experts in health and wellness have devised plenty of great ways for office workers to improve their lifestyle in the workplace. Check out these healthful ways to improve business efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and employee health this summer!

Eating Right

You are what you eat. As the old saying suggests, the right foods have a lot to do with the health of the average person. Promoting good nutrition is a spectacular way to improve all aspects of your business. Not only will employees feel physically better, but a proper diet will also help to increase their effectiveness, focus, and work ethic, as well as reducing the overall health costs for both the company and its workforce. The effort can be as simple as dusting off the conference tables and chairs for an in-house meeting where a nutritionist is the speaker. Bring in a health expert every few months or so to educate the people on proper nutrition and exercise (perhaps providing some good incentive), and your office staff will do the rest on their own!

Stand Up Desks

Stand up desks are a relatively new health trend with tons of amazing benefits. As you may have heard in health class, the human body is actually better designed for standing than sitting in traditional leather office chairs all day. Unfortunately, days of endless sitting has resulted in terrible problems like back pain and spine deformities in many office workers. To combat this, many furniture manufacturers have developed a cool height adjustable desk for standing in the office, such as the HE3048MS Electric Table by Global. With a soft pad to cushion the feet and a comfortable chair nearby, office workers can alternate between long periods of standing and short seated breaks. It takes some time to get used to, but most standers report better focus, higher productivity, and far less pain than the seated individual. (It also helps tone the body for swimsuit season!)

Gym Memberships

Anyone that's ever wanted to lose weight knows that gym memberships can be pricey, but that isn't always the case for companies. In fact, many health insurers and workplaces are realizing that preventive health incentives are excellent ways to save money! By offering things like reduced-price gym memberships for employees, companies all over the nation are reaping the benefits of lower insurance costs, reduced sick days for employees, and even tax incentives from the IRS.

Ergonomic Furniture

For a business on a budget, throwing down enough cash to outfit the whole workplace in gym memberships and stand up desks is not always an option. Fortunately, healthy ergonomic office furniture usually is! With low-cost gadgets such as retractable keyboard trays, adjustable monitor arms for computer users, CPU holders, and advanced ergonomic desk chairs to improve health, companies finally have a cost-effective solution to inadequate workplace. Health these nifty devices are super affordable ways to combat common office problems. Reduced eye strain, neck pain, muscle pain, backaches, and improved circulation are just a few fringe benefits of most ergonomic accessories.

Take the Initiative

When the company takes the initiative to provide healthful alternatives to daily choices, it usually forces better health from employees. Changes can be as simple as offering healthy snacks in vending machines or discouraging fast food at the cubicles. Cheap weekly prizes such as five-dollar gift cards, coupons, and small raises could be given to employees that take improving their personal health to the next level. In fact, many business owners are surprised to learn how much employees want to improve their health - they just lack reminders and information. Sometimes, a simple sign at the elevator to remind that stairs are a healthier option is all that's really needed.

What's Missing From Your Office?

If you've been working in the same space for a while, you probably have a pretty good routine going. But how can you know if you're missing something that could make your workday faster, more comfortable, and more productive? Well, today we'll take a look at some of the most popular devices for improving work experience and highlight their benefits. Check them out!

An Adjustable Monitor Arm

By allowing users to adjust the position of their computer screen, the monitor arm will reduce eye strain for avid gamers and computer users. They're perfect for anyone that's prone to neck and upper back problems caused by an ill-placed computer screen. Use the monitor arm to move the screen directly in front of you, so you don't alter your neck and back muscles to see from an unnatural position. Make sure the screen is at least one arm's length away from your face, and say goodbye to eye strain. Because the arms keep computers off the tabletop, you also get a ton of desk space back!

The Proper Office Chair

Having a proper office chair for your needs is imperative in all office environments. You want a chair that's comfortable enough to sit in all day, but that also meets your individual standards for quality and stylish design. Choosing modern mesh task chairs for sale is an excellent way to get a comfortable seating solution with a breathable upholstery that prevents the buildup of germs and heat on the user, so they're great for warmer offices. On the other hand, a nice leather office chair or an ergonomic one is usually more popular with executives.

Organization

Everyone has their quirks, but if you're office is missing organization, you've got a problem in the making. Even if you think you have a pretty good idea of where everything is, its only a matter of time before that important purchase order gets mixed in with that igloo of other papers shielding your desk. Sooner or later, you may even lose your car keys and have to stay at work… forever! Instead of wallowing in the mess, give yourself the ability to keep things clean by adding small convenient storage cabinets and a trash bin, so you can decide at the moment if your paper is a keeper or a throw away. You'll work faster, and the office will look great while you do it!

Desk Plants

Desk plants are super great for those with breathing problems, the elderly, or anyone stuck in a city office with no windows. Few realize that as you sit at your desk indoors, after a while you may actually end up re-breathing your own carbon-dioxide, causing tiredness and cognitive impairment. Fortunately, certain low-maintenance plants like lemon balm, spider plants, golden pothos, and peace lilies all work by acting as affordable air purifiers to improve health in the workspace. They remove harmful VOCs, replenish the air with oxygen, make space smell better, improve brain function, and they look good doing it. A must-have for any indoor office.

Effective Lighting

Believe it or not, lighting is a big problem for many people in office environments, and they may not even know it. The human eye is only made to take so much light input, and overloading with bright computer light, desk light, and ambient light can cause terrible eye strain. Instead, choose smart office lighting options that allow you to adjust intensity by manipulating the arm of the lamp or dimming it. Another option is to dim your computer screen by setting it to an "eco" setting. It saves energy, you'll be more comfortable, and lamps like the Solstice by ESI can even charge your handhelds!

Ergonomic Keyboard Tray

If you experience wrist pain, an ergonomic keyboard tray can help! Office-related hand and wrist pain is usually caused by an improperly placed keyboard that may force users to reach on top of their desk to type, putting their hands in an unnatural position. Many keyboard tray models mount under desks to save users the trouble. Under the desk, keyboard trays are almost always at arm level. The tilt feature can help ensure proper blood flow to the forearms, hands, and wrists, reducing pain.

Foot Rest

The last thing that's likely missing from your office is probably the last thing you'd think of - an airplane. Just kidding! The last reasonable thing you're likely missing is a foot rest. It may sound silly at first, but if you ever wonder why you experience terrible foot pain at the end of the day even if you hardly ever get up to wander around the office, it's probably from your feet not touching the ground when you sit. When feet dangle in the air, the dead weight puts a lot of stress on the knee joints, cutting off circulation and causing major pain. An adjustable foot rest is a great way to alleviate the stress and leave you more comfortable at the end of the day. (There are even models with massagers built in!)

How to Easily Feng Shui Your Office

We've all heard the word. The "fung-shway" one that is spelled completely different than it sounds, and a few of us have an idea about what it means, but did you know it can help you improve your whole lifestyle? Feng Shui is a Chinese word that refers to the ancient art of harmonizing one's personal space with the surrounding environment. It can even help improve the productivity and efficiency of your office so that you work faster and feel more energized while you do it. However, principles of feng shui are hard to learn for beginners unfamiliar with the practice, but don't worry! We're here to help you out by highlighting some simple ways you can apply feng shui to your office!

Know the Right Colors

Feng shui depends largely on the individual. The right feng shui for each room (or each section of your office or cubicle) is  determined largely upon that person's zodiac, energy, and sign. The best way to determine how to use all the feng shui elements is by using a "bagua," or a device that helps you map the energy of your space. Once you find out your signs and where north is in relation to your space, you can apply the right colors to the right areas. Since the bagua is divided up by the five elements, earth, water, fire, metal, and wood, we'll help you out here by defining which colors go in which areas and what they do to help improve the efficiency of your space.

Water: Black, Blue

*Blue is very good in the East and Southeast areas of your home or workspace to help improve the energy of your career growth. Who doesn't want more of that in their office, right?

Wood: Green, Brown

* Green improves health and helps balance family and the people you work around when used in the East feng shui area of your office.

Fire: Orange, Red, Pink, Strong Yellows

*These colors help in the Southern Area of your decorating space by creating a cozy, comfortable space to work that promotes happy gatherings and warmth between individuals.

Earth: Light Yellow, Light Brown (think sandy, earthy colors)

* These neutral colors help to ground the space, harmonizing it with the environment. It also brings in the sense of a touch of nature, so the work environment doesn't feel so stifled.

Metal: Gray, White

* White is a wonderful influence on creative energy

While all these colors are well and good, make sure that they don't clash and that they sit in harmony with the other objects in your space such as furniture, office desks, and chairs. You don't want all the colors and furniture fighting for your attention all the time. Its very distracting…

It's All About Orientation

Feng shui is big on proper alignment with the universe. In the ancient days, if just one thing was off, the world fell apart in landslides, earthquakes, bad harvests, and poor imperial rule. Don't let that happen to you! When you're redecorating your office space in the feng shui style, make sure you pay attention to position. The bagua is decided up into five sections. We already learned that each section is associated with an element and a color, but its also associated with direction and elements of lifestyle. Here's a quick list to help you out:

South (Fire): Fame and Reputation

Southeast (Wind): Prosperity and Abundance

East (Thunder/Wood): Family and Health

Northeast (Mountain/Earth): Skills and Knowledge

North (Water): Career/ Path in Life

Northwest (Heaven/ Metal): Helpfulness, Blessings, Travel

West (Marsh/ Metal): Creativity, Children, Future

Southwest (Earth): Relationships, Love

A few extra tips: if you work out of a home office, make sure your office is as far away from your bedroom as possible. Whether at work or at home, try to have your desk facing the door, but far away from it in order to give a commanding feel that attracts successful energy. Do you best so that your desk does not have to face a wall. If it must, or if you are working in a cubicle, try to make the wall disappear with the cunning use of artwork, or choose a wall with a window. Having a view of nature will keep you energized so that you feel less trapped.

Keep Things Light and Airy

Literally. Poor air quality is terrible for health and a big no-no in feng shui. If your brain doesn't get enough oxygen, it can slow your work, depress you, and tire you of your job no matter how much you love it. Consider bringing in some plants that will purify the air such as peace lilies and small palms to lighten the mood. Adding small fishtanks are also great to help bring in positive, flowing energy, adding a touch of nature. Opening windows and doors is good for feng shui too because beneficial energies can flow on the cross-breeze rather than collecting or swirling stagnantly in each room. Also, try to get plenty of natural light for your office and make sure it is sufficient for working. Natural light is the best because it has a scientifically proven positive impact on the mind, making individuals feel less trapped and more energized. However, artificial lights are better than nothing since you need them to work. Just be sure to try and go for a walk during your breaks to get some fresh air!

Clean and Organize

Whether your decide to practice feng shui or not, keeping things clean is never a bad idea for an office environment, or any environment for that matter. In a public workspace, cleanliness improves the health of all employees, and creates a positive image for your business. Be sure to clean things that people touch a lot, like keyboards and stylish chairs for guest use (which do best in the northwest section of your office building). Keeping things organized with the use of shelving and storage cabinets for office use saves space and improves the look and energy flow of your workspace by keeping things off of the ground. It also helps if your room has a focal point such as your office desk to attract positive attention, but make sure to add other things like decor plants elsewhere in the room to absorb any negative energy. They eye should be able to flow around the room without getting distracted by clutter. You can practically see the positive energy flow, and if not, you can certainly feel its effects when you sit down to a clean desk!

Ergonomics

A great way to apply feng shui in today's high tech age is with contemporary furniture for office use in both homes and businesses. Modern furniture such as office chairs with ergonomics can drastically increase the health, efficiency, and productivity of any workspace. If ergonomics existed in ancient China, they would have undoubtedly have used it in their feng shui art, because of the positive effects it has on home and work environments. Because ergonomics refers to the study of efficiency in the workplace, every piece of ergonomic furniture is designed to help improve all aspects of work. Not only is it adjustable to meet the needs of individuals, it is also healthier for people than traditional office furniture. If you're seeking harmony in your workplace, there is no better way to do it than by bringing the advanced technology of ergonomics with the ancient art of Chinese feng shui to your office!