Living the Ergo Life: 10 Tips for Success At Work

Office aches, distractions, inefficiency - these days it seems like the whole world is trying to throw a wrench in your working game. But hey, if you're going to be spending half your week at the office, you might as well make yourself comfortable! In today's article, were sharing our top ten tips for keeping yourself healthy, physically, mentally, and efficiently. Enjoy!

Head

Knowing the major causes of office head-trauma can help you avoid this pain at work. If headaches are common for you, remember to stay hydrated (headaches are most commonly caused by dehydration). If that's not it, check your eyes. People who stare at computers all day tend to develop computer-related eye strain, which can tire the eyes and lead to headaches. To combat this, periodically focus your eyes on something far away for 15 seconds, then go back to work. And finally, for those with neck pain, make sure your computer screen's position is properly adjusted in front of your face, so that you're not looking off to the side and throwing of your body's muscular structure. Head rests and computer monitor arms are ideal neck-savers at the office.

Shoulders

Upper back pain can also be caused by a misplaced computer screen. When people are constantly turning to view something that isn't directly in front of them, their body adjusts itself to their viewing habits, throwing off muscular structure and leading to terrible pain. Monitor arms are a good solution. However, if you know your computer is properly positioned, consider your sitting habits. Slouching is terrible for the back and shoulders, yet far too many office professionals do it. Add office chairs with lumbar support, or even a few luxury and massage chairs to encourage better seating habits. Tie your shoulders to your chair back if you have to - it's better than slouching!

Knees and Toes

Most office professionals tend to think that if they're sitting all day, knee pain couldn't possibly be an issue. Wrong! Knee and foot pain are actually two of the most common office pains around. Chairs that are too high (often trying to compensate for a tall desk) often leaves the user's feet dangling in midair, putting you and gravity on opposing sides. Your knees try to keep your legs attached to your body but gravity pulls the weight of your legs down, causing tremendous pressure to build up, and blocking blood flow. Properly adjusted workstations and chairs can fix the issue, and so can ergonomic seating with waterfall seats to gently support the knees. You've done the job right if your knees, buttocks, and elbows are bent at right angles, and your feet are flat on the floor.

Get Up, Stand Up

One popular trend for combatting office pain is by simply standing up! Ergonomic experts tend to agree that the human body was much better designed for standing than sitting, so office desks that accommodate both lifestyles make ideal work tools. Adding ergonomic sit to stand desks is one of the most healthful decisions an office can make for employees, as standing helps to prevent slouching and much of the office-related pains associated with sitting. However, too much standing can be harmful too. Without periodic seated breaks, legs can tire and blood flow becomes inhibited. If you use a standing desk, take breaks, and invest in good shoes and cushioned floor pads.

Take Breaks

If you're a standing desk user, you know the importance of seated breaks. Not only do these breaks help rest your legs, but they also improve blood flow. But even for those who don't use standing desks, breaks are still important. Taking the opportunity to get up and take a short walk around the office, or a quick stroll on your lunch break can provide vital respites to reenergize you for the rest of the day. Stretch breaks and deskercises are something you can do right in your cubicle to help improve focus and reduce discomfort. Making an effort to stay active, even at a sedentary desk job, does wonders for the mind and body!

Eat Right

The right diet can make all the difference in anyone's workday. Some foods even have the power to grant better brain power, more focus, or more energy at the office. For brainpower, tomatoes, walnuts, whole grains, fish, and blueberries are powerful food choices. For energy, avocados, bananas, a nice spinach salad, almonds, watermelon, and citrus are highly effective energizers, loaded with vitamins and electrolytes. However, one simple fix if you're feeling a little wilted is water. Like a plant, your body needs water to stay fresh, perky, and awake. Squeeze a little citrus in there for a double whammy. Your body will thank you for it!

Get Comfortable

A comfortable environment is another thing that's often taken for granted in the workplace. If you're feeling a little tired and lifeless, perhaps its because the cubicles and workstations around you feel the exact same way. Take a friday afternoon to decorate your cubicle (appropriately) with the things you like. Pictures from home, art from the kids, famous paintings, and printouts of scenic vistas are great ways to enliven your office and make it comfortable for you. These inspiring windows to the outside world can help keep you going. A pair of headphones for some light music and a blanket if your office is drafty are other ways to stay physically comfortable in an otherwise boring workroom.

Stay Clean

You know what they say about cleanliness! And believe us - it's something that cannot be looked over in an office. According to a UK study in 2008, computer keyboards are often five times dirtier than an average toilet seat! All those greasy fingers and falling food from lunch breaks gathers between the keys if you don't employ retractable keyboard trays to reduce the mess. Take the opportunity at the end of every work day to clean and wipe down your cubicle. The items that need the most attention are usually keyboards, pens, drawer handles, and the computer. Yes, the computer needs cleaning too. Once a month, make sure to delete old files, clear caches, and run anti-virus scans to improve productivity. Finally, do some periodic maintenance on your office hardware, tightening screws on the desk and chair, and oiling hinges. All this extra effort will ensure the continuous health and functionality of you and your workplace!

* Bonus Tip: Turning off your computer at night not only saves power, but it also gives your computer the opportunity to rest and reboot. Like a human brain, computers need their rest in order to function fast and at full capacity the next day!

Arms, Wrists, and Hands

One body part that's often neglected by office users are the arms, which is especially strange since most office workers use them for everything. Being neglectful of one's arms and the way they are used though can have drastic consequences. Arthritis, poor blood flow, weakness, musculo-skeletal disorders, and even carpal tunnel syndrome can all develop from unhealthful arm use. Ideally, the elbow should be kept at right angles, with hands and wrists parallel to the forearms. Working and typing this way will help to improve blood flow. This way, the arms don't endure unnecessary stress.

* Bonus Tip: Repetition is another killer that takes a big toll on the muscles. Periodically take the opportunity to stretch, not just your arms and hands, but the whole body. This varies up your movement and helps keep muscles limber and wide awake!

And I'm Feeling Good!

Working in an office can be tough stuff for the mind as well as the body. When at work, fortify your upbeat attitude all day long. Listen to good music on the way to work. Eat an energizing breakfast, with filling snacks throughout the day to keep your metabolism going. Take short, frequent stretch breaks to stay active. And keep yourself going with funny quotes and videos to view during break times. Happiness is not something that just happens - it takes effort. After all, if you're at work for eight hours per day, you might as well enjoy it!

Office Epidemics: Sitting Disease

Yep. There is a thing called "sitting disease." Yep, it is a true medical issue. And yes, it has become a real office epidemic. But try not to fret too much. Sitting disease is something that's easily preventable through healthy life and working practices. In today's article, we explore the causes of, and best ways to prevent, this terrible-sounding new ailment that seems to be sweeping the nation. Don't miss out on the cure!

So What is 'Sitting Disease'?

It's really very simple actually. "Sitting disease," as it's now being referred to by medical professionals, actually refers to poor metabolic syndrome and the overall results of an excessively sedentary lifestyle. According to an article published by Mayo Clinic, 50-70 percent of people in America spend more than 6 hours per day sitting down. And when you add it all up - the hours of working at office desks, watching TV, waiting, driving in a car, and sitting down to dinner - the numbers seem pretty realistic. Unfortunately, another study by the American Cancer Society found that inactive men who just sat around for more than 6 hours 48% more likely to suffer premature death. And women got 94%.

Yikes.

So Lets Stand Up!

"Stand up against sitting disease" definitely sounds like a good motto, and it's one that medical professionals all over the country are encouraging patients to do. Believe it or not, the human body was designed much better for standing than sitting. This is partly because people who stand more tend to have stronger leg and abdominal muscles that are more adept at taking some of the body's weight off the spine and distributing it evenly, and healthily, throughout the body. When people sit down, the legs can't help support the weight of the torso anymore. In the office, people who slouch or strain forward to see a computer screen force the collapse of their abdominal muscles, so all the weight of the torso and head are left up to the poor, bent spine. Poor circulation is also a side-effect of any modern task chairs that lack ergonomic comfort. 

Naturally, the first solution is to stand up, and take a stance against sitting!

Standing At Work

For all you seated office professionals out there worried about being the cubicle meerkat, don't fret. You're not the only one. We understand that transitioning from a seated working style to a standing one is no easy task. Not only do you have to get clearance from the boss, but you also have to buy (or make) all new office equipment to help you facilitate a healthier lifestyle. However, here are a few office hacks to make the change painless!

1. Get a doctor's note. Boss can't say anything if it's a medical necessity, right?

2. Shop affordable ergonomic desks for sale from reliable dealers.

3. Invest in a cushioned foot mat, support socks, and comfortable shoes to help make the transition from a 'seated lifestyle' to a 'standing lifestyle' a bit easier on the body.

4. Try DIYing your own adjustable standing desk if you want to save money. There are tons of great tutorials online already!

The Benefits

The benefits of standing in the workplace are... outstanding! Research shows that when someone shows true initiative by training their body to prepare for a standing lifestyle, overall health improves and so do one's chances of a successful transition. Those who take the time to exercise their legs and abdomen actually prepare their bodies for when those muscles will have to work extra hard. In fact, one reason aspiring standers fail to acclimate to a standing work style is simply because they fail to realize that standing for a full workday is a workout. You have to prepare your body ahead of time to sustain that level of 'endurance standing'. 

However, those who do stand at work often report greater focus and energy. Smithsonian magazine also attributes reduced risk of obesity, reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic issues, and reduced risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and reduced mortality rates to chronic standers. And all that extra physical training tends to produce much fitter, healthier bodies - always good for swimsuit season!

Sound Too Good to be True?

Well, it is. Unfortunately, all the hype about standing at work has also overturned a dark side to the task - namely, too much of it is bad for you. All those health-nuts who say "sitting is the new smoking" probably haven't tried to stand for a full workday without respite, which coincidentally, is exactly what many wannabe standers did before discovering too much of a good thing. In truth, all the health benefits attributed to standing, like reduced risk of disease, and physical fitness, are very real. But at the same time, standing continuously without breaks can wear out the legs. Standing has been known to lead to cardiovascular conditions like spider-veins, since the blood flowing down into your legs now has to strain against gravity to flow back up. As a result, many standing workers are left tired, sore, and frustrated. 

The Healthiest Solution

The best way to combat the dark sides of both standing and sitting is with a compromise. A mostly stand-up lifestyle is the best option, but don't forget to throw a few seated breaks in there. Investing in height adjustable workstations is a great way to facilitate both lifestyles. At the touch of a button, users can bring their whole desktop up for a standing session, or back down again for a seated (and still productive) break. With the ability to go from 'sit' to 'stand,' users can train their bodies to stand for longer periods of time by slowly increasing the duration of a standing session. Experts advise to supplement standing sessions with appropriate equipment, including gel mats, comfortable shoes, and compression socks. But don't forget to keep a few healthful ergo chairs around for when you truly need to take a load off your feet!

Global Total Office Introduces New Height Adjustable Desks

With the nation becoming more and more health conscious everyday, it's not surprising to read about all the new ways to stay healthy. In case you haven't heard, standing at work is the newest trend! Many Americans have discovered that there are wonderful health perks to standing throughout the day, but at a desk job, the task can seem impossible. Fortunately, Global Total Office has accommodated us with outstanding height adjustable desks!

The Benefits of Height Adjustable Desks

Height adjustable desks by themselves are great for so many reasons. For those that spend a lot of time in workshops or garages, a sturdy standing desk can be a great convenience, especially since you don't have to strain your back to work on a project. Height adjustable options, like the ones from Global, can also be a welcome relief if you've been standing all day and want to sit down. However, the most popular reason users rely on these is because adjustable ergonomic desks improve health in the workplace.

Studies show that when office workers stand for most of the day, only taking brief breaks to sit down periodically (such as during lunch), health and focus is drastically improved. Standers report that the practice does take some getting used to and requires a soft, cushy foot pad to stay comfortable. But both standers and scientists maintain that users experience more weight loss, better focus, reduced fatigue, and far less back pain than the average sitter does!

New Global Desks

To accommodate the changing needs of the workplace, the Global Total Office furniture brand has recently decided to offer some great height adjustable workstations for workshop and office use. Here are their options:

Global's first height adjustable desk option is the HTM2446. Perfect for use as a table or desk, this workstation allows users to adjust table height from a sitting to standing position. Capable of supporting up to 100 lbs. the HTM2446 is sturdy and versatile. With a height adjustment between 24" to 46," use it in a workshop or in an office. Global has even allowed shoppers their choice of ten laminate finishes to better match existing decor.

Next up is the HTM3058 model height adjustable workstation. Very similar in overall design to the HTM2446 model workstation seen above, the main difference between the two is size. Because the HTM3058 model is larger, it is ideal for any office or workshop that has a little more square footage to spare. Still capable of supporting up to 100 lbs. and offered in ten gorgeous laminate finishes, it's no surprise that this model makes an excellent standing office desk for a reasonable price.

While our first two models featured above could be ideal for a workstation, this next model comes highly recommended for the office. The HE3048MS is an electric workstation with height adjustment is both functional and sustainable! Not only can it hold its own against others by supporting up to 160 lbs, but it's also Greenguard Certified for minimal environmental impact. The height is easily adjusted through a high tech "fingertip controlled 3-position programmable switch," rather than a labor intensive crank or lever. Height adjusts between 26.5" and 43" to easily maneuver between a sitting and standing position. (And the keyboard shelf is also a cool plus!)

And finally, we leave you with the best option possible for use in an office environment. The HE4824MSC Sit to Stand Workstation by Global combines all the usefulness of a spacious corner desk with the health benefits of a height adjustable workstation. Easily adjusted by a three position programmable switch, the HE4824MSC desk is super user friendly. Shoppers can choose from ten gorgeous finishes, including Avant Cherry, Storm Gray, or even Tiger Mahogany. Best of all, the desk ships assembled so all users have to do is plug it in and work their way to a healthier lifestyle!