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We've talked before about ergonomics at work — as well as ergonomics for petites — but it's been a while, so let's discuss today, ladies! Have you tried to have better ergonomics at the office? What have you bought; what products did you like/not get annoyed by, and what actually made you feel better/good? (Plus, do tell: what did you get reimbursed?) What resources were the most helpful for you in your hunt?
{related: how to make your office more comfortable}
For my $.02: I feel like I am forever buying, trying, and discarding various things to try to make my office better ergonomically. I'm typing this very post on a new split keyboard (recommended by Wirecutter as one of their top choices), and trying to relearn how to type because the numbers along the top are split (1-5 are on one keyboard, 6-0 on another), and other keyboard features that I use frequently are in a different place than my old keyboard.
Over the years, I've bought a huge number of those lower back pillows designed to improve your posture — and about every ten years I seem to need to try a kneeling desk chair one more time. (I bought one last year and think I'm set for this decade… nope, still don't like them.) Ergonomic products I have bought and liked:
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Pictured, some of our favorite tools for better ergonomics at the office as of 2024…
- monitor risers (I have double monitors so I have one for each; I like them!)
- this is the split keyboard I bought a few weeks ago — I like the mechanical keys (very clicky clacky) and the squishy wrist rest, but we'll see if I can get past the weird Ctrl button and lack of a number pad. If you're out and about frequently, I still like my Bluetooth keyboard also so I can avoid trying to type long things on my phone (a friend was just telling me she was diagnosed with “texting thumb,” which might also explain hand pain I've had for a while now…)
- I got this $30 lumbar pillow during my second pregnancy and must say I like it much more than all the other desk chair pillows/posture adjusters that I've had over the years (check out our recentish post on how to improve your posture, as well – lots of great suggestions from readers in the comments)
- I feel guilty saying it's an “ergonomic” pick but it was recommended by Wirecutter as their “budget” pick — I have the Ikea Markus chair for my main desk chair. It's ugly as sin but for $200 I'll take it.
- Over the years I've also had apps installed on my computer to reduce eye strain, including one years ago that reminded me to blink regularly (I can't find it now, but here's a more recent article from Lifehack with free apps to help you with eye strain)
- I don't regularly have problems with carpal tunnel syndrome, but during my first pregnancy I did for some reason — I remember loving the arm brace from my local drugstore and thinking it really helped the pain (I slept in it, I think, instead of using it during the day)…
- I need to get a nice big crate or banker's box to put under my desk — I've tried and discarded a few nicer “stands” and stools over the years and just like the basic banker's box!
How about you, readers? What products have you tried seeking better ergonomics at the office? What are your biggest complaints (wrist? neck? back? eyes? other?)
Further Reading:
- Wirecutter Posts:
- The Best Ergonomic Keyboard – 2017
- The Best Office Chair – 2016
- The Best Laptop Stands – 2017
- The Best Wireless Mouse – 2017 (if anyone has any wired mouse favorites that are better for ergonomics I'd love the tips!)
- How to Set Up an Ergonomic Workstation [CNET]
- Are Standing Desks Better For You? Not So Fast [Fast Company]
- Seven Ways to Prevent and Manage RSI [Guardian]
Stock photo via Shutterstock / Martin Novak.
Anonymous
The Evoluent vertical mouse, along with installation of a keyboard tray to promote ideal typing posture, helped me recover from serious repetitive stress injuries a few years ago.
Anonymous
The Evoluent vertical mouse has been AMAZING for me. I had really terrible pain in my right forearm and wrist. The wrist brace helped a little but the vertical mouse was life-changing.
Katie M.
I have a FlexiSpot standing desk and love how easy it is to transition from sitting to standing. Have to pull out a squishy mat for standing on too but keeps my back feeling good. I also bought an Anker vertical mouse and it has made my wrist pain go away.
Erg
I’ll do a plug for ergonomic evaluations. After months of chronic back pain my sister had an ergonomic evaluation of her workspace – paid for by her employer. The difference was dramatic – she felt better within a week.
Mrs. Jones
I love my standing desk.
MJ
I use a Thinkpad keyboard with the red n i p p l e mouse in the middle as my desktop keypad. It’s smaller, and I don’t get the shoulder/elbow issues I had with a regular mouse and being “crooked” on one side. At one point I had a fancy scrollbar mouse/keyboard combo that my firm’s erg consultant gave me, but it was horrible for highlighting text in any way that worked, so it was not functional.
Also, I just changed jobs and the monitors at my new firm are so far superior (resolution-wise) to my old one, that it’s made a huge difference for eye strain. Wow. I should have asked for a monitor upgrade sooner.
Also, putting in a huge plug for an erg consult. Ask for one. Demand one. They make an enormous difference if your back or shoulders or neck aren’t working.
Standing Desk
I love my Varidesk and fatigue mat.
Jo
My employer pays for ergo evaluations done by contractors kept in-house, and from my evaluation I received a sit-stand workstation from JustStand.Org with large screen high-resolution dual monitors (I do a lot of document review and comparison) as well as a cushy floor mat to stand on. I notice a huge difference when I work from home at my regular old desk. My office chair has an old-fashioned mesh lumbar support and I use a split keyboard both at home and in the office. Our office will be transitioning to an open office later this year (the horror!) so I’m trying to convince HR to let me take the Sit-stand home with me to install in my home office.
Smallish lawyer
I’m 5’3″ and I’ve been very happy with my Staples Carder Mesh Chair. It raises and lowers to good heights for me in both flats and heels. The seat back offers pretty good lumbar support and adjusts so you can recline more if you like. The seat is shallow enough so my back can touch the back of the chair and my knees sit comfortably in front of the chair, and the seat tilt is adjustable too. It is regularly $199 and frequently goes on sale for even less. My current and former employers both were happy to buy it for me. At my last company, my petite lady co-workers decided to get them too.
https://www.staples.com/Staples-Carder-Mesh-Office-Chair-Black/product_136815
My shoulders have been hurting from a desk that is too high so I think I am going to ask for an adjustable keyboard tray.