Laptop Ergonomics: How to work comfortably while working with a laptop

The laptop is certainly a helpful invention. Not only does it allow us to work from anywhere, but it also helps to bring technology closer to the general public. However, the sad truth is that an average laptop is simply not made to be ergonomic. Laptop designs often trade ergonomic features for compactness. Sadly, this means that they will not do much good to the users’ posture.

This is especially dangerous, as the number of laptop users is on the rise in the UK, especially among office workers. The total sales value of laptops in the UK has reached a staggering 58.79 billion British pounds in 2017, and it is expected to keep rising. How, then, can office workers help to protect themselves while working with laptops? Here are some helpful tips.

The Dangers of Working With a Laptop

When you work with a laptop, you will not be able to maintain your natural posture properly, so you will be much more likely to suffer from sitting conditions. When the laptop is set up properly, the keyboard position will be too high, but when the laptop is set up improperly, the position will actually be quite low. For this reason, it is best to use a laptop for a short period of time.

How to Make Laptops Less a Danger

That said, with the rise of laptops in an office environment, it is difficult to work on your laptops solely for short periods of time. However, that does not necessarily say that you cannot do anything. Try these following tips to quickly see improvements in your laptop working experience.

How to set up your laptop workstation:

- The workstation should be promoting neutral postures with your neck aligned with your spine. Your spine should neither protrude too much nor be bent back

- The back should be relaxed. Ideally, you could choose a chair with a high-quality backrest for this purpose

- The shoulders should be relaxed as well. Once again, armrests really make a huge difference here.

- The elbows should be close to your body, and they should be bent at 90 to 120 degrees.

Additionally, there are certain laptop accessories you could buy to make your laptop working sessions more manageable.

- Buy an external keyboard or pointing device to add more ergonomic value to your laptop workstation. You should position these external gadgets below your elbow height, on an adjustable tray.

- Use laptop stands and other supporting products to adjust the height of your laptop screen so that it is aligned with your eye level.

- Take a break every 30 or 45 minutes. Remember to stretch as well to remove the discomfort from sitting too long!

Laptops aren’t bad, and it’s pretty hard to imagine what life would be if laptops did not exist. However, you will need to take all the necessary preparatory steps to ensure that you can work for long periods of time on your trusty laptop without endangering your health.