How To Build The Best Ergonomic Workspace [10 TIPS]

Ergonomics is the scientific study of people and their working conditions, in particular the design of their equipment and systems to maximize productive and reduce discomfort and injury.

It’s become a bit of a buzzword to sell useless or harmful products, as every term eventually does. But that doesn’t negate the importance of ergonomics. Let’s look at some tips and myths about ergonomic workspaces.

10 Tips for an Ergonomic Workspace

The ergonomic needs of people are often unique, so not every tip or product will apply for every person. Think about your body, habits, problems, and needs when considering changes.

Here are ten things you might use to optimize your workspace.

1. Chair

An ergonomic chair is typically step one, but it doesn’t have to be as complicated as it’s made out to be. There are countless “ergo chairs” on the market that don’t actually help much, if at all.

I’ve spoken to several physical therapists about ergonomic chairs, and they all seem to agree: Most are gimmicks. All you need is an adjustable desk chair and movement throughout your day.

So get up from your desk frequently. If you have an adjustable desk, switch from sitting to standing (and maybe to walking on an under-desk treadmill or stair stepper) throughout your day. Take frequent breaks to stretch, rest your eyes, or take a quick walk to refill your water bottle.

Aside from that, shop for a desk chair with adjustable parts. Arms you can raise or lower, lumbar support customization, obviously the height should be adjustable, and the leaning tension (usually a twistable knob under the chair).

The kooky looking chairs seem fun, but most keep you trapped in the same position all day–which is an ergonomic nightmare. The ones pictured above cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. So there’s also that.

I’ve tried the wobble chairs, the yoga ball chairs, standing exclusively, and tons of other strategies I’ve already forgotten about. I bought this chair in 2021, and it’s been working just fine ever since.

NOTE: That chair is currently close to $300. When I bought it, it was under $100. So not exactly an endorsement.

2. Desk

Your chair and desk should work well together. I’ve tried several desk options at varying prices, and here are my experiences:

a. My first Ergo Desk was made of my American Girl book collection and a space heater. Worked pretty well, cost nothing, got the job done. Since swapping from sitting to standing would be insane, I used the other side of my L desk to create a sitting side. Wow, she’s a genius.

b. Next, I bought an L-desk, then found a standing attachment on craigslist like the one pictured below for $40. It could raise and lower, which was nice, but it took up SO much space, and I’m a clumsy person, so utilizing my desk was just too clunky.

c. Then I got serious and bought my current desk, which is a corner style with a 48″ lift range. I’ve been working at this one for almost five years. I like that it’s so spacious and adjustable.

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3. Monitors

An often-overlooked aspect of desk ergonomics is monitor placement. The angle and height of your monitor affects posture, eye strain, and your entire musculoskeletal system.

The general rules for healthy monitor positioning are:

• Use proper distance and angle. The distance should be approximately 20-30 inches, and the angle should be at or slightly below eye level to reduce neck strain (Mayo Clinic).
• Again, going for adjustability is better than a product marketed as “ergonomic”.
• Minimize glare. The monitor(s) should be positioned to avoid window or overhead lighting glare. There are also anti-glare screen protectors. Avoiding glare and eye strain will prevent injury and headaches.
• Extra monitor positioning. If you have multiple monitors, the primary monitor should be directly in front of you, with the others set to the side. The primary monitor is ideally used for most of the work.
• If your dual monitors are used equally, they should be placed close together, at the same height, and slightly angled inward. Ideally, the screen sizes are identical.
• Text size and screen resolution. Adjust your settings to a comfortable level of brightness and size to reduce the need to lean forward or squint, avoiding eye strain and poor posture.
• Regular breaks. No matter how sick your monitor setup is, you need to rest your eyes. The general rule is every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away. It reduces eye strain and can help you avoid permanently worsened vision. I read The Hunger Games trilogy on my laptop over a weekend as a teenager, and I’ve been wearing glasses ever since. Save yourselves.

4. Keyboard and mouse

Things like poor grip and wrist angle can result in carpal tunnel, arthritis, and RMI (Repetitive Motion Injuries). Further, your mouse and keyboard often dictate how your shoulders are positioned. Traditional keyboards promote hunching, causing neck and back pain.

An ergonomic keyboard allows you to open up your chest and rest with your shoulders back. It should also support your wrists.

An ergonomic mouse is often vertical, allowing for less twisting in your wrist and arm.

Here are mine. Try not to die of jealousy about my frog mat.

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My split keyboard allows me to sit up straight with my shoulders back, and my wrists are completely supported. The tilt and curve of the key layout allows my hands to rest in a more natural position, as does the mouse.

Here are our top recommendations for ergonomic vertical computer mice.

5. Lighting

Lighting is another aspect of ergonomics that is often overlooked. Your light should not be too bright or too dim. When using screens, it’s healthiest to have a light behind you to avoid eye strain. Basically, if your eyes feel uncomfortable, try adjusting your ambient and/or overhead lighting until it lessens.

I’m a bit of a vampire, so the overhead light makes me hiss. My office is lit by natural light (ideal) and a soft box lamp positioned in the corner opposite my desk (behind me).

6. Posture and movement

One of the main goals of ergonomics is to optimize posture to promote comfort and avoid injury. Movement is also incredibly important. Motion is lotion. Your best posture is your next posture. Etc.

That’s why adjustability is crucial. A desk that can be sitting or standing, adjustable chairs, frequent breaks, and under-desk equipment can keep you in motion, thus improving your health and comfort.

7. Footrest

I’m using “footrest” pretty loosely here. Basically any type of under-desk product, like an anti-fatigue mat, an actual footrest, a treadmill, a mini-stair stepper. It offers another form of movement.

I switch from sitting, standing, and walking on my under-desk treadmill (I love this treadmill, but I did buy it on Super Sale, so this is not necessarily an endorsement at its current price of $400).

If you choose a standing desk, I recommend an anti-fatigue mat, balance board, or something else that can keep your feet in some sort of movement and cushioned from the hard floor.

NOTE: While I appreciate purchases through my affiliate links, under-desk products are such a common item at most thrift stores, and they’re often in brand new condition. I recommend checking out your local thrift shops to avoid consumer waste and save a few bucks. 🙂

8. Document holder

If you have a job that requires you to reference physical paperwork, a document holder can save you neck, shoulder, and back pain. One that clips to your monitor is especially helpful. The idea is that you don’t have to crane your neck to reference the document. You simply move your eyes.

9. Desk organization

Try to keep frequently used items within easy reach to avoid straining and twisting. As a bonus, paying attention to this aspect can give you a tidier and more pleasant work station.

10. Personal comfort

Here’s a vague one for you: design for personal comfort. This could be adjusting temperature, the noise level, and the overall ambiance of your environment. It could be a pillow for your lower back or cushy armrests on your desk.

Don’t forget to drop some personality into it, too! Plants are proven mood-lifts, as well as photos, art, or sentimental knickknacks. I have a mini-ecosystem bowl on my desk, and them little shrimps keep me going.

Attend to those ten areas, and your workspace experience will be smooth and silky.

Myths About Ergonomics

Now that we’ve covered the proven facts of ergonomics, let’s look at some common myths to make sure we can’t be tricked by clever marketing!

1. One-size-fits-all

If we’ve learned anything, it’s that ergonomics is deeply personalized. This is a big reason those expensive, Dr. Seuss-ass looking chairs are bullshit–they’re stuck in one position, and that position will not suit most people.

Aim for adjustable, and listen to your body.

2. Expensive equipment is necessary

Have I hollered this enough times? Did you hear me? My American-Girl-space-heater standing desk worked perfectly fine for months. You don’t have to spend any money to improve the ergonomics of your space, and you certainly don’t need to spend $5,900 for that dentist chair.

3. Sitting is always bad

Sitting is great! As long as you’re doing it comfortably and for limited amounts of time. Standing for too long is also bad for your body and will cause its own set of physical issues. Don’t be afraid of sitting–do be afraid of sedentarism.

4. There is a perfect posture

Everyone’s body is different in height, shape, weight, build, and functionality. While guidelines can be helpful (such as the angle you should hold your elbows), they just can’t apply to everyone. Pay attention to how you feel in different positions, and change position often. #YourBestPostureIsYourNextPosture

5. Ergonomics only matters at work

Our world is work-centric, yuck, so ergonomics often applies the most to your job hours. But don’t forget that you continue to inhabit your body when you clock out! Pay attention to your posture and eyes when you’re gaming, resting, and participating in other non-work activities.

At Not Harder, we believe in reducing hours worked and making those hours more enjoyable and fulfilling. Comfort and physical health at work are a huge piece of that puzzle. Happy sitting (and then standing)!