Working from home is a nightmare for the majority of people thrown into the deep end by the COVID-19 crisis. Given that you probably have a mobile device for work, you must adopt strategies that will make your laptop more comfortable.
Laptops weren’t designed for extended work sessions. For example, when the screen is high to provide an ideal reading position, the Keyboard position is too high, which strains your shoulders. Luckily, there are ways to make working on your Laptop more comfortable.
Yet they have become the go-to devices for working on the go or at home. Working from home on your laptop does painful things to your body, such as your neck, shoulders, back, wrists, hands, etc.
For the best work from home experience, follow the general wellness guidelines:
- Get up from your chair and walk around every half hour to boost circulation
- Focus on a distant object every few minutes to readjust your eyes and reduce strain
- Work from a standing position often
- Invest in a few accessories that improve your experience when working on a laptop
- Exercise regularly to maintain overall physical health
To make working on your laptop more comfortable, and improve your work-from-home experience, consider getting some of the following accessories and add-ons.
External keyboard and mouse
Using the laptop’s keyboard for extended periods leads to discomfort in the arms. You may also feel pain in your neck and shoulders, especially if you don’t have support for your forearms.
Bypassing the laptop’s keyboard and opting for a separate, external keyboard solves some of these issues by allowing you to maintain your elbows at a normal position, and supports your wrists in a straight and neutral position.
Wireless Keyboard, Arteck 2.4G Wireless Touch TV Keyboard with Easy Media Control and Built-In Touchpad Mouse Solid Stainless Ultra Compact Full Size Keyboard for TV-Connected Computer, Smart TV, HTPC
Check out the Arteck 2.4G Wireless Touch TV Keyboard with Easy Media Control and Built-in Touchpad Mouse, for example. It’s a compact full-size keyboard that you can also use for your smart television.
The keyboard is wireless, with a range of 10 meters (33 feet). It also features a touchpad making it easier to control your connected TV, computer, among others.
Laptop stand or riser
Are you working on your laptop? How well are you positioned? Chances are you’re craning your neck. Extended periods in this position lead to pain around your neck area, shoulders, and back.
It also doesn’t do any favors to your posture, with most people developing that lopsided crane posture.
Raising your laptop’s position using a stand or a pile of old books helps you straighten your neck and achieve a more ergonomic working posture. It also does wonders for your overall structure.
However, your laptop must sit at a comfortable level, preferably fifteen to twenty-five degrees below the horizon.
HUANUO Adjustable Laptop Stand, Portable Laptop Table Stand with 2 CPU Cooling Fans, Ergonomic Lap Desk TV Bed Tray Standing Desk
The HUANUO Adjustable Laptop Stand, Portable Laptop Table Stand, will help you achieve that position. It’s a versatile, ergonomic desk with a durable design. It also comes with 2 CPU cooling fans powered through USB ports to suck out the hot air from your laptop’s vents.
External monitor
An extra or bigger screen improves your productivity by expanding your desktop’s real estate. You can, therefore, keep track of several things at once.
External monitors have an added advantage: They are adjustable and, in most cases, at a comfortable and ergonomic height.
For the best results, maintain a neutral neck posture while working on the monitor. Don’t lean forward or crane your neck.
Keep your shoulder blades touching the back of your chair at all times.
Acer R240HY bidx 23.8-Inch IPS HDMI DVI VGA (1920 x 1080) Widescreen Monitor
The Acer CB242Y 23.8″ Full HD Home Office Monitor could make working on your laptop more comfortable. The extra screen would expand your screen real estate and prevent you from staring down.
It’s a zero frame design monitor, with an ergonomically designed, and adjustable stand. It features an HDMI and VGA ports and an impressive refresh rate of 75Hz on the HDMI port.
Cushions
Ergonomic chairs make working on your laptop more comfortable. Let’s face it, though, the majority of people cannot afford them.
For most, COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in the works forcing us to work from home unprepared.
Chances are, you’re working on the kitchen or dining room chair – your new command center. Working from that position, however, can lead to body aches.
Cushions can change that. Just put one on the seat and another at the back for extra support.
ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion – Non-Slip Orthopedic Gel & Memory Foam Coccyx Cushion for Tailbone Pain – Office Chair Car Seat Cushion – Sciatica & Back Pain Relief
To level up your work from home experience, check out the ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion. It’s one of the best gel memory foam cushions on the market and turns even the roughest chair into a comfortable, ergonomic experience.
Some of its most noteworthy features include:
- Non-slip rubber bottom
- Built-in handle for easy transport
- Velour cover for easy cleaning
This cushion provides support for the tailbone, helping relieve pressure while providing relief from sciatica and lower back pain.
Lighting
Most home lighting is ill-suited for extensive work on laptops. For example, natural light, while ideal, causes glare on laptop screens leading to eye fatigue, headaches, etc.
Proper lighting influences your mood and leads to increased productivity. Other benefits include:
- Brightens your mood reducing stay at home blues
- Makes a room look bigger which is especially beneficial while working at home
- Spurs creativity
You can reduce glare by repositioning your laptop to face away from the glare-causing light. Alternatively, consider adding a desk lamp to illuminate your computer better, especially when working at night.
Task Lamp, TROND Eye-Care LED Clamp Desk Light (11W, 5-Lighting Mode, 5-Level Dimmer, 30-Minute Timer, USB Charging Port, Flexible Gooseneck, Flicker-Free) for Office Sewing Crafting Drawing Nail Art
The TROND Eye-Care LED Clamp Desk Light, for example, provides excellent lighting to make working on your laptop more comfortable.
It’s a clamp desk lamp with super-bright and long-lasting LEDs. Its flicker-free, anti-glare light with the total flux of 1000 flux is perfect for reading, crafting, working on the laptop, etc.
This stand comes with a sturdy clamp and a flexible goose neck working perfectly on a desk. It’s rechargeable and can be used to charge your 5V electronic devices, including iPad, iPhone, speaker, or kindle.
Conclusion
These strategies, add-ons, and accessories should make working on your laptop more comfortable, and improve your productivity. Your stay-at-home and work-from-home experience doesn’t have to suck or lead to health issues down the line. Tweaking your home working station (however small) will change your experience for the better – minus the hand cramps and back-pain of course.
Need a laptop?
If you want to discover what laptop might be right for you, check out some a few of our laptop guides. Check the best AMD Ryzen laptops, the best i5-8300H laptops, or Acer vs. Lenovo.
The post How to Make Working on your Laptop more Comfortable appeared first on Value Nomad.
