The average American with an office job spends the equivalent of sixty-seven days a year seated at their desk. That’s right—many people spend between four and nine hours a day, or up to 20% of their year, in front of a computer. Can you imagine the impact this has on one's posture considering the angle at which the laptop is positioned?
Since you might spend more time at your desk than you do sleeping in your bed, you may have already tried several ways that seemed most fit to make your desk more comfortable and ease the tension in your neck, shoulders, lower back, wrists, and possibly even legs. From sitting on an exercise ball to purchasing memory foam wrist support for keyboard and mouse use, there are now more ways than ever to ensure your working hours are easily spent in as much comfort as possible. And it all starts with the perfect, adjustable laptop stand to use at your desk.
This guide is designed to share the latest ergonomic design solutions for desk discomfort, especially for laptop device users. If you aren’t sure on the answer to the question, “what are laptop stands used for?”, we’ve got you covered on the basics you begin your search for an ergonomic product fit for your needs.
The Problem With Your Desk Setup
It’s common sense that staying sedentary for long periods of time takes its toll on the body. The scientific community has a new classification for the problems that arise after long periods of prolonged inactivity. Shockingly, it’s called “sitting disease.” The body was designed to move through a full range of motion each day, not to sit in one rigid position.
It’s bad enough to sit all day, but your non-ergonomic workstation may be making it even worse. If you’re reading this article hunched over on your laptop, you might already experience daily discomfort from leaning at such an angle. The position you usually sit in may heighten your risk for all of the following:
- Chronic neck pain
- Back pain in the lower or upper back
- A rounded spine
- Poor vision
- Arthritis or joint pain in the wrists and fingers
While desktop computers are designed to encourage proper spinal alignment, even the best laptop devices present unique challenges. Unlike how a desktop is characterized by an external monitor and external keyboard, the screen and the keyboard of a laptop are so close together that it can be very difficult to find a position that’s healthy for your neck as you view the screen, yet also healthy for your shoulders and arms as you type.
But there’s a solution: an ergonomic laptop stand for desk use.
Sitting Better With An Ergonomic Setup
When you’re sitting at your desk, the goal is to put your body in a position that is as relaxed and supported as possible. If you frequently struggle to find a comfortable seat, or you end the day with any of these symptoms, your body is indicating that your desk setup needs an overhaul. Understanding how to ergonomically use a latptop can serve as the biggest game-changer for your work productivity.
Ergonomics is the study of the human body’s relationship to its environment. Ergonomic products are designed to facilitate greater ease, comfort, and range of motion for individuals in their everyday jobs. If you sit at your desk for 67 days of your year, it’s crucial that you use insights from ergonomics to design your workspace, whether that involves sitting, standing, or both.
Ergonomic furniture, at the end of the day, is an investment in your future—the product is for the betterment and sustainability of your overall well-being.
It’s for your mental and physiological health.
The Best Position for Computer Use
Luckily, ergonomic design experts have studied desks in detail, consisting of both sitting and standing types. The Mayo Clinic recommends the following guidelines for sitting at your desk:
- Place your external monitor an arm’s length away from your face - not only inches away from your face
- Make sure the top of your screen is level with your field of vision
- Sit so that your knees are level with your hips
- Rest your feet on the floor or another sturdy surface
- Keep your arms alongside your body so your shoulders can relax
- Elbows should be bent at ninety degrees when typing
- Wrists should be straight in relationship to your keyboard
While your computer may not have been designed to allow for this position—especially if it’s a laptop—you can easily outfit your desk to improve your posture and reduce your risk of sitting disease.
The Must-Have Ergonomic Objects for Your Desk
Whether you work at a laptop or desktop computer, there are a number of desk accessories that can correct your position. First, observe your own space and identify the issues: are they mainly with screen elevation and viewing angle? With your arm position? Or are your feet dangling from your chair? Use our guide to find the right solution for each alignment issue. It’s that easy!
Elevate Your Screen
If you place your laptop flat on your desk, the viewing angle is likely too low to allow for proper alignment of the head and neck. Over time, this can lead to neck strain, a rounded upper back, and back pain. Your first step is purchasing an ergonomic laptop stand for use at your desk or table. However, there is no such thing as just one product to choose from.There are a number of options, from portable wedges that raise your laptop up by several inches and reduce screen glare, to adjustable stands that allow you to find the perfect screen height.
Do you work at a standing desk for part of the day? Don’t forget to adjust the height of your portable ergonomic laptop stand as you move from your sitting desk to your standing desk!
Align Your Wrists
Once you’ve propped your laptop up on an elevated surface at your sit stand desk, you may realize that your keyboard is no longer in a comfortable position for typing: you’d have to hike up your shoulders and elevate your forearms to reach it. If this is the case, you should consider investing in an external keyboard and mouse for use with your laptop. So make sure to not throw out your mouse pad quite yet! This is an easy adjustment that can save you from experiencing discomfort throughout the day.
Plant Your Feet
If your legs don’t quite reach the floor once you’ve found your optimal screen and shoulder position, consider purchasing a footrest so your feet can plant firmly, supporting your entire body when working at your docking station.
The Mount-It! Promise
The team at Mount-It! designs all height-adjustable products in line with the leading research in ergonomics. At Mount-It! You’ll find a wide variety of expertly crafted laptop stands to improve your comfort during your workday, and with it, your overall health.
Mount-It! has the solution to any alignment problem. Let us help alleviate the burden of a seated workday!
Sources:
The Mayo Clinic. Office Ergonomics: Your How-to Guide. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/office-ergonomics/art-20046169
Just Stand. The Facts Behind ‘Sitting Disease.’ https://www.juststand.org/the-facts/
Occupational Health and Wellbeing. Workers Spend 67 Days a Year Sitting at Their Desks. https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/staff-spend-67-sedentary-working-days/
