How Can Workplace Ergonomics Affect Mental Health?

Fast approaching deadlines, the novelty of hybrid working, coworker relationships and the pressure to develop innovative solutions can cause a great deal of work-related stress. While you may think that these are the only contributors to your stress and anxiety, this might not be the case. Your workplace set-up, including your desk, chair, screen glare, and posture, plays a critical role in your mental health. Confused? Read on as we show you the various ways ergonomics is linked to mental health and give you some tips on how to improve your workplace set-up to feel better at work. 

Poor posture and efficiency

Unable to work at your optimum capacity? Your posture might be the reason. Sitting for upwards of 8 hours in a bad posture can put tremendous stress on your spine, shoulders and neck. This can also cause other ailments such as headaches and body pain that will stretch over several hours, thereby affecting the speed of your work. Knowing that you can do more but not being able to do it because of aches and pains might cause you stress and make you more self-critical.  

Incorrect workstation set-up and quality of work

If your workstation set-up is uncomfortable, you might just want to get done with your workday as soon as possible and leave. This might cause you to concentrate on getting work done without actually thinking about the quality of work you’re putting out. For example, if you have to type several pages of a report and your keyboard and mouse aren’t placed correctly, your arms and wrist will hurt, and your muscles will get fatigued. At this point, you might just want to type it out extremely fast, without breaks, causing multiple errors and, of course, more pain. The numerous revisions that follow, coupled with pain, can lead to panic and frustration. 

How can ergonomics help?

Workplace ergonomics is the science of changing workplace set up to maximise the comfort of employees so that every employee is able to work without discomfort and pain. 

Now that we have covered what poor ergonomics can mean for your mental health at work let us look at the various ways ergonomics can change things for the better, especially when it comes to your mental health. 

Ergonomic chairs to reduce stress on the spine

Spinal health is significant as it controls our body’s vital functions. It supports our body and helps us perform daily activities. A great way to ensure our mental health thrives at work is to reduce stress on our spine. Ergonomic office chairs do just that. They are meant to be used for longer durations, have lumbar support, height and depth adjustment options, thereby allowing you to have the best posture while sitting. With an ergonomic chair, you will be able to deliver all of your tasks on time and work with extra zeal. 

Ergonomic desks to reduce fatigue

Poor ergonomics can lead to mental health concerns such as burnout, stress and frustration. Let us look at our office desks and our sitting posture to address these issues. As discussed earlier in this article, poor posture and a lack of frequent breaks can put a lot of stress on our spine, neck and shoulders, thus making us feel agitated and low on energy. A great way to maintain proper posture is to invest in an ergonomic work desk, preferably a sit-stand desk. Ergonomic sit-stand desks have gained a lot of popularity in recent years for all the right reasons. They can be adjusted to suit your height, promote standing up during your workday, reduce blood pressure, and lower your weight gain risk. But most importantly, standing desks can decrease feelings of stress and fatigue while improving mood and energy levels.

Ergonomic placement of keyboard to reduce stress on wrists

Did you know that it’s not the actual typing that results in painful injuries? It’s twisting and reaching out to use your keyboard. First, start by placing your keyboard in front of you and not to the side. Second, ensure that your keyboard and mouse are on the same level. If you’re using a laptop riser without an extended keyboard, you will have to keep moving your arm up and down to access the mouse. This, when done for hours, can cause aches and pains and put you at risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Invest in a separate keyboard and mouse to allow yourself to keep typing on a stretch. 

Ergonomic mouse to stay productive

If you’re someone who uses the trackpad of your keyboard, it’s time to revaluate. Laptops might be convenient, but they weren’t designed for prolonged use. Use an external ergonomic mouse if you’re going to be working for a couple of hours on your laptop. Ergonomic mice take the pressure off your wrists, allowing you to stay productive for longer. Your muscles aren’t tired, and your efficiency increases. 

How can we help?

If you need to source the right ergonomic equipment for your employees, Codex can help. In addition to the ergonomic assessments, we also offer all types of ergonomic furniture to help keep your employees safe and productive.

You can also get in touch with us here.