Whether you work from home or in a company office, follow these tips to create an ergonomic and comfortable workspace.

Since COVID-19 sent most of its employees to home offices last year, the idea of ​​a fully office-centric business has changed, perhaps forever.

As people gradually return to their jobs, a new PwC global study found that 72 percent of respondents prefer a combination of working away from the office and being in person, and many companies are listening to this.

During this transition period, Officeworks has helped businesses prepare for the return of employees to the office by creating a productive environment for those returning to work onsite and offering support for employees setting up workstations at home.

Here are some tips on how to create your own ideal workplace, wherever it is.

Safe and comfortable workplace
As liberating as it can feel to settle into your bed or couch while working from home, the risk of musculoskeletal injury should be incentive enough to find a healthier alternative.

In recent years, there has been a rise in the movement towards standing desks, which provide all sorts of benefits, from improved posture and well-being to enhanced focus and productivity.

However, standing all day is not always possible or recommended; one study suggests that the optimal sitting to standing ratio is somewhere between 1:1 and 1:3 - the goal is to stand one to three hours for every hour you spend sitting. Matrix Sit Stand The large table allows you to alternate positions, changing from sitting to standing at the touch of a button.

During sitting periods, you should aim to use an adjustable chair that supports your back, including the arch of your lower back, and places your elbows at the same height as your work surface, with your feet flat on the floor.

It is also important that your joints are properly aligned so that your ankles, knees, hips and elbows are at a 90 degree angle. The Haworth Zody Ergonomic Chair features a six-position backrest, seat depth and forward tilt, making it easy to find the ideal configuration.

Arrange your desk ergonomically
You may be used to opening up your laptop and getting to work wherever you are, but the layout of your computer screen has a lot to do with it. Neck and shoulder pain - and even eye strain - are potential consequences of a poorly thought out setup.

Safe Work Australia recommends placing the screen directly in front of you unless you are using two screens, in which case you will need to sit in the middle. The top of the screen should be at or slightly below eye level, with the screen at arm's length from your body.

When using a laptop, it's best to use a separate keyboard and mouse, such as the Logitech Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo, so your hands and wrists can rest on the table in a neutral position. The keyboard should be directly in front of you, at least 10-15 centimeters from the edge of the work surface and parallel to the mouse so that you can keep both hands close to your body.

Safe Work Australia also advocates the use of a headset when using the phone to reduce the pain or fatigue caused by holding the handset or holding it over the shoulder.

Devices like the Sennheiser PC 7 in-ear headphones not only improve your posture while talking, but also cancel out background noise and free your hands for other tasks.

With many businesses now relying on telecommuting, it's imperative that your workstation is equipped to handle more online meetings and phone calls - they're likely to become an important part of our work for the foreseeable future.