Ergonomic office accessories for pain-free productivity

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For many, sitting at a desk all day is inevitable. While it may seem harmless, it can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, which can heavily impact not just your health but also how productive you are. That’s why creating an ergonomic workspace is crucial, whether you work in an office or at home. 

Simple upgrades can make all the difference, as it’s tough to be productive when you’re in constant pain. Unfortunately, I know this struggle all too well. As someone who is glued to their desk, I’ve dealt with chronic back pain and have even been to physical therapy for it twice. And making my desk more ergonomic and implementing lifestyle changes has massively improved my pain.

To create an ergonomic work setup, you want to make adjustments to have a natural and neutral posture while you’re sitting at a desk. There are various ways to achieve this through ergonomic office products, from laptop stands to adjustable office chairs. Here are some office upgrades you can make to work more comfortably while boosting productivity and focus.

Laptop stand

Whether you work from home or in a hybrid remote/office environment, chances are you use a laptop. They’re portable and easy to carry around, but when it comes to an ergonomic workstation, they can wreak havoc on your posture. But that’s where a laptop stand can help. 

When you’re working on a laptop for a long period of time, constantly looking down to work can cause you to slouch over, resulting in poor posture and pain and tension in your neck, shoulders, and upper back. Proper laptop ergonomics involves a screen around eye level, with your line of vision landing comfortably at the top portion of the screen. A laptop stand can elevate your laptop to the proper height, thus reducing the need to hunch over. 

A laptop stand is one of the first additions to my work-from-home setup, and it’s made a massive difference in comfort while I work. In fact, it’s something I find hard to work comfortably without. Side note: If you work from a desktop computer, a monitor stand or riser can have a similar effect, but is typically more stationary and not height adjustable.

Urmust Aluminum Laptop Stand

Benfei Laptop Stand with 6-in-1 Docking Station

Wireless keyboard

With your laptop elevated, it’s time to talk about the keyboard. It’s not comfortable or ideal to use the laptop keyboard with a laptop stand, as it elevates your arms at an awkward angle and can cause upper body strain. Naturally, a wireless keyboard is the best solution. I personally use a mini keyboard without the numberpad on the side, but you can also get a full-size wireless keyboard or an ergonomic keyboard with a wave that promotes natural typing in a compact size to reduce strain, depending on your preference and needs for work.

Paired with a laptop stand, a wireless keyboard gives you the freedom to move it around to best suit your comfort level. Ideally, a wireless keyboard should be in front of you, but not too close or too far away. Your elbows should rest naturally at around a 90-degree angle, and your wrists should be straight and neutral while typing. 

Logitech MX Keys S Wireless Keyboard

Logitech Wave Keys Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard

Logitech Pop Icon Keys Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard

Wireless mouse

Similar to a wireless keyboard, you likely don’t want to stick to using your laptop’s trackpad. Instead, a wireless mouse works best in an ergonomic setup. By placing it near your keyboard and in line with your shoulder, it prevents you from excessively reaching and straining your shoulder. But not just any mouse, an ergonomic mouse. 

An ergonomic mouse (also called a vertical mouse) is designed to have your hand in a neutral position, reducing strain in your hand, wrist, and even forearm. The primary buttons are placed at an angle, along with a trackball, and there’s a curve that acts as a thumb rest. A traditional mouse, on the other hand, forces your palm to lie flat, which can cause tension and wrist pain. 

It’s a small accessory, but it’s surprising how much of a difference it can make. In all my time using a computer, I never thought much about how a mouse can impact my comfort level while working. But as time went on and I dove deeper into creating a comfortable and ergonomic workstation, I couldn’t believe I went so long without an ergonomic mouse. 

Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse

ProtoArc Ergonomic Mouse

Standing desks

Being sedentary can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, but standing all day at a desk isn’t the most realistic (or very comfortable) either. An adjustable standing desk gives you the option to switch between both, encouraging periods of movement throughout the day.

But when you’re standing at your desk, you want to keep the ergonomic desk basics in mind, like keeping your screen at eye level and resting your arms and elbows in a neutral position. You also want to pay attention to your feet. If you’re working from home, you might think to just go barefoot; however, a pair of sneakers can provide arch support, and a soft mat can help reduce strain in your feet, knees, and lower back.

Fezibo Standing Desk

Klsmyhoki Standing Desk

Desktop riser

If you like your traditional desk, but want the option to comfortably stand during the workday, consider a desktop riser. Also known as a standing desk converter, it does just that by turning a standard desk into a standing desk. 

Desktop risers are highly versatile, portable, and convenient. They can transform your desk in minutes, if not seconds. When you’re done with work, you can easily break it down and store it away. They’re ideal if you don’t want to purchase new furniture, but prices can vary. There are budget-friendly desk converters that are simple and straightforward, but there are others with extra features and levels that can make them just as expensive, if not more, than some affordable standing desks. 

Vivo Small Single-Top Standing Desk Converter

Vivo Height-Adjustable Dual Monitor Stand Up Desk Converter

Adjustable office chair

Of all the ergonomic work setup swaps I made, an ergonomic office chair might’ve made the biggest difference. I truly believe it’s the foundation of an ergonomic workspace, as the right office chair can provide support, reduce pain, and allow you to be productive for longer periods of time (even though movement is highly encouraged, but we’ll get to that later). The perfect ergonomic office chair is adjustable to fit your body, most importantly, the seat height that allows your feet to rest flat on the floor, and the armrest height that supports a comfortable bend at the elbows. Adjustable lumbar support and seat depth are also bonuses, as well as breathable and comfortable material. 

With office chairs, there’s such a range in pricing. A lot of the time, it’s due to materials, adjustability, and big brand names well-known for their ergonomic office chairs, like Herman Miller, Steelcase, and Humanscale. Since a comfortable and adjustable chair is crucial for an ergonomic desk setup, it’s one of those items that you should consider splurging on for maximum comfort and durability.

Pre-ergonomic desk journey, I had an aesthetically pleasing vintage chair that had been in my family for decades. It looked great (and it was free), but it felt impossible to be productive when it caused so much pain in my shoulders, lower back, elbows, wrists, everywhere. I’ve had a Humanscale chair for a few years now, and it’s my pride and joy in my workstation. It checks off all the boxes I need, and it’s made my desk significantly more comfortable to sit at.

Elabest X100 Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair with Footrest

Tralt Ergonomic Office Chair

Steelcase Gesture Office Chair

Humanscale Diffrient World Task Chair

Movement

You can make all the office upgrades in the world and maintain the perfect posture at a desk for hours, but prioritizing movement throughout the workday is a game changer. When you sit all day, your muscles get tense and fatigued, and your spine compresses, which can lead to poor circulation, strain, and pain. But even a little movement can be beneficial. Not only can it help reduce pain from being sedentary, but it can also reduce stress, help you feel more energized, and make you feel more productive.

Moving throughout the day is one of the simplest ways to improve workspace ergonomics, but it can also be one of the easiest to forget or actually implement. I’m very guilty of this, and have noticed a massive change in chronic back pain and tension when I make an effort to move more throughout the workday. 

Starting off, you can do something as easy as changing your seating position, standing, taking a quick walk around the office or house, doing some bodyweight squats every house, or doing some shoulder rolls. But if you really want to amp up the movement, there are items like walking pads, under-desk ellipticals, and more to keep you moving without even leaving your desk.

Flexispot Multi-Task Office Desk Chair with Integrated Bike

Cubii JR1 Under-Desk Elliptical

Walkingpad Foldable Walking Pad

Ulfario Walking Pad

Why is an ergonomic office setup so important for productivity?

Creating an ergonomic work setup — whether you’re in an office or work from home — is crucial to not just your health but also your productivity. Making changes to improve posture and prioritizing movement can reduce pain and tension in the body and also break up a sedentary workday. When you’re comfortable and not focusing so much on pain, you feel more focused and energized, ready to take on daily work tasks with the utmost efficiency. 

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