OH! Magazine - Australian Version October 2018 | Page 11

HOW TO ENSURE A HEALTHY
HOME OFFICE
Andi Lew explains how to set up a healthy home environment.
any more people are choosing to
move their offices to home these
days, because they want to spend more
time with loved ones or create a better
quality of life; so it’s important to follow
through with those intentions and get the
environment right. Having a healthy
space for a home office allows you to feel
more well and balanced, which in turn
creates better productivity. So here are a
few tips to help you create a healthy
home environment.
M
Tip 1. Embrace ergonomics
You can achieve optimum ergonimics by
ensuring the setup of your computer and
keyboard is correct. You should have the
screen at eye level or above, and keep it
free from dirt or smudges to avoid glare.
Remember that constant focus can cause
eye strain, so allow the muscles in your
eyes to relax by taking a break from the
screen every 20 minutes. Move the mouse
by using your whole arm as opposed to
just the elbow or the wrist, and keep a
light (not tight) grip on it.
Your keyboard should be positioned above
your lap, and in a space that ensures you
can type with your arms relaxed and close
to your body. Ideally, your elbows should
be bent at 90 degrees with your wrists
level.
If possible, place your desk near a window
to catch as much natural light as you can.
Also, remember when using a mobile
phone, to avoid cradling it with your ear
and shoulder. Instead, try and use the
loudspeaker function, or if that’s not
possible then frequently alternate which
ear you hold the phone up to.
Tip 2. Accessorise!
You can ensure a healthy work posture by
using stand up desks or a Swissball to sit
on. It’s important to make sure your
Swissball is the right size for you – ideally,
your legs need to be bent at a right angle,
with your pelvis aligned with the rest of
the spine.
You should also consider using blue-light-
blocker glasses, such as Baxter Blue.
Blue light is emitted from technology
such as mobile devices and smartphones,
which robs your brain of melotonin (the
hormone required for quality sleep).
Ideally, have a quality alkalising water
filter on hand (I use zazen Alkaline Water
– mention me for $50 off!). Cancer can’t
live in an alkaline environment so when
you raise alkalinity, you’re helping to
preserve your overall wellness. It’s also
quite common when working, to forget to
drink enough water. A great tip is to set
an alarm to remind you, and place the
filter away from your desk so that it forces
yourself to regularly leave your desk to get
up and walk around.
comes to office attire. But dressing for
business can make all the difference. As
a professional radio and TV presenter, I
know full w