It's Time To Get Your Ergo On Part Two

In continuing our three-part series: Time To Get Your Ergo On, here are more great tips and tricks to keep  you feeling great, enjoying more energy, gettingmore done and successfully navigating whatever work environment you find yourself in.

Let’s Do This!

Tip #1 - Stay focused and get more done.  We promise you, it works!

One of the lesser-known ergonomic practices is to “chunk” your work into manageable work sessions followed by breaks between your sessions; otherwise known as the Pomodoro Technique.

Step One: Choose a work project and turn off all distractions.

Step Two: Set your timer for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute micro-break.  

Step Three: Re-set your timer for another 25-minute session followed by another 5-minute micro-break.  

Step Four: If you want, you can add a third 25-minute session followed by a longer break (15 minutes), but do not exceed 90 minutes total for the full work session.  Trust us on this one!

Tip #2 - Protect your eyes and ears.  You can thank us later!

With the increase in (back-to-back) video meetings, while living in our earbuds and headphones, new ergo issues have emerged: Eye fatigue and ear fatigue.  Whether it’s exposure to blue light from our screens, not enough breaks, misplacement of our screens, or having our volume cranked up to high, your eyes and ears will pay the price.  Here’s what to do:

For Your Eyes

• Follow the 20/20/20 Rule:  Every 20 minutes, look at least 20 ft away and hold that pose for 20 seconds.  
• Protect Yourself Against Blue Light - Whether it’s through blue-light glasses or a blue light filter for your screens, either or both will go a long way in protecting your eyes and help you avoid headaches and eye fatigue.
• Minimize Glare: It is best to sit perpendicular to natural light sources to avoid direct glare on your screen.  If you do find yourself struggling with glare, consider repositioning yourself, and if needed, look into getting glare filters for your screens. 

For Your Ears

• Lower the Volume: For optimal ear health, and to avoid ear-ringing, noise sensitivity, and headaches, keep your decibel levels between 50 and 65. 
• Consider using Noise-Canceling Headphones: Not only do noise-canceling headphones help you tune in, but by tuning out background noise, it also helps you to hear better at healthy volumes.
• Give Yourself a Break! Try to keep your use of earbuds and headphones to no more than 4 hours a day and make sure to take an ear-break at least once an hour. 

We hope this helps! Make sure to stay tuned for the next part in our series on Getting Your Ergo On.