Better Workspaces: 5-Week Tips Series

Five weekly articles, each with five quick, low-cost tips for a better workspace at home or in the office. Each one works as a blog post and as a customer email.

Week	Article	Theme
1	Your Desk, Your Rules	Chair and desk set-up
2	Let There Be Light (and Air)	Lighting, ventilation, temperature
3	Clear Desk, Clear Head	Decluttering and storage
4	Quiet, Please	Noise, focus and calm spaces
5	Don't Just Sit There	Movement and wellbeing

Suggested email subject lines

1. 5 quick fixes for a more comfortable desk this week

2. Brighter, fresher, better: 5 tips for your workspace

3. Clear desk, clear head: 5 storage wins

4. Struggling to concentrate? Try these 5 tips

5. 5 easy ways to move more at work

Each week this month we're sharing five simple, practical ideas to make your workspace work better for you, whether you're at home, in the office or in the classroom.

Week 1: Your Desk, Your Rules – 5 Quick Fixes for a More Comfortable Workstation

Most of us spend more hours at our desk than anywhere else except bed. Yet many people work at a set-up that was never adjusted to suit them. Aches in the neck, back and wrists are often caused by small things that take minutes to fix. Here are five changes you can make today.

1. Adjust your chair before you do anything else Sit right back in the seat so your lower back is supported. Set the height so your feet rest flat on the floor and your knees are roughly level with your hips. If your feet don't reach the floor, use a footrest or even a sturdy box.

2. Bring your screen to eye level The top of your screen should sit at or just below eye level, about an arm's length away. Looking down at a laptop all day strains your neck. A monitor arm, laptop stand or a stack of books under the screen makes an instant difference.

3. Keep your elbows at 90 degrees When typing, your elbows should be close to your sides and bent at about a right angle, with wrists straight. If your desk is too high, raise your chair and add a footrest. Keep your keyboard and mouse close so you're not reaching forward.

4. Put everyday items within easy reach Phone, notepad, water and anything else you use often should be within arm's reach. Constant stretching and twisting to grab things adds up over a day. Things you use less often can go further away.

5. Working from a laptop? Add a separate keyboard and mouse A laptop on its own forces you to choose between a good screen height and a good typing position. A plug-in keyboard and mouse, with the laptop raised on a stand, gives you both for very little cost.

Need a hand? At Boynesider we supply new and quality used office chairs, desks, monitor arms and footrests to suit every budget, for homes, offices and schools. Not sure where to start? Call us on 086 408 3012 or email info@boynesider.com and we'll help you get set up properly.

Next week: lighting, air and temperature, and why they matter more than you think.