The one thing I hate about working a desk job is how it ages my body. It’s hard to avoid sitting at a desk when you work a 9-5, but that doesn’t mean we need to accept our bodies falling apart for the sake of our jobs. In order to reverse and prevent future damage, I continuously search for products to improve my desk health.
Why does any of this matter? Over time, the hours we spend glued to our chairs and computers lead to accelerated aging. I can feel the strain on my back from sitting too much. My posture has suffered from spending hours each day hunched over a computer. Occasionally, I need to increase my computer font size because the words on my screen get blurry.
Luckily, there are many products to set yourself up ergonomically and to improve your overall desk setup. Here are some of my favorite finds.
7 Products to Improve Your Desk Health
1. Laptop Riser
Working from a laptop can be a huge strain on your neck, back, and eyes. Using a laptop riser can help minimize the aches and pains from constantly hunching over. There are many affordable options out there. I ordered an inexpensive one from Amazon.
2. Treadmill Desk
While I don’t have one of these, it’s on my wish list. This woman’s experience inspired me. It would be great to get some steps in while I scroll through emails. It might not be conducive for intense spreadsheet work but it would be great to have for long conference calls when I get a bit antsy.
3. Blue Light Glasses
There are mixed findings on whether or not blue light glasses are effective for eye strain but there may be a sleep benefit. If you find yourself on your digital devices close to bedtime, it could be affecting your ability to fall asleep. One study found that participants had an increase in melatonin levels over the course of 2 weeks from wearing blue light glasses before bed.
4. A Proper Desk Chair
Do not underestimate the power of a proper desk chair. I have a wonderful adjustable chair at the office. Not chic at all, but super comfortable. My chair for my home office is not so great. There is currently a folded up blanket serving as a seat cushion. Even as an adult, I sometimes live like a college kid. Moral of the story, a proper desk chair makes a huge difference.
5. Noise Cancellation Headphones
I prefer to work from home because I focus better without all of the background noise and distractions. Luckily, there are now noise cancellation headphones like Airpods.
6. Upright Go Posture Trainer
I am super excited to try this product. If I’m being honest, I’ve never had great posture but sitting at a desk all day has made it significantly worse. There are products to help with that. The Upright Go posture trainer is a little guy that you stick on your back and it will vibrate when you veer off course. How cool?
Working from a desk is part of our daily lives — unless maybe you’re a park ranger. Good thing, there are many products to help set our desks up ergonomically and improve our health.
