How to Set Up the Most Ergonomic Home Office Ever

Working from home seems like the perfect time to switch to an "anything goes" mindset, especially when it comes to your seating arrangements. After all, answering work emails while lounging in bed or on your couch is about as relaxing as the activity will ever get.

But if your WFH situation is long-term or your job has implemented a hybrid office-home work model since the COVID-19 pandemic, you could find yourself in a world of hurt if you don't get the right setup. Of course, it's not like you can just conjure up your office workspace at home. And, if you don't have a home office, you're not exactly set up for success. "Working from home, for most people, is not ideal for ergonomics," says Amir Khastoo, D.P.T., a physical therapist at Providence Saint John's Health Center's Performance Therapy Center in Santa Monica, California.

What Are Ergonomics?

What are ergonomics, exactly? At its most basic, ergonomics means "fitting a job to a person," according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Having an ergonomic setup can help lessen muscle fatigue and increase productivity, as well as reduce the number and severity of work-related musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, muscle strains, and lower back injuries.

Now, think about the workspace setup at your office (or, if you're fully remote, your last in-office workspace). Sure, there were some days where you would've given anything to work from the comfort of a soft sofa, click-clacking away with your feet up and computer on your lap. But there's a good reason your office provided a cubicle instead of a couch — and it's not just because your coworkers didn't want to see your bare feet.

Lounging, whether on a couch or a bed, while you work can actually lead to musculoskeletal issues, especially when it becomes the norm as you continue to WFH, explains Khastoo. "Your sofa and bed, while comfy in the moment, are terrible locations to spend eight hours a day," agrees Pamela Geisel, M.S., C.S.C.S., manager of performance services at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

In a perfect world, experts say you'd re-create your usual office setup at home. In reality, you might have a tight budget, limited space, or children circling you 24/7 — or all three. Whatever the case may be, you can still establish an ergonomic WFH environment. Simply scroll down and then start rearranging...your aching body will thank you.

The Right WFH Posture

No matter where you're WFH — be it in a dedicated at-home office space or from the kitchen counter — there's a certain posture that will help reduce your risk of developing pain:

• Your feet should be flat on the floor with your thighs parallel and your knees bent to 90 degrees, according to Geisel.
• Your elbows should also be bent at 90 degrees and close to your body — not jammed up against your ribs, but hanging comfortably below your shoulders.
• Your shoulders should be relaxed and back, says Geisel. "This should happen organically if your elbows stay at 90 degrees and your monitor is correctly placed," she notes. (More on that below.)
• You should be sitting all the way back in your chair, and the rest of your body should be "stacked," with your shoulders over your hips and your head over your shoulders. "This will help keep your joints in alignment," explains Geisel. This whole "joint-in-alignment" thing is crucial because, if they're not, you risk throwing your posture and the muscles involved in it out of whack — and that can lead to musculoskeletal injuries.

How to Set Up Your Desk and Chair for Better Posture

Given that the surface you'll be working from at home is probably not adjustable, you'll likely have to work some magic with your chair to try to get the proper form. Just one catch: The height of many desks and tables are set up for taller people, points out Khastoo. So, if you're on the shorter side, it's a good idea to make some adjustments.

If you have an office-style chair, move the height until your thighs are parallel to the ground and your knees are bent at 90 degrees, recommends Geisel. That can mess with the setup of your feet, though. So if your feet don't reach the floor, go ahead and grab a footstool or rest (or even a stack of oversized books) to prop up your feet so that the soles lay flat against the surface. Again, the height should be as much as it takes to get your knees to 90 degrees, according to Geisel.

And, if you don't have a chair with an adjustable height but you need to move up, you can put a firm, thick pillow under your butt for extra height, says Khastoo. Again, the goal is to get your knees to a 90-degree position while keeping your feet flat and positioning your keyboard within easy reach. If your thighs lightly touch the underside of the desk and it's comfortable for you, you should be good to go, adds Khastoo.

The Best Position for Your Arms, Elbows, and Hands

Once your seat is at the right height, it's time to think about your arms and hands. If your seat has armrests, awesome: "Armrests can help support your upper extremities," which, in turn, can help you avoid slouching and putting excess strain on your upper back and neck, explains Khastoo. Armrests can also make it easier to bend your elbows to 90 degrees and keep them there, he adds.

No armrests? No problem. Simply adjust the height of your chair and the position of your computer so that your elbows are bent at — yup, you probably guessed it — 90 degrees. You also want to try to keep your elbows close to your body while you work in order to get the right posture, says Geisel. At the same time, your hands should be able to easily reach your keyboard — which should be about an arms-length distance away — and your palms should slightly hover over the keyboard while you type.

Remember Your Lower Back

Once you've got your desk at the right height, your feet placement sorted, and your upper extremities situated, you can focus on your low back. While it sounds somewhat elementary, try thinking about your "sit bones" (i.e. the rounded bones at the bottom of your pelvis), recommends Geisel. "Sitting on your sit bones sounds silly, but we need to make sure we do this," she says. Why? Because it helps ensure you maintain good posture — which again, can help prevent musculoskeletal pain. (Stretching can also help a lot.)

You'll also want to scoot all the way back in your chair so that your butt is reaching the backrest. It's okay if your entire back isn't flush against the chair, because your lower back (aka lumbar spine) naturally has a curve to it and it doesn't necessarily need to be pushed up against the back of your chair for proper alignment, explains Khastoo.

That being said, having a low-back or lumbar pillow to fill in that area can also boost lumbar support — which is important for preventing lower back pain. If you're using an office-style chair, the chair's design should help take care of this for you, thanks to built-in lumbar support that's made to curve with your back, says Khastoo. But if you're using a run-of-the-mill kitchen chair or any chair with a flat backrest, you can roll up a towel or invest in a lumbar roll such as Fellowes I-Spire Series Lumbar Pillow (Buy It, $33, staples.com) to use in the small of your back, suggests Geisel.

The Best Computer Placement

"When setting up your monitor [or laptop], you want it to be at an arms-length distance away and elevated so your eyes are in line with the top of the screen," says Geisel. (Keep in mind that "arm distance" here is more like forearm distance, i.e. your arm distance with your arms bent at 90 degrees.) Your eyes should be in line with the top of your screen to help prevent neck pain from looking up or down at it.

Got a monitor that's too low? You can place it on top of a book or two to help raise it up for optimal eye position, says Geisel. And, if you're using a laptop, you may consider getting a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard such as Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard (Buy It, $30, target.com) so you can elevate your monitor without having to type with your hands/arms in the air, she recommends.

Check Your Shoulders, Neck, and Head

Before signing on for the day, check your posture by sitting tall and running through your upper body's positioning: make sure your shoulders are over your hips, your neck is back and straight (but not curved inward), and your head is straight over the top of your neck, says Geisel. "Shoulders should also be relaxed and back — this should happen organically if your elbows stay at 90 degrees and your monitor is correctly placed," she adds.

You may find it helpful to roll your shoulders back throughout the day to help keep yourself from hunching over, recommends Khastoo. Some slouching is inevitable, which is why you should try checking your posture every 20 minutes or so and straightening yourself out as needed, suggests Geisel. Now that you're not surrounded by coworkers (except maybe your roomie or partner), don't be afraid to set an alarm for every 20 minutes to remember to check yo-self.

Don't Forget to Add In Movement Throughout the Day

How you sit when you're working is important, but making sure you're not stuck in that position for too long is also crucial. "We're not designed to be sitting for a long time," says Khastoo. "You need to get up to get your blood flowing, and make sure that your muscles have a chance to move," he notes. Sitting for a long time can also compress your lumbar spine, so getting up at regular intervals can offer some much-needed relief, explains Khastoo.

"It's hard for a lot of people to work from home right now, but making sure that you move and aren't just sitting statically for three to four hours at a time is one of the best ways to prevent injuries and maintain your body," notes Khastoo. (Maybe also try an under-desk bike?) Remember: Those injuries can mean everything from developing carpal tunnel syndrome to chronic back or neck pain.

At the very least, you're bound to have to go to the bathroom (hey, nature calls!) or fill up your water glass (hydration is key). So make the most of these movement breaks by shaking out your muscles to get the blood flowing or even doing a lap around the living room to score some extra steps, encourages Geisel. "Take a break from work and work on opening up your body — particularly your chest and hips — and they will thank you," she adds.

Keeping Correct Posture at Your Standing Desk

ICYMI, sitting for long periods of time is not that great for you, which is why there are ready-to-buy standing desks that you can invest in for your home office setup. But if you don't want to shell out $$$ for a new contraption, you can DIY your own by stacking thick coffee-table books or cookbooks on your kitchen counter, then placing your monitor and keyboard or laptop on top. Before you get back to business, make sure your feet are hip-width distance apart and your hips are stacked directly above them, followed by your shoulders, neck, and head. You also want to try to distribute your weight evenly between your feet.

"I highly recommend wearing supportive shoes and possibly standing on a softer surface than a hardwood floor," notes Geisel. Otherwise, it can put unnecessary strain on the muscles in your feet and even mess with your posture. Oh, and the same stuff applies here when it comes to the positioning of your elbows and monitor, she adds.

If you start to develop some pain, it's important to listen to your body. "Pain is always your body's way of saying something is awry," says Geisel. "Sometimes what is in pain is the victim of another joint being off. So when a particular joint or muscle is bothering you, be sure to check out the joints and muscles above and below it," she advises. If you feel like you're getting a twinge in your lumbar spine, for example, check the angle of your knees and the positioning of your feet to make sure they're in alignment.

Still struggling? Check in with an orthopedist, physical therapist, or occupational therapist — all of whom should be able to help and can offer up personalized advice, spot-check you (even if it's virtually), and work on bothersome areas to try to help set you — and your posture — straight.