Practical Ergonomic Ideas to Reduce Fatigue
The office can be a stressful place, with workloads and deadlines following us. It’s natural for fatigue to creep into our lives and make our jobs more stressful. Fatigue has the effect of decreasing workplace productivity, which is especially important when it comes to managers and business executives keeping their employees motivated.
However, there are ways in which you can help reduce the fatigue of your workforce and improve productivity and performance. Check out these 9 simple tips, and think about the changes you can make today that will increase alertness and boost ergonomic health at your workplace.
1. Stand Up
The biggest reason for fatigue is sitting for too long. It is recommended to avoid sedentary behaviour at work or minimise it wherever possible. Because most work is usually done on computers these days, it is impractical to perform when you’re on the move. However, there has been a recent trend of desks designed so that you can work on the computer while standing up. These desks should be placed in workplaces for people to work while they’re standing up, improving posture issues.
2. Hydrate
Working in an air-conditioned environment can be quite drying, and suck fluids from our bodies. This can produce lethargic feelings for the entire day, so it is important that everyone continuously keeps themselves hydrated at all times.
3. Exercise
Sitting at the same place for hours in one go can make us lazy and fatigued. There are many simple ideas for exercise in the workplace to re-energise our bodies. Research has shown that even a small amount of exercise for as little as 15 minutes can reduce fatigue by a great margin. ‘Desk-yoga’ exercises don’t take much effort, so anyone can perform them and they’re great ways of reducing stress.
4. Breaks
No one has the stamina to work continuously for hours. We all need short breaks to keep ourselves motivated and energised for the day’s work. Every employee should take small breaks twice an hour and spend this time doing something which takes their mind away from work. Body movement encourages the body’s circulatory system to activate.
5. Posture
Whilst an employee spends the majority of their lifetime sitting on office chairs, it is likely that they have not mastered the art of sitting properly. Improper posture results in fatigue and medical problems such as a backache. Employees should be given proper training regarding correct posture to prevent fatigue and medical issues in the long run.
6. Rewards
We work better on any project or task when we know that there is a reward at the end. Rewarding yourself after the completion of tasks is a great way of keeping yourself motivated throughout the day, and this has been known to reduce work-related stress. One idea is to use healthy snacks, which when used as rewards, don’t just lower your stress levels, they also promote healthy eating, which is great for overall health.
7. Thinking
The power of thinking has long been underappreciated, but thinking can have a great impact on our wellbeing. Being grateful for all the good things in life can have a great long-lasting impact on mental health. This is a great way of reducing stress in life. Write a couple of things you’re grateful for at the start of your office day.
8. Ergonomic Positioning
The monitor, keyboard and desk height needs to be considered to avoid any risk of strain on eyes, hands, back, neck, etc.
Here’s a downloadable visual guide on how to get better health in front of the computer.
9. Mats
Science has affected all walks of life, completely changing the way we live. There are anti-fatigue mats specifically designed to reduce stress and weariness for people who are on their feet for the entire day or have to stand for very long hours in a single day. The cushioning effect of these mats help in the reduction of stress.
These are some of the ways to decrease stress at workplaces, making the workforce friendlier and safer. A safe and happy team is a productive team, after all.
HSG offers workplace ergonomics assessments and training courses in Sydney, Melbourne and throughout Australia.
