Whether you’re new to working from home or have lots of experience, CTrides has some steps you can take to make teleworking more productive, enjoyable, and successful. Several guidelines help you discover the very best practices of working from home, including workplace location, set-up, ergonomics, and safety.
Workplace location means being dedicated during working hours in a space free from disruptions, such as a separate room, bedroom corner, or repurposed closet. You should have adequate lighting and good ventilation.
Your workplace location should have a desk or adequate workspace, a power source, and access to the internet. Your set-up should be organized with some room for office accessories.
Review and adjust the arrangement of your work area so that it meets ergonomic guidelines. Always check to ensure that your chair is adjusted to desk height, has good lower back support, and your feet are flat on the floor. Your monitor should be 18-24 inches away from your face, at eye level with the top or just below the top of the monitor, and free of glare. The keyboard should be positioned to keep wrists flat, shoulders relaxed, and elbows at 90 degrees. Place the mouse close to the keyboard allowing for occasional use of an arm or write rest.
Inspect your workspace for any safety issues. Check for electrical hazards, e.g., overloaded circuits or exposed wires. Avoid tripping hazards by securing cords and removing clutter. Health hazards to be cautious of include eye strain caused by improper lighting, glare, poor monitor positioning, and not taking breaks, just to name a few. Use good ergonomics and schedule regular rest breaks, e.g., a few minutes every hour to prevent muscle and back strain.
Now that your workspace is set up, some final guidelines will help with productivity. Have a morning ritual, get dressed but not dressed up, eat lunch away from your desk, stay away from the news and radio while working, take regular short breaks away from your desk, and have an end-of-the-day ritual. If you’re having trouble logging off, try scheduling a socially-distanced walk at the end of your day.
Ctrides has a consulting team available for additional guidance for Teleworking. To schedule a consultation, please contact Customer Service at 1-877-CTrides (1-877-287-4337).
