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There's no question that your environment significantly impacts morale and productivity. Feeling happy and motivated to work hard when you're in a windowless room or sitting on an uncomfortable chair would be hard.
There is research to back this up. According to a study by research firm Kelton Global:
Whether you want to improve your own productivity and morale or give your employees a boost, ensuring the following when setting up a workstation at your shared office space will help you achieve your goal.
Sitting in an uncomfortable chair for prolonged periods can cause bad posture, which can lead to aches and pains in the lower back and body. But what makes a chair uncomfortable?
- The Wrong Height: A chair that is too low or too high can result in neck and back pain for its user. Generally, a good chair should have a seat height that is 16 to 21 inches from the floor. The exact height depends on the user’s height, so a good shared office should have adjustable chairs.
To know whether your chair is at the right height, sit on it and check whether your feet touch the floor completely and your knees are at a 90-degree angle. Then also, check that your forearms are parallel to your desk, with your elbows forming a 90-degree angle when your wrists are on its surface.
- Inadequate or Zero Lumbar Support: Some office chairs come with lumbar support already built in. This helps maintain the natural curve of the user's back, helping ensure correct posture and preventing back pain.
If your coop workspace doesn't have chairs with lumbar support, consider getting a lumbar support back cushion. It provides the same support to the lower back, with the added benefit that it's portable.
Ask the staff at your coworking space if they have an extra monitor you could use. An additional monitor helps reduce distractions and allows you access to all the information you need without having to switch tabs or open new ones.
You might be wondering if a computer mouse and mousepad are even necessary now that all laptops have touchpads. The answer is yes.
A study commissioned by Logitech found that people are 50 percent more productive when they use a mouse instead of a trackpad. They're also 30 percent faster. What's more, an external computer mouse reduces muscle strain. Meanwhile, using a trackpad increases muscle activity in the neck, shoulder and forearm, potentially resulting in pain and discomfort.
Additionally, a mousepad with wrist support can help reduce strain on wrists for a more comfortable experience at your coop workspace.
Even if you have a laptop, an extra keyboard will come in handy. A shared office space should have several spare keyboards available for those who want to type more efficiently, as laptop keyboards usually have smaller keys than standard external keyboards. What's more, an external keyboard helps you avoid the neck strain that comes with poor ergonomics.
Laptops are designed so that the monitor and keyboard are fixed together. As such, it's hard to get into a position that allows you to see the monitor and use the keyboard ergonomically at the same time. An external keyboard is a solution to this problem.
You can elevate your laptop so that the screen is on a level with or 15 degrees lower than your sight line, as recommended by OSHA, and place your keyboard on a surface that allows you to bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle.
When you choose the right coop workspace, you won't have to worry about uncomfortable chairs or lack of computer peripherals taking a toll on your or your employees' morale and productivity.
At Cross Campus in South Bay, we take pride in offering a thoughtfully designed and furnished coworking space. We serve entrepreneurs, students, businesses and anyone who needs a place conducive to work and collaboration.
To learn more about our shared office and its amenities, feel free to get in touch with the Cross Campus team at (866) 276-2267.
