University of Kent Occupational Health and Wellbeing Manager, Brenda Brunsdon
10 weeks ago, we were sent away from Campus and told to do our best working from home (WFH). For some of us, for example, cleaners, maintenance and catering staff, that was impossible. But a very large proportion of the University staff opened up our laptops, sat at our dining tables or on our sofas and beds and got going. Some of us were lucky enough to have offices to work from, some even had proper desks and chairs.
The University issued advice and guidelines very early on and just after Easter OH posted an advice and assessment package through the Awaken online training system. OH gave workstation set up advice to those who flagged up that they wanted it. The University opened a time-window allowing staff to collect equipment from their offices. Kent Sport Physiotherapy became available for advice on musculoskeletal problems, home workstation related and more.
Time has gone on. You may be finding that the set-up that felt good 6-9 weeks ago is now starting to trigger symptoms for you. What can you do?
First, go over it all again. Can you improve the ergonomics at all? Is there another place in your living space that it might be worth considering changing to work from? The general advice for WFH is to identify a specific workspace within your home because this helps you to boundary work appropriately. If you don’t, there is a high chance that you end up responding to work in your leisure and social time. Bearing that in mind, is there another area that you can alternate working time with, somewhere that you can set up equally as well? Or maybe use somewhere as a standing workstation for part of the day?
Second, don’t underestimate the benefits of stretching and exercising. Look at the advice sheets below available from Posturite and the Health and Safety Executive. It would be worthwhile incorporating some into your working day. There are also links to articles on sitting posture and how to relieve neck pain. And remember to take regular breaks from sitting at your home workstation, especially if your set-up is challenging.
Finally, general exercise and movement will be invaluable for addressing musculoskeletal aches and pains. Kent Sport have lots of advice you can access. Exercise doesn’t have to complicated; a simple walk limbers up the joints and is a great way to get or stay fit.
If you’re waiting for the University to open up another time window to collect DSE equipment or furniture, re-visit the solutions you put in place for WFH and make a commitment to exercising and moving. Both will help if you’re not sitting comfortably.
Posturite Workstation Exercises
‘An orthopedic surgeon shares the best way to correct your sitting posture’; Zee Kristic, Red
‘How to combat tech neck while WFH’; Katie Strick, Evening Standard
‘Can Walking An Hour A Day Lead To Weight Loss?’; Darwin Malicdem, Medical Daily
Photo by Hussam Abd on Unsplash