A useful article, thanks. I particularly appreciate the context of spending money on ergonomics as we’ll use it for 80000 hours, or so! Very interesting way to rationalize spending money on ergonomics.
I find using a Fitball as a chair facilitates the fidgeting mentioned and it’s quite real that using an appropriately sized fitball will provide many of the ergonomic standards, like horizontal thighs and forearms. A fitball doesn’t facilitate a straight back, instead it encourages one to strengthen one’s core muscles and hence decreases lower back pain induced by overworked back muscles and under-strength core muscles.
I tend to cycle my use of a fitball for a week or two, then put it away for a few months.
+1 for latex mattress, my wife and I bought one recently and we can confidently say that our sleeping is better, and have distinctly noticed that when I get into bed late at night and she’s already in bed, that my movement doesn’t wake her—that’s a huge +1 for us late nighters! Another bonus for latex mattress is apparently they are resistant to dust mites and other forms of bed bugs.
With regards to pillows—has anyone considered the optimum height for a pillow per person? Seems to me that if one sleeps on one’s back a pillow is unnecessary and may be detrimental in that it could contribute to forward head. Whilst if one sleeps on one’s side then the appropriate pillow height is the thickness of one’s shoulder, to facilitate the spinal column being in the same horizontal plane. If you’re a sore neck (or headache) person spend some time thinking about the pillow!
Also barefoot walking is known to strengthen the small muscles in ones feet and ankles, this has useful benefits for posture and injury prevention. For those of us who work at home, going barefoot is quite easy, others who must be more physically social will also get peeved off answering the 20 questions a day “why are you barefoot?”
A useful article, thanks. I particularly appreciate the context of spending money on ergonomics as we’ll use it for 80000 hours, or so! Very interesting way to rationalize spending money on ergonomics.
I find using a Fitball as a chair facilitates the fidgeting mentioned and it’s quite real that using an appropriately sized fitball will provide many of the ergonomic standards, like horizontal thighs and forearms. A fitball doesn’t facilitate a straight back, instead it encourages one to strengthen one’s core muscles and hence decreases lower back pain induced by overworked back muscles and under-strength core muscles. I tend to cycle my use of a fitball for a week or two, then put it away for a few months.
+1 for latex mattress, my wife and I bought one recently and we can confidently say that our sleeping is better, and have distinctly noticed that when I get into bed late at night and she’s already in bed, that my movement doesn’t wake her—that’s a huge +1 for us late nighters! Another bonus for latex mattress is apparently they are resistant to dust mites and other forms of bed bugs.
With regards to pillows—has anyone considered the optimum height for a pillow per person? Seems to me that if one sleeps on one’s back a pillow is unnecessary and may be detrimental in that it could contribute to forward head. Whilst if one sleeps on one’s side then the appropriate pillow height is the thickness of one’s shoulder, to facilitate the spinal column being in the same horizontal plane. If you’re a sore neck (or headache) person spend some time thinking about the pillow!
Also barefoot walking is known to strengthen the small muscles in ones feet and ankles, this has useful benefits for posture and injury prevention. For those of us who work at home, going barefoot is quite easy, others who must be more physically social will also get peeved off answering the 20 questions a day “why are you barefoot?”
Happy festive season friends.