My Best Desk Tips
The epic struggle of being comfortable while typing or gaming plays out every day with millions of people. If you are reading this article, I assume you've lost the battle thus far, but now you have a weapon. It's the knowledge not only from this article but also desk tips/solutions from the entire FTW Blog website.
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This article was one of the first posts I wrote for my blog. As I have progressed in my writing and layout design, I’ve noticed the old articles needed a facelift. So today I’ll be covering desk tips such as desk selection, monitor placement, reducing eye strain, and some cool accessories to get you through your day.
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Choosing a Desk
The desk portion of this post is going to be brief. The desk material shouldn't be a significant factor when choosing a desk. There are, however, some traits that can make or break your comfort.
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I recently wrote an article with Painless Movement on how to choose a desk. If you are at that point take a look here.
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As long as the desk allows your legs to fit comfortably underneath giving around 10-12 inches of clearance it works. This will allow for your legs and hips to also be at tolerable angles of 90 degrees or greater.
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Monitor Placement Tips
photo credit to Grand Valley State
Placement of the monitor first starts with the monitor centered in front of you. It seems obvious, but a majority of people like to keep the front of them clear for paperwork and their computer to the side.
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Some of you may be running a dual monitor set for streaming, gaming or work. I would recommend the primary video game monitor be centered and streaming monitor immediately to the side.
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Monitor Setup
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It's my opinion that splitting the difference with half of each monitor in the middle can cause the user to keep their head rotated for too long. Since the gaming monitor would be the primary monitor, the suboccipitals, SCM, and scalenes (muscle groups within the neck) would be in a constant turned position.
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This rotated head position can lead to tight cramping-like pain, headaches, and even numbness/tingling after extended hours of playing.
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The monitor should also be within arm's length of you. If the monitor is placed too close, it strains the eyes. If the monitor is too far away, it can also lead to eye strain due to squinting.
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Eye strain can be prevented by using the 20/20/20 method. Every 20 minutes stare at an object at least 20 ft away for 20 seconds. By doing so, you will help “reset” the eyes from the constant focusing on your computer screen.
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Ergonomics can be "hip" as the kids say
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With the monitor too far away we begin to see the head move forward causing anterior head carriage. This position puts a strain on all of the posterior muscles of the neck and loads the facets (small joints of the neck) improperly.
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The final component of monitor positioning is the correct height of the monitor. Ideally, we want eye level to be at the upper 1/3 of the monitor. This area is where most of the action occurs while we are typing or playing video games, which allows the head to be in a more neutral position. The monitor should also be slightly tilted back to decrease the likelihood of downward neck tilting.
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Reducing Eye Strain
I also wanted to address the topic of eye strain while staring at a screen all day and the ways in which you can combat it.
Reducing glare- make sure sunlight or the lighting in your office isn't causing glare on your screen. Increased glare correlates with an increase in eye strain, which in turn can cause headache-like symptoms.
Brightness- Screen brightness should match the surrounding light of your environment. For example, no pitch black room when you are gaming. I'm guilty of this sometimes when it's late at night and notice eye strain following gaming sessions.
Screen type- The ideal screen type/color scheme should be the typical white background with black lettering.
Take breaks- Taking breaks helps to reset the body physically and mentally. If you can, every 20-30 minutes is ideal or in between games (depending on the game obviously). Bruegger's exercises are great to do during this time or just walking around your desk is fine as well.
Vitamins- Taking a multivitamin that has 100% of your A, C, E, and B complex can help keep the eyes healthy.
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Glasses- Get a yearly eye exam! It's amazing what a pair of correctly prescribed glasses can do to reduce eye strain.
Also, I would recommend trying Gunnar Optiks eyewear extended computer usage. I’ve noticed streamers and pros have begun to use them more and more. Anything that helps combat blue light exposure is a winner in my book.
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Desk Accessories Tips
I wanted to also add some fun topics in this post since I assume not everyone gets excited about proper ergonomics like me! I’ve included a link for some desk plants that even the worst green thumb gamer would be hard pressed to kill.
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My baby #1
My baby #2
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I’ve found that plants help with air quality in the office, but also brighten up any office space.
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Lastly, desk accessories are always fun to have around. They can at times distract you, inspire you, or even keep you focused. I’ve linked a list of items that are playful but are practical.
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I also made a list of my top desk accessories a couple months ago so take a look here.
Conclusion
I’ve covered tips ranging from desk setup, monitor setup, reducing eye strain, and some fun desk accessories for you to consider. All of which will add up to you not only being more pain-free at your desk but may even put a glimmer in your eye and some pep in your step.
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Thanks for reading and Game On!