Top Tips For Hybrid Working
Changing Working Styles
Our working habits changed in an instant on the 23rd of March 2020, as the UK entered its first Coronavirus lockdown. “Work from home” became everyday reality while millions turned spare bedrooms and kitchen tables into makeshift home offices. Now, more than two years on, we’re beginning to see the long-term impact of these changes on our working lives and it seems that the 9 to 5 office routine is about to be consigned to the history books.
In May, the Office of National Statistics released the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey for 2022. When asked about their return to office-working, more than 80% participants stated they planned some form of hybrid working. Only 8% wanted a permanent return to the pre-2020 model of solely office-based working, which was down from 11% when the same question was asked in April 2021.
The data clearly shows that the longer workers spend experiencing these new models of work, the less they want to return to the way things used to be. Employees keen to take advantage of the increased flexibility and improved work- life balance of hybrid working have been seeking out ways of making their home office setup as efficient, and comfortable, as possible.
What Makes a Good Home Office?
While you might be tempted to say better coffee and the lack of office politics, many people are finding the number one benefit of hybrid working is the ability to completely tailor their home office setup to suit their needs. We’ve long been aware of the potential health issues that arise from spending most of our day sitting behind a desk. From RSI and lower back pain to decreased mood and weight gain, a poor home office setup can affect our lives in a wide range of ways.
Now that we are responsible for maintaining our own workspaces, it’s more important than ever to understand the factors that go into creating the perfect setup. We’ll be focusing on three main areas where you can make changes to improve your home office.
High Quality Standing Desks
At Ergo Desks it’s no secret that we love height adjustable standing desks. We’ve long believed that adjustable desks are the future of workspaces and our sales reflect that you believe that too. That’s why we offer a wide range of high-quality standing desks at affordable prices, perfect for you to build your home office setup around.
Standing desks offer a range of health benefits including improved posture, reduced back pain and increased circulation. Another huge benefit is the fact that even standing still burns significantly more calories than sitting with some estimates claiming that standing for just 3 hours a day would burn an additional 135 calories. That adds up to a colossal 34,000 additional calories burned every year, the equivalent of almost 10 pounds of fat.
With over 1000 sold across the UK, The Liberty Standing Desk is one of our most popular products, and it’s not hard to see why. With a solid steel frame, memory control options and a smooth motorised transition from sitting to standing, Liberty adds an elegant standing solution to any home office. For those on a budget, The Altitude Standing Desk offers many of the same great features as The Liberty Standing Desk with a smaller and lighter frame and an entry level price point. If space is more your concern, The Atlas Mini Standing Desk packs an impressive 120kg load capacity into its small frame while the 100cm x 60cm desktop provides plenty of space for work.
If you’re having trouble finding the perfect standing desk for your home office, all our standing desks are available to compare at https://ergodesks.co.uk/pages/ergo-desks-product-comparison
Office Chairs
While we spend much of our time at Ergo Desks preaching the positives of standing while you work, we also appreciate the need for quality, ergonomic office chairs in any home office setup. A good office chair can help reduce back pain and encourage correct posture as well as increasing comfort levels while you work.
The Influence Stylish Ergonomic Mesh Chair comes in either white or black, with a choice of grey or black arms. The breathable mesh back and headrest provide comfort as well as style while the height adjustable gel arm pads protect your arms and elbows from the aches and pains that can be caused by cheaper, plastic models. However, the key feature is the height adjustable lumbar support that lets you set the exact position needed to maximise support to the important lower back region that often suffers in poor home office setups.
Influence boasts numerous other features that make it one of the best ergonomic office chairs we offer, but if a less traditional seating solution interests you then the Core Chair might be perfect. At just £222 this stool is an affordable option for those that frequently alternate sitting and standing that can easily tuck under your desk when not in use to leave your workspace tidy. The additional movement encouraged by the Core range has also been shown to improve concentration, productivity, and blood flow while the Core+ model brings additional level of benefit with its dual action pivot. The Core+ encourages users to activate key muscle groups to maintain posture while they work which leads to a stronger core over time.
Accessories
No home office setup would be complete without some finishing touches to compliment your new desk and office chair.
Our premium vegan leather desk mat is great for those that love a tidy workspace while also providing protection for your desktop. With a handy toolbar running along the top, ideal for storing pens and other small items, as well as a magnetic cable holder, the desk mat helps keep everything you need within reach without compromising on organisation. Perhaps the most useful feature is the document pouch concealed under the top layer, which is perfect for keeping important papers safe from any coffee spills.
From desk mats to floor mats, our Standing Desk Floor Mat can help relieve the issues associated with prolonged periods of time spent standing on hard flooring. By offering a softer base for standing desk users, the Standing Desk Floor Mat reduces back pain, improves blood circulation, and crucially lessens pressure on the spine. Available in medium and large sizes the mat also features a bevelled edge which allows office chairs to glide seamlessly over it.
One of the biggest issues we see in poor home office setups is incorrect monitor height which leads to muscle pain, particularly in the neck area. Our easy to assemble Monitor Arms solve this problem by allowing users to easily adjust the position of the screen by tilting, swivelling and height adjusting the arms to ensure that the display sits in the perfect position. Available in single or double, and porthole or clamp, our Monitor Arms are a great way of upgrading the ergonomic utility of your desk without breaking the bank.
All of our products are available to view on www.ergodesks.co.uk where further information can be found. If you would rather speak to one of our team you can call us on 020 8064 0064 or send an email with your questions to info@ergodesks.co.uk