Laptops have become an important part of our daily lives, with over 76% of the population using one for work or leisure in 2021. Indeed, as of 2023, 84% of people aged between 35 and 54 years owned a laptop, followed by those aged 18 to 24 years at 77%, with that number expected to grow.
Despite their many benefits, prolonged use of laptops can actually lead to health issues if they aren’t positioned right, including eye strain, poor posture, and neck pain (otherwise known as tech neck). This means that a significant proportion of the population are at risk of aches, pains and even long-term injuries just from using one.
One simple yet effective solution for these issues is a laptop stand: a structure designed to elevate your laptop into a more ergonomic and comfortable working position. And that’s not all. Laptop stands come with several other benefits, including better cooling and ventilation for increased laptop lifespan, and more workstation storage space. Keep reading to find out our top reasons why a laptop stand is a worthwhile investment and should be one of your office essentials.
1. Improved Posture
Using a laptop stand helps to elevate your laptop screen to eye level, reducing the need to hunch over your laptop and improving your posture as a result. The best part is that adjustable laptop stands come with several height and angle options, so you can find the right alignment for your specific needs and work space.
Even with your laptop stand in place, you need to make sure you’re using it at the right height. As a general rule of thumb:
- Your eyes should be level with the top of your laptop screen, but around 45 - 70cm from it.
- The screen should be face-on and central.
- Forearms should be level with your desk surface.
- Arms should be relaxed, and not gripping hard at a mouse.
- Back should be straight, and making contact with the back of your office chair.
- Feet should be flat and supported on the floor.
2. Reduced Pain
Laptop stands can prevent both short and long-term strain and pain associated with laptop use.
By encouraging a more upright and ergonomic sitting position, a laptop stand helps to maintain the natural curve of the spine, reducing strain on your back and neck.
A laptop stand can also reduce strain on your wrists by encouraging a more natural position for your hands, reducing the risk of repetitive strain injuries. Ergonomically designed laptop stands sometimes come with features like wrist rests and angled platforms that further enhance comfort. An external ergonomic keyboard and mouse will also support with this, as you won't need to "reach" to type on your laptop when it's on the stand, helping you to maintain proper posture.
Finally, a laptop stand can reduce the risk of eye pain and headaches by encouraging you to keep your laptop at the correct distance from your eyes (between 50 and 75cm).
3. Increased Productivity Levels
When your laptop screen is at the correct height and your posture is improved, you can focus better on your tasks. This is because, when you reduce discomfort and fatigue, you reduce distraction, allowing you to work for longer periods without physical strain.
In addition to this, many laptop stands come with built-in features such as cable management systems and storage compartments, helping to declutter your desk and keep essential items within reach. This ultimately minimises the time spent searching for what you need to do your job, boosting productivity levels.
4. Better Cooling and Ventilation
Laptops often overheat due to poor ventilation, in particular when placed on soft surfaces like beds or sofas. Most laptop stands promote better airflow around your device by lifting it off the surface, preventing overheating. As well as improving laptop performance, this also extends the lifespan of your laptop by reducing thermal stress.
5. Protection from Spills
Ever spilled a whole cup of coffee on your desk? Yep, us too. By placing your laptop on a stand, you keep it elevated from the surface of your desk, protecting it from any accidental spills.
This separation provides a safeguard against potential data loss and hardware damage from spilling liquid on your laptop, which can otherwise be costly and time-consuming to repair.
The raised position also keeps the laptop away from other hazards, such as food crumbs and dust, helping to keep your laptop clean.
6. More Space
A laptop stand can help organise your workspace by creating additional space underneath your laptop, which can be used to store your keyboard, mouse, or accessories when not in use. Some laptop stands even come with built-in storage, meaning you have a designated spot to place your documents, tablet or mobile phone while you work.
7. Better Video Calls
With 83% of organisations having hybrid working in place, most of us have or will attend virtual meetings on a regular basis. A laptop stand can improve your video call experience by helping you better position your webcam at eye level, providing a more natural and professional appearance during video calls.
Indeed, positioning your laptop with a laptop stand reduces the need to hunch over or adjust the laptop during calls, providing a stable and consistent frame, and helping you remain focused.
8. Portable
Most laptop stands are designed to be lightweight and portable, making them easy to transport. Thus, whether you're working from home, the office, the train or somewhere else, you can set up your laptop stand and enjoy its benefits anywhere. No compromise has to be made!
Conclusion
In conclusion, laptop stands contribute to a healthier, more productive, and safer working environment through improving posture and mitigating physical pain, protecting laptops from spills, debris and overheating, maximising your desk space, and improve the quality of your video calls. Better yet, their lightweight and portable nature means you can take them wherever you work - just make sure you're actively checking and improving your posture when required.
Looking for a laptop stand for your home, office or workspace? Check out our full collection of ergonomic accessories, available for next day delivery if ordered by 3pm. Need additional help choosing a stand? Get in contact with our expert team with any queries.
Otherwise, our blog provides more useful tips on ergonomic office accessories for a more balanced lifestyle. Feel free to contact us with any questions, with the handy live chat feature on our site, or via email at info@ergodesks.co.uk.
