by Serafine Lilien | Dec 23, 2024 | Ergo Tips, Ergonomics
The end of the year is a time for reflection, celebration, and often a bit of extra busywork. Whether you’re working, organizing, or tackling seasonal tasks like gift wrapping, it’s important to keep comfort and care at the forefront.
Ergonomics Tip of the Month:
Set up a cozy, ergonomic space for seasonal tasks!
If you’re sitting for long periods—whether at a desk or on the floor—be mindful of your posture:
- Use a chair that supports your lower back.
- Keep your feet flat on the floor and maintain a 90-degree angle at your knees and elbows.
- If you’re wrapping gifts on the floor, place a cushion under your knees or sit on a sturdy surface to prevent strain.
Small adjustments like these can help you stay energized and ready to fully enjoy the season’s activities.
As we close out this year, let’s take a moment to reflect on all we’ve experienced and achieved. Through the highs and lows, the challenges and triumphs, there’s so much to be grateful for. Each moment, big or small, has shaped us into who we are today.
In the midst of it all, let’s also give thanks for the little things that support our well-being—like good posture, a comfortable chair, and ergonomically designed spaces that help us thrive.
Here’s to a Comfortable and Successful New Year!
I am grateful to you all and look forward to sharing more tips and ideas in 2024. Stay safe, stay comfortable, and enjoy this season of connection and care.
by Serafine Lilien | Oct 29, 2024 | Benefit of Ergonomics, Ergo Tips, Ergonomics
👉 Leaning too far forward while you’re focused on your work? That could be putting unnecessary strain on your lower back.
👉 Sitting too far back in your chair? That may be why your neck feels tight by the end of the day.
It’s easy to fall into habits that don’t serve our bodies, especially when we’re deep in our work. But here’s the key: a balanced sitting posture can make a world of difference in how you feel throughout the day. When you sit properly, you’re not just improving your comfort – you’re boosting your productivity and well-being too.
💡 Quick tip: Adjust your posture so your feet are flat on the ground, your lower back is supported, and your head is aligned with your spine. Notice the difference?
If you’re feeling fatigued or sore at the end of the workday, it might be time to check in on your ergonomics. Let’s talk about how to make your workspace work better for you.
Feel free to reach out for a personalized assessment – your body will thank you later! 🙌
by Serafine Lilien | Feb 9, 2023 | Ergo Tips, Ergonomics
There are basic ergonomic fundamentals that every person can implement to help reduce fatigue, aches and pain.
Watch my Nov. 22 presentation for the ASSP meeting and
Learning How to do Computer Workstation Evaluations In Person and Virtual
Aches and pains during lockdown actually increased:
- More than 1/3 reported more aches, pain and discomforts in the neck (37%) and back (35%) than usual.
- An increased level of fatigue was seen at 42%
from: Wellbeing under lockdown, Occupational Health at work
- With two in five workers reporting new pain or increased pain in their shoulders, back or wrists, it’s time to make home workstations more ergonomically sound.
https://news.chubb.com/Chubb-Survey-of-Americans-Working-from-Home Ergo Pandemic Study: Chubb
Watch the presentation and learn how to keep your employees safe!
Want more assistance? Reach out to me and I can come in or virtually assess your employees work area!
by Serafine Lilien | Jun 22, 2022 | Ergo Tips, Ergonomics
How many hours a day are you using your computer these days? Typically when I ask those I evaluate I hear 6-10 hours a day! That is a lot of computer use. A lot of upper body usage.
Therefore it is important to keep in mind how to use your mouse using neutral posture principles to keep your upper body, including your hands and wrists happy and healthy.
I would say that about 90% of the people I have evaluated use their mouse incorrectly. Therefore there is a lot of opportunity for improvement, especially since this is something most people do almost every day in our current society.
Click here – Let me teach you how to mouse
Typical incorrect postures I see:
- Reaching with the elbow to get to the mouse
- Planting the wrist on the table surface
- Pivoting the wrist to the pinky then the thumb
- Holding the middle finger up in the air so as not to accidentally hit the middle button on the mouse
- Gripping the mouse with the pinky and the thumb
- Using palm supports
- And more!
Here are a few tips to use your mouse using neutral posture principles:
- Avoid reaching for the mouse (move it closer to you!)
- Avoid twisting at the wrist when mousing
- Palm mouse
- Keep fingers relaxed
- Initiate movement from shoulder
- Pivot from the elbow to get to the mouse.
Need more help? Reach out to me to set up a time for us to do a one-on-one ergonomic evaluation for you or your staff – live or virtual. Ergonomic classes also available both live and virtual.
by Serafine Lilien | Feb 3, 2020 | Ergo Tips, Ergonomics
A study of 7,300 workers finds those who primarily stood were twice as likely as those who primarily sat to suffer from heart disease during a 12-year period.
Sandy Smith | Aug 18, 2017
“A combination of sitting, standing and moving on the job is likely to have the greatest benefits for heart health,” says Smith. “Workplaces need to apply this message not just to workers who predominantly sit, but also – in fact, especially – to workers who predominantly stand.”
“Prevention programs that focus solely on physical job activity, while ignoring other conditions such as the psychosocial work environment, are unlikely to lead to meaningful changes in cardiovascular risk,”
Smith says.
Here is a link to the study: https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/187/1/27/4081581
The Relationship Between Occupational Standing and Sitting and Incident Heart Disease Over a 12-Year Period in Ontario, Canada. Peter Smith, Huiting Ma, Richard H Glazier, Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet, Cameron Mustard. American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 187, Issue 1, January 2018, Pages 27–33,https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwx298. Published: 11 August 2017
Here is the link to EHS article referring to the study: https://www.ehstoday.com/health/prolonged-standing-job-greater-risk-heart-disease
by Serafine Lilien | Jan 27, 2020 | Ergo Tips
Keep all screens clean and avoid working while
there is glare on the screen
Here is a quick check.
Turn off your computer.Do you see any reflections left on the screen?Did you see the window behind you or the bright ceiling light?
If so, your computer is causing glare.Turn the screen away from those reflections.
Remember to take eye-rest breaks even when set up optimally.
Use the 20-20-20 Rule.
Every 20 minutes,
look at something 20 feet away
for 20 seconds.
There is a little video that shows you how to do it and the picture above shows you the points you will need to press with your fingers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=qD2OaU8FdFE
For More Ergonomic Solutions feel free to contact me!!
