Search Results for: blog stay healthy and sane at the office

Ergonomics: Dos and Don’ts

Are you experiencing pain sitting at your computer? Maybe it’s your back that aches after a day at the office. Maybe your elbows, wrists, and shoulders are throbbing. Maybe your hips hurt. A proper ergonomic set-up can alleviate a lot of that pain! Ergonomics is personal. What works for you may not work for someone else. Experiment until you find a pain-free set-up. Here are some hints to help you find the best possible position for computer, chair, and body. Don’t settle! Ask for a different desk or chair that may be more comfortable. Try swapping workstations with a coworker … Continue reading →

Do Office Printers Pose A Health Risk?

A recent study from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia says that office printers could be as dangerous to the lungs as cigarette smoking! The researchers tested dozens of laser printers and found that some of them emit what they consider to be dangerous levels of ultra-fine toner particles into the air. These ultra-fine particles can cause lasting damage to the lungs, according to researchers. They say the health effects can vary based on what the ultra-fine particles are composed of, and that resulting problems can range from respiratory irritation to severe cardiovascular problems and even cancer. The tests … Continue reading →

Your Genes and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A recent study from Harvard Medical School says that your genetics may play a bigger role in carpal tunnel than repetitive motion or too much keyboard time. So what is carpal tunnel syndrome? Your arm has a nerve called the median nerve that runs down the arm and into the hand, controlling some of the sensations to thumb and your first three fingers. At the wrist, the median nerve passes through a space called the carpal tunnel. If the nerve becomes compressed or squeezed in the carpal tunnel, you can experience tingling (like pins-and-needles when a limb falls asleep), pain, … Continue reading →

Unexpected Health Advice From My New Laptop

My computer went to that great big electronics store in the sky last week, so I ended up buying a new laptop. It’s sleek and shiny and actually the first new computer I’ve owned in a long time. (My last two were hand-me-downs, and served long and well.) Like most electronics, the new laptop came with a manual. Several manuals, in fact. The regular operations one, the quick start guide, a shopping-for-accessories booklet, and something called the “Instruction Manual for Safety and Comfort”. With a title like that, I couldn’t resist taking a peek. Much of it is devoted to … Continue reading →

To Work at Home or to Not Work at Home: That is the Question

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Okay, so I’m not nearly as funny as I think I am, but despite that horrible headline I just wrote, I do hope y’all get something out of this blog. I wanted to write today because I’ve been thinking lately about my choice back in March to come back home to go to work. It was basically going to be an “in between time” while I waited for school to start in May, so I could become an elementary school teacher. Last time I had worked from home, it was as a transcriptionist, and because I didn’t like transcribing, I … Continue reading →