It has been quite a while since we wrote a blog post. We are not gone! We have been (and still are) extremely busy getting the Key Wellness App ready for all of you to use. It’s almost ready!!

In the meantime, I wanted to talk about some tips that are scientifically proven to improve your experience at work- whether you work from home, from an office or have to travel a lot. We also have our very first Giveaway!! One lucky winner will get this cool desktop accessory

It is a mouse pad with a large surface area which comes with a pen stand and a handy slot to hold business cards, note pages or your charger cord. Read to the end to find out how to enter the Giveaway. We are not sponsored by the manufacturer of the prize. We just think it’s a functional yet good-looking thing to have on your desk.

OK, so on to business.

Poor ergonomics can lead to a whole slew of issues-

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendinitis
• Trigger finger
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Epicondylitis
• Headaches
• Muscle strains and lower back injuries
• Eye strain

I am going to share with you a list of ways you can make your workspace more efficient and comfortable and consequently more productive.

1. Ensure correct postureWhether you are using a traditional table and chair workstation or working on your laptop during a flight, these four elements should be your focus- eyes at the level of the screen or other source; hands at the level of the input devices; feet to the floor; and the body as far back to the chair as you can.  Try to keep your back straight and your neck in line with your back. Relax your shoulders. Keep your most used supplies at arms reach.If you are standing while working, again, keep your shoulders back and level with each other. Keep your neck in line with your back. Try to use your abdominal muscles to support your back. Bend your knees slightly to take the pressure off your hips. Switch your weight from one foot to the other or place one foot forward intermittently. For both sitting and standing work situations, take a short walk every couple of hours.
2. Use appropriate equipment 
   • A desk or work surface:
     • Large enough to accommodate all necessary items
     • High enough to permit your knees and thighs to comfortably fit under the surface.
   • A computer monitor that is:
     • Clear and free of glare
     • Height adjustable
   • A chair that has:
     • Adjustable height
     • Support for your lower back.
     • A padded seat.
     • Five wheels for easy movement without tipping.
   • A computer keyboard
     • That has soft keys.
     • That allows your wrists to be in a neutral, almost straight position.
     • That you can tilt if needed.
   • A computer mouse that is sensitive enough to avoid excess stress on finger, hand and forearm muscles.
   • A document holder that holds your papers level with your computer monitor, so that you can look back and forth between them without having to shift your focus or your neck too much
   • Sufficient lighting without glare on your screen
   • A telephone headset or speaker phone to be used if you need to use the phone while doing other tasks
   If you use a laptop as your primary device and have to carry it around, use a carrying case with a padded strap and handle — preferably a backpack with two straps or use a cross-body strap. Use luggage with wheels when possible.
3. Make it your own
    Although open work areas are helpful for increasing team communication and cultivating more creative brainstorming, a study done by  Gregory A. Laurence and colleagues, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology shows that they can have a negative impact by creating higher stress levels by being low on privacy.

   To remedy the negative effects, researchers have found that personalising workspaces may help reduce stress levels in such environments. Go ahead, surround yourself with personal memorabilia, photographs, plants or other things you love!

So, now for the Giveaway. To enter the Giveaway, you must

• be at least 18 (or ask a grown-up to enter for you)
• show us some love- like the blog post and/or share it on social media
• write a comment below on what you do to be well at work

The Giveaway will be open until Midnight on Friday the 13th (1/13/17) EST and the winner will be declared on Midnight 1/14/17 EST. We will contact the winner by email, so make sure to leave that information.

Let’s stay well this year!