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Other source of "cheap" office chairs are IT firms and call centers. They're constantly having to replace their furniture to meet legal ergonomic requirements. That $200 office chair can often be purchased slightly used for about $20.
Your Ergonomic Environment
The 3 key environmental factors in a suitable home working environment are noise, light and heat.
Noise Excessive noise is not only distracting but also debilitating. Prolonged exposure to excessive noise can and will affect your hearing.
What counts as excessive noise? Most experts agree that anything over 45 decibels or
equivalent of a really loud office fan is counterproductive to your work. You'll have trouble focusing or thinking clearly for more than a few moments.
Your home office needs to be a relatively peaceful environment. You'll do your best thinking, be at your most creative and work most effectively in a quieter office space.
Avoid using laundry rooms, TV rooms or other areas with excessively noisy equipment of any kind.
Light You need to be in control of light in or coming into your office. Light sources that are too bright will cause glare on computer screens and documents.
A home office that is too dimly lit will lead to eyestrain and headaches over time. If area is too dark you'll lean closer to computer screen and documents to read them thus causing discomfort.
Natural light is ideal because it provides diffuse (soft) light. An added bonus is that natural sunlight has a beneficial effect on our physiologies - our bodies produce more "feel good" chemicals when we absorb natural light.
Obviously don't put your working area in direct sunlight as it will be far too uncomfortable to work in. Simply arrange your office in such a way as to maximize benefit of natural light in your immediate surroundings.
If you're a nightowl then simply point your desklamp away from desk towards a wall behind you. Why? This provides same type of diffuse light that you'd experience during day. Adjust lamp until it provides enough light to read your screen or documents comfortably by.
Heat This is easy bit. Your home office should be neither too hot nor too cold. Is that stating obvious? Any extremes of temperature in your home office will lead to decreased work performance. Normal room temperature is 37 degrees celsius (98 degrees Farenheit) so you need to aim for something in that region.
If your home office is too cold you won't be able to focus. You'll spend more time being annoyed at being cold than getting any work done.
Too much heat and you'll find yourself becoming irritable, lethargic and distinctly uncomfortable.
Your body is no different to engine of a car or a piece of electronics. We all have optimal working temperatures. Otherwise we break down.
continued in Part Two
Home Office Advisor has lots of information for anybody who has, does or will run their own home office. The site contains detailed information on office chairs, desks, computers, ergonomics and other related topics.
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