Ergonomics for the Digital Nomad: How to Work Comfortably from Anywhere

By Maggie Rutkowski, OTD/S, CEAS II

With the increase of working remotely, workers, students, and individuals have the unique opportunity to complete their work through their computers, on the go, in any location they choose. A digital nomad can be someone who works fully on the go, or someone who has a home base but chooses to travel and work for extended periods of time. Regardless, traveling and working is becoming more popular. But why is ergonomics important for the digital nomad?

Digital nomads trade in traditional offices for coffee shops, the beach, hotels, and travel stay style homes, which may not always have worksurfaces that support neutral working postures and could lead to increased discomfort, stress, and strain the body.

A digital nomad may not have a say in where they sit or what surface they work at, but there are some aspects of ergonomic design they can implement to reduce discomfort, stress, or strain.

First, it is important to review that ergonomics is the science of designing and arranging the workspace so that people are interacting with it safely and efficiently. When it comes to computer work users, neutral postures and avoiding awkward positions are essential to reducing work related discomfort. For a digital nomad, what they can adjust might be minimal, but this blog will go through tips and equipment that will be beneficial in achieving an ergonomic set up on-the-go.

Positioning:

1.      Support your feet: Wherever you are, it is important to sit with your feet supported to encourage blood flow and increase circulation to the lower body.

2.     Support your lumbar spine: Try to use a chair with back support and sit fully back in the chair. Sitting with our backs in the chair encourages a neutral posture and decreases awkward postures. If needed use a towel or a cushion to provide additional support to your back.

3.     Work at elbow level: if possible, try to utilize a worksurface in which your elbows align with the height of the worksurface. This will support neutral postures when completing keying and mousing tasks.

Aside from positioning, the digital nomad can invest in some equipment that is on-the-go friendly and will provide the user with the ability to maintain neutral postures when completing work tasks. When working off of a laptop users are often having to choose either neck discomfort or wrist and elbow discomfort. Digital nomads who work off of a laptop benefit from equipment that will allow them to set up their workstation to reduce strain on their neck, upper body, and lower body.

Equipment:

1.      Laptop riser: A height adjustable laptop riser will allow the user to place their screen at a level in which their eyes fall within the top 1/3 of the screen to reduce neck bending and twisting throughout the day, as well as at a distance of an arm’s length away to reduce eye strain.

2.     External keyboard & mouse: An external keyboard and mouse will allow for the user to reduce awkward postures and maintain neutral wrists.

There is no shortage of suitable laptop risers, keyboards and mouses for digital nomads to choose from, but what are the best options? While every user is different, here are some recommendations when looking at equipment:

1.      Height Adjustable – for the laptop riser, since there is no way to know what height will be appropriate since it depends on the worksurface height, the stature of the person, and where they are seated; a height adjustable feature will allow for flexibility when setting up your screen.

2.     Compact – As a digital nomad there is a lot of packing and things you may already need to take with you. So, it is important to have equipment that is compact and lightweight and will be easy to take on the go. When searching for an external keyboard and mouse using the phrase “compact” may help narrow the search.

3.     Wireless – Traveling with and setting up a workstation with wires everywhere can get messy. Look for Bluetooth or USB connectable external mouse and keyboards. If your computer only has one USB port, there are also compact data ports that will allow you to have multiple USBs connected to the computer with minimal wiring.

With the world at our fingertips, digital nomads have the opportunity to take their fingertips anywhere in the world. With ergonomics and the right tools, we can explore and work from anywhere without increased discomfort or strain on our bodies.

To learn more about how to work comfortably from anywhere, contact us at connect@risingworkplace.com or 828-214-5045.