This week we are going to be discussing the importance of creating a comfortable work environment. A question I receive regularly from fellow therapists is, “how do you handle sitting in front of your computer for such long hours?”  As a teletherapist, I will honestly tell you that the first year was a bit rough.  Not from the standpoint of therapy, but the adjustment to sitting for a large portion of my day.  I did get headaches, I felt like I was developing carpal tunnel syndrome, and my body (shoulders primarily) ached…just keeping it real.  As much as I LOVED this service delivery model, I knew I would need to make some adjustments to stay in the game.

Fortunately for me, my husband is an occupational therapist and after the first few months of therapy he did a complete overhaul of my work environment.  A quick assessment of me doing my job made him realize how many things I was doing wrong and he not only made recommendations, but he searched and found everything I needed to completely transform my workstation.  I was blessed because the ergonomic changes that he made were very early on in my teletherapy journey and I have not had any of the symptoms I experienced when I first started.  My wrists no longer hurt, my eyes are no longer strained, and my body no longer aches.  DISCLOSURE: Please note that the product links below are affiliate links and this means I may receive a small commission if you click and decide to purchase. Be sure to shop around and find the products that best fit YOUR needs.

The first thing he suggested was a support for my wrists to eliminate any gaps between my hands/wrists, the keyboard, and my desk while typing.  Although, this sounds like a very simple adjustment I was very surprised at how quickly I started to notice a difference after I started using a wrist support.  The exact support that I use is below but feel free to shop around for the one that works best for you.  You will be very glad you did in the long run!

Next, in order to prevent body aches, investing in a GOOD office chair is a must.  You will want a chair that offers adequate support while also helping to ensure good posture.  I have a very bad habit of sitting with one of my legs up or sometimes crisscross applesauce.  I’m actually sitting in crisscross style now as I type this post.  It’s something I need to do much less of as I get older because my knees do not appreciate this position as much as they used to.  The exact chair that I have is below, it is very comfortable and can be adjusted as needed to coincide with the height of your desk.  Again, make this a priority and shop for a chair that’s right for you.

For the strain on my eyes, I never realized how much of a difference a pair of glasses that block out the blue light would make.  In the early stages of becoming a teletherapist, I started to notice that by the end of my day I could REALLY feel the strain on my eyes.  Staring at a computer screen for so many hours a day was also causing me to develop headaches and I generally do not get headaches.  After doing a little research, we found a very cheap pair just to see if it would make a difference.  The results were almost immediate, I still use the same cheap pair I initially purchased, and they are working out great.  No longer do I feel the strain and the headaches have also stopped.

A good quality headset is also extremely important.  Since you will be wearing your headset for most of your workday, comfort is imperative.  I have gone through several different brands of headsets to find the one that I like best.  I needed something very lightweight because I personally did not prefer the bulk of the larger headsets.  Again, this is going to be up to your personal preference, but my headset is below.  The sound quality is great, the earpieces are soft and comfortable, and they are extremely lightweight.

Another suggestion that made a HUGE difference was factoring in at least 15-20 minutes in my day to get up and walk outside.  It’s so easy to get completely caught up in your day, especially if you schedule sessions back to back.  I was very guilty of this and would feel so drained by the end of the day.  A little fresh air, vitamin D (i.e. sunlight), and movement was the BEST thing I could do to clear my head and it resulted in me being much more productive for the remainder of my day.  Even if getting outside just involves a walk around the block or to the mailbox, it’s better than not getting up and moving.  The saying that “movement is medicine” is so very true!

My husband did a great job of transforming things for me and it has made a WORLD of difference.  Ergonomics is extremely important and minor changes could save you from some major problems down the road. 

DISCLAIMER: Please note that the content of this and all previous/future blog posts are for informational purposes only.  Be sure to abide by and follow your company’s policies and procedures.  The information contained within are tips that have worked well for me in my therapy/teletherapy room.  Also note that this post does contain affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission if you click and purchase the products above. Be sure to shop around and find the products that work best for you.