Q: Can you suggest a method to help remind people to take frequent breaks? If they don’t change positions often, everything else we do will not help much. Remembering to take a break is hard because if you wait till you need a break it is already too late, so you have to remember to take a break before your body tells you that you need one. Do you have any tricks that you use? (Doc, Fairbanks AK)
A: I will certainly revisit this one again later, but let me make a few quick notes:
First off, ergonomics is not just good postures, or not just providing movement and change. I do not endorse the “the next posture is the best posture” approach. However, human bodies do need movement and change. Thus the goal is to alternate from one good posture to the next good posture.
There are timers and prompting programs available on line, some complete with central monitoring and statistical reports on key strokes and mouse movement. We have at times recommended these. For myself, I prefer a more organic and integrated solution. Thus, for cues to move:
• Check the work flow for any tasks that can routinely be done in a different posture. For example, whenever I am talking on the phone, and do not need my computer at the same time, I am standing and pacing the office, not seated in my chair. The phone is a cue to move. Another similar task is reading from a paper when not writing on it. If I have more than a few sentences to read I will pick up the paper and wander the office as I read. Likewise with merely thinking and composing my thoughts.
• Meetings or conversations are often best standing or even walking. I am reminded of the numerous scenes in the show “West Wing” as the camera follows the characters through the halls as they discuss, adding new meaning to taking a “power walk”.
• I have found with the saddle seat, my butt will get sore before my back, neck or shoulders do, so it will prompt me to move more often, and the result is less back, neck and shoulder strain. It is also easier to alternate sitting/standing when using a saddle since the height difference isn’t nearly as much, and one can still access the keyboard/monitor OK from standing if it is set for saddle (not great, but definitely doable for very short durations – I am standing now as I am editing!). This is not usually an option when in a standard chair.
• Avoid “batching” like activities too much. For example, don’t save all of the filing for one session at the end of the day. Break it into shorter chunks and use it as a pacing activity throughout the day.
• Having the printer in the next room, or at least where you need to stand and walk to access it, can be very good. That way every time you print, you need to stand briefly.