If you work in the tech industry, you’re susceptible to injuries as much as any construction or factory worker. You probably won’t get impaled by a rogue robot, but you develop a long-term disability caused by repetitive motion, prolonged bad posture, or staring at a screen too long.
If you’re a techie who enjoys your work, you’d be smart to think about using the following tools to avoid irritating and inconvenient injuries.
1. Ergonomic equipment for your daily activities
Ergonomic keyboards, mice, monitors, and chairs have been all the rage for decades. And there’s a reason for that: They work.
Ergonomic equipment is designed specifically to prevent musculoskeletal disorders that damage the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, and tendons. Working as a tech professional can put you at risk for physical complaints such as carpal tunnel, tendinitis, epicondylitis, and trigger finger.
Without an ergonomic chair, your body is going to grow accustomed to sitting in a way that isn’t healthy for your spine. Without an ergonomic keyboard and mouse array, you risk developing carpal tunnel and joint problems.
Over time, these kinds of injuries can become sufficiently debilitating that they demand you having to go on long-term disability. What makes them particularly challenging to avoid is that these injuries tend to be invisible, and that means your insurance claim could be unfairly denied.
Having an insurer deny what seems to you a legitimate claim can be confusing. However, this situation is familiar territory to a law firm that specializes in pursuing wrongfully denied benefits.
If an insurance company denies your claim, you should hire a lawyer to help you obtain suitable compensation through the legal system. Long term disability lawyers, such as those at Darras Law, win disability cases every day; they’ve recovered nearly $1 billion to date. A denied claim is not the end of the battle.
You should be reassured to know you can fight a denied claim, but prevention is a more practical solution, especially if you enjoy your job. If you practice preventive measures, you’re less likely to waste time having to fight a battle in court.
2. A pneumatic standing desk
A standing desk is a great investment in your health. Sitting down for long hours throughout the day isn’t good for our bodies.
A traditional standing desk is better than nothing, but a pneumatic standing desk is ideal. The difference? You can change the height of a pneumatic desk with the push of a button.
If you want to change the height of a standard desk, you have to remove everything from it first, then hassle with adjustments. A pneumatic desk can also stop at any height.
A standard desk can only be adjusted according to pre-determined notches. A pneumatic desk will empower you to switch from standing to sitting any time you choose.
3. Glasses or an application that block blue light
Studies have shown that blue light is disruptive to sleep, mood, and attentiveness. When you stare at a computer screen all day long, you’re taking in that disruptive blue light.
It’s critical to limit your exposure to this, especially at night, since any light will disrupt your circadian rhythm.
You have several options to limit your exposure to blue light. You may dim your screen so the light isn’t as bright, but that isn’t preferable for activities such as graphic design.
Another way is to install the program called f.lux. With this program, you can dim the blue light or turn it off completely without compromising overall screen brightness.
If you’re a graphic designer, you can exclude Photoshop from the program. When you switch to Photoshop, all the blue light will return, and you will see fully vibrant colors.
4. A standing mat
When you get a standing desk, you also need a mat for your feet. If you’ve tried to stand at a desk without a mat for any length of time, you know it doesn’t take long to develop sore feet.
A proper standing mat alleviates the pressure on your knees and ankles and cushions your soles. Some mats are more comfortable to use while you’re wearing socks, while others go better with tennis shoes.
Most standing mats will give you adequate support, but the Wurfboard is exceptional. Most standing mats are made of hard rubber, but the Wurfboard is a thick, inflatable standing mat that has a curved bottom.
This mat relieves the pressure of standing, but it can be inflated to customize the pressure. The curve enables users to shift their weight easily, and alter the position of the feet.
Don’t be lazy, set up your office correctly
The tech arena is known for being casual, even in head corporate offices. Casual is great, but don’t sacrifice healthy habits and proper equipment for convenience. If you enjoy your work, arrange a proper workspace so you can continue to work for years and even decades to come.
