Health
RSI, or other work related injuries, are no joke. We once had a colleague (back in 2010) who had to call in sick for about 2 months because of it. Springest takes your health seriously, because it's a huge impact on productivity and thus reaching your full potential. Some quick pointers on staying healthy, focussed on ergonomics.
- Setup your chair and desk according to best practices , the Herman Miller Mirra manual , your screen not too close and not too far , and these tips from from ergonomics expert Xandra Mol
- Don't use the arm rest (I assume when it's not in the correct position)
- Use a foot rest if the table doesn't go low enough
- Stand max. 1 hour a day and if you stand than stand a bit with bent knies, don't hang on one leg;
- Keep your mouse close to you so you don't have to reach every time, and use a smaller keyboard if needed
- Move/stand up or get some coffee / tea (or better: water!) every hour at least.
- Use your standing desk , at least once a day for an hour or so, or maybe just half of the time ?
- Install a break-app that forces you to take breaks, or just do that at least once an hour and a microbreak (10 seconds) every 15 minutes. Just breathe deeply 3 times while staring out of the window. Your brain will thank you too.
- Use the massage chair, a few times a week, to stay supple. If you don't know how, ask. If you don't dare, dare anyway or ask someone to be an example so you feel like you dare.
- Learn keyboard shortcuts, very very seriously. Correct each other if you see someone using a mouse to switch apps, navigate within apps (like Help Scout, Asana or Gmail). Take the course . Always, always assume there is a shortcut, find it by looking in the help of the (web)app, and if it's not there, ask if one can be made in our hackday project KeySpring .
- Do not use a dual screen setup: (unless you are a developer and use it for multiple windows with code) you will constantly be distracted by your 2nd screen (for instance if you put Slack on it), your brain will keep processing what happens on it, you can only focus on 1 thing at a time anyway , it strains your neck if you look at it, switching is faster with
cmd-tabthan with eyes / neck. If you need something side by side, use Spectacle (cmd-alt-
or
) to put screens next to eachother on your main 24" monitor. - Use a wacom tablet instead of a mouse, never use the laptop trackpad, never work on your laptop more than an hour. Or switch your mouse to your other hand.
- If you feel your shoulders are tense, lower them, be conscious and mindful of your stress levels. Talk to someone ( there's a role for that too , of course)
- Always use a headset when calling, your arm / shoulder is strained when you hold the phone (or hold it between ear and shoulder!)
