Beauty Queen

On Your Hot Seat

• Sit with your feet comfortably flat on the floor and elbows level with the keyboard.
• Keep your arms parallel to the floor.
• Recline chair slightly to reduce pressure on the lower back.
• Push your hips very close to the back of the chair.
• De-clutter the area below your desk so you have room to stretch your legs.

On the phone

• Avoid holding the receiver between the shoulder and the ear as it strains the neck.
• Use a headset if you use the phone frequently.
• Make sure the phone is within easy reach to avoid over-stretching.
• Use both thumbs to type messages on your mobile phone to minimize the strain on one thumb.

Using the keyboard

• Type lightly. Heavy pounding stresses the fingers and may result in elbow pain.
• Adjust the keyboard so it’s in the middle of your body.
• Type with straight wrists; adjust the height of the keyboard if your wrists are bent when typing.
• Use a desktop rather than a laptop for prolonged typing — it has a bigger and higher screen and more well-spaced keys.

Monitor safety

• Make sure your monitor is placed at least an arm’s length away.
• Keep the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level.
• Tilt the screen slightly so the base is closer to you than the top.
• Place the monitor perpendicular to the window if you are relying on natural light.
• Keep your head straight when working — tilting it causes neck strain.

Take a time out

• Follow the 20/20/20 rule — work for 20 minutes, take a break for 20 seconds and look 20 feet (6 meters) away.
• Mix sedentary and mobile tasks. Sitting still for long periods inhibits blood circulation.
• Stretch your neck, shoulders, wrists, arms and back occasionally.
• Make it a habit to blink every two to four seconds — this ensures your eyes are constantly lubricated, and prevents strain.