We’ve all been there. We want to get better grades, but just wish there was a way to get there and still have a social life. Well, lucky for you there actually is a solution: ergonomics for students.

Student life can be full of fun, joy, and energy! But not as much when you have assignments, projects, or exams coming up, right?

Ergonomics for Students: The Key to Better Grades

Before we get into the how, let’s start with why this is important. First, your body will thank you. Spending hours day-in, day-out hunched over your laptop is terrible for you. This can cause long-term musculoskeletal injuries. Just because you feel fine now, doesn’t mean you will in a year or two.

Secondly, if you practice good posture – thereby putting less strain on your body – you will get more done. Yes, productivity is central to ergonomics for students.

The more time you spend studying and doing school work, the higher the risk. So, here’s our ergonomics for students checklist to keep you healthy and productive:

Pay attention to how you sit at your desk. Make sure your feet are supported comfortably on the floor or a footrest (or a stack of textbooks!). Your feet are properly supported if your hips and knees are at approximately 90-degree angles, and you can move yourself and the chair forward and backward without using your hands for assistance. Our workstation setup checklist will have you sitting in comfort in no time!

Watch how you are sitting at your computer. Whenever possible, set the keyboard and mouse to your seated elbow height, and the top of the screen to your seated eye height. It’s trickier with a laptop, I know. Still, tilting your head forward will put you at risk for text neck. If you can, elevate your laptop on some books and use an external keyboard.

Get up often! Posture breaks, however short, are crucial. Change your posture every 20-60 minutes, alternating between sitting, standing, stretching, or taking short walks. Incorporate more walking throughout your day by parking your car a bit further away, getting off the train or bus one stop early, taking the stairs, and getting up every time you talk on the phone. Our new break reminder will give you a heads up when it’s time to give you eyes or body a rest. I know it’s hard to allow yourself to take breaks when deadlines are coming up, but you will get more done and do a better job if you do.

Stretch up! Stretches are highly effective when you stay in the same posture for a long period of time. You can do them while seated or standing.

Drink lots of water! But you already knew this, right?

Breathe! A great way to de-stress is to take a deep breath, count to three, and exhale slowly.

There you have it, our ergonomics for students guidelines. Now, it doesn’t mean better grades are a guarantee, but it will make it easier! Good luck!

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