Ergonomics Expert Explains How to Set Up Your Desk | WSJ Pro Tip, by The Wall Street Journal on YouTube. 3 min 23 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 23 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Sit in your chair and adjust the seat height so your feet rest flat on the floor and your knees bend at about 90 degrees.
Set the armrests so your shoulders stay relaxed and your elbows rest at roughly 90 degrees.
Adjust the backrest so it supports your lower back, then sit back against it rather than perching forward.
Raise or tilt your monitor so the top of the screen sits at or just below eye level.
Push the screen back to about an arm's length from your face and tilt it slightly upward.
Place your keyboard close to the desk edge so your elbows stay near your sides and your wrists stay flat.
Put your mouse right next to the keyboard and keep your wrist straight, not bent up or sideways.
Hold your phone up near eye level instead of looking down at it on the desk.
Stand up and stretch every 30 to 60 minutes, and look away from the screen now and then.
Tips and common mistakes
If your feet do not reach the floor after setting the seat height, use a footrest or a stack of books.
A laptop screen sits too low on its own, so raise it on a stand or books and use a separate keyboard.
Keep the things you use most, like your mouse and phone, within easy reach so you do not twist or lean.
Small changes only help if you keep them, so recheck your setup whenever you feel strain.
Questions
How high should my monitor be?
The top of the screen should be at or just below eye level, about an arm's length away. If you use a laptop, raise it and add a separate keyboard.
Do I need an expensive ergonomic chair?
No. Any chair you can adjust for height and lower back support works. A cushion or rolled towel can add back support if the chair lacks it.
How often should I get up from my desk?
Aim to stand and stretch every 30 to 60 minutes. Short, regular breaks ease strain better than one long break.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
