Building a Healthy Workspace

Sometimes, people vastly underestimate how much a healthy workspace matters. I suffer from a variety of mental illnesses, with generalized anxiety disorder being the one that causes me the most trouble. I’m medicated. (If you don’t naturally produce the proper chemicals, storebought is fine!!!) Over the years, I’ve found that my workspace truly matters. What is going on on and around my desk is often a reflection of “how well I’m holding together.”

I can work happily in chaos, but more often than not, I need a clean space to work. (Note: there is a difference between cleaned and cluttered.) Not only am I the Shiny Sugar Goblin, I’m a chaos bean. I LIKE controlled chaos.

I don’t like dirt.

This isn’t 100% accurate, but this was my chaos station before I replaced my monitor. The monitor has a smaller base, so my treasures underneath it have been moved around somewhat. But… this gives an excellent idea of what I mean by “dirt and clutter aren’t the same thing.”

I am the shiny sugar goblin for a reason. That reason is trinkets, and many of them are made from gemstones. Polished and shiny gemstones.

I am joyfully unapologetic about this.

Create a Space that makes YOU happy!

A happy space is somewhere you go, and just being there sparks joy. Now, I’m not the tidiest person in the world. I’m just not. But there is something to the whole “sparking joy” thing. I recently did a purge, and I learned to tell the difference between “just stuff” and “stuff that brings joy.” Once I removed the “just stuff” from my space, life actually improved.

I surrounded myself with treasures and happy memories.

Create an Ergonomic Space

My previous monitor was a stupidly expensive LG 5k display. I have ridiculously sensitive eyes, and if I use a 4k display, I get a migraine by the end of the day from eye strain. If i use a 5k display, I do not get the eye strain hell.

As such, I only buy 5k displays.

5k displays are hellishly expensive, and I keep a special savings account dreading the day I have to replace it. My previous one burned out in such a way it was causing headaches. 😐

But having the right quality of display isn’t enough. It needs to be set up properly. Good posture and head position matter when your job is to sit on your butt and put your hands to the keyboard for 8+ hours a day.

Here are the list of things that you need to be aware of.

Eye level to the monitor

Your eyes should be level with the monitor at approximately 75% from bottom. (IE, your focal point is 25% or a quarter down from the top of the screen.) This allows you to keep your neck in a good position while your eyes can move the entire surface of your monitor without strain. At first, this may feel awkward. But it truly helps reduce back and neck and eye strain!

Back Posture Matters!

You should be, unless you have some issue barring it, be approximately 3 feet from your screen. This lets you view most screens completely without having to overly turn your head. Make certain your chair height is set so that you have a good line up with your keyboard. (Being at the right angle can help prevent things like carpal tunnel from forming.)

Avoid Blue Light

If you can’t ditch blue light (via using yellowed mode) because you need color acuity in your screen, make certain you have a good pair of blue light glasses… even if you don’t normally wear glasses. Blue light can cause a myriad of problems, all of which can be avoided through use of a $20 pair of non-prescription lenses.

My prescription lenses cost a lot more than $20, and they make a huge difference. I have two pairs: one with heavy yellow tinting, and one without tinting so I can have color acuity when needed.

Right now, I’m viewing the world through a screen of yellow. My eyes thank me closer to bedtime, and I sleep a lot better when I bother with the blue light shielding lenses.

Lumbar support for your back helps!

I was born with a spinal defect, and one of the best changes I made to my life was getting good lumbar support and a chair that properly worked with my back. I ditched leather for mesh, and I haven’t looked back sense. The majority of my back pain has gone away… expect for the defect, which will be around for life, alas.

But I’ll take anything I can get at this stage!

Concluding Thoughts

The best workspace is the one you want to be in so you get words written. it needs to keep you physically healthy, too. Without you, there are no books. Your health matters, and yes… something as simple as making certain you’re looking directly at your monitor at the correct height can make a huge difference.

If your monitor stand isn’t adjustable, get a riser. If it’s too high and can’t be lowered, raise your chair level and adjust your desk as much as you can. (And if the stand is that tall, consider replacing the monitor with one that can be set up ergonomically.)

Yes, some of these things are expensive, but it really truly does make a difference.

I use an IKEA stand/sit desk for my desk; it is short enough to handle my 5’3″ self just fine. My chair comes from Staples, and it’s been going strong for five years now.

I use an Apple Magic Keyboard (with touch ID) as my regular keyboard. I find this works well for me and has for years. (And considering I’m still carpal tunnel free, I’m sticking to my guns on this one.) For the mouse, I have a logitech gaming mouse and a trackpad, and I switch between them based on what sort of task I’m doing.

The monitor is a Mac Studio Display; it was the only 5k screen that met all of my requirements and didn’t have a stupid “smart” TV built into it. (“Smart” TVs can go straight to some hell. I hate them.)

I will say this much: the worst of my physical problems happened when I used a laptop without a dedicated display. I’ll use laptops when I travel or I must, but they did a lot more harm than good. Laptops can be tempting, but it’s difficult to get the ergonomics right…. and the ergonomics matter.

“Ergonomics” isn’t just some marketing keyword. It’s a real thing that can make a huge difference in how your body feels.

Good luck with your setup, and I hope you’re able to tune in those ergonomics and write your books in a pleasant space!