Why Your Workspace Might Be Causing Your Aches (And What You Can Do About It)
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Work-related discomfort is increasing.
We see it every week at our Guildford showroom. People arrive frustrated, sore, and tired of putting up with neck pain, back ache, sore wrists, or headaches that seem to creep in day after day.
What surprises most people is this:
The solution is rarely complicated or expensive.
It usually just takes the right advice.
When we think about work, we think about meetings, deadlines, and targets. Very few of us stop to think about the space we’re working in — the chair we sit on, the height of our desk, where our screen sits, or how our hands move across a keyboard.
Yet those things affect how we feel every single day.
A poorly set-up workstation can quietly lead to:
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Lower back discomfort
- Sore wrists and forearms
- Eye strain and headaches
- Fatigue
And the truth is, most of us don’t realise how much our setup is affecting us until something starts to hurt.
That’s why we created our Office & Home Office Ergonomic Guide — to give you clear, practical advice you can apply at your own desk, without jargon or guesswork.
What “Ergonomics” Really Means
Ergonomics is often treated like a buzzword. You see it on product labels and hear it mentioned in health and safety chats.
At its heart, ergonomics simply means:
Designing workspaces to suit people — not forcing people to adapt to poor setups.
It isn’t just about avoiding injury. Good ergonomics helps you:
- Feel more comfortable
- Reduce daily fatigue
- Avoid the slow build-up of aches and pains
But ergonomics isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Two people can do the same job in the same room and need completely different setups. That’s why flexibility and adjustability matter far more than “the best chair” or “the perfect desk height”.
If you’ve ever thought:
- “I just can’t get comfortable at my desk.”
- “This chair feels fine for a while, then my back aches.”
- “I don’t know if it’s my screen, posture, or both.”
…you’re not alone. And you’re exactly who this guide is for.
What Is a DSE Assessment (And Why It Matters)?
If you work at a screen for more than an hour a day, you’re classed as a DSE user under UK guidance.
A DSE (Display Screen Equipment) assessment is a structured way of checking whether your workstation is putting you at risk. It looks at:
- Screen position
- Keyboard and mouse
- Desk and chair
- Environment (light, space, noise, air)
- The way you work
Done properly, it’s not a tick-box exercise. It’s a conversation about comfort.
A good assessment should lead to changes — in equipment, setup, or habits — that actually improve how you feel.
But here’s the problem:
Many people are given a form, fill it in once, and nothing changes.
In fact, our own polls show that over 50% of people aren’t fully aware of the adjustments on their chair. A checklist alone doesn’t fix that.
That’s why our guide translates DSE guidance into everyday language you can use immediately.
We’re Not All Built the Same
Walk into most offices, and you’ll see rows of identical desks and chairs.
The assumption?
Everyone can work comfortably in the same setup.
Everyone can work comfortably in the same setup.
But people are different shapes, sizes, and work in different ways. There is no such thing as a “standard body”.
Since hybrid and home working became the norm, we’ve seen people working:
- At dining tables
- On bar stools
- On sofas
- At desks designed for looks, not comfort
These setups might work for a quick task — but not for full workdays.
Home offices often fall through the cracks. Yet the risk of work-related aches and pains is just as real.
Your body doesn’t know whether you’re in a corporate office or your spare room.
Small Adjustments, Big Impact
One of the most powerful messages in our guide is this:
You don’t need a “perfect posture”.
You need movement and awareness.
Some of the simplest changes make the biggest difference:
- Bringing your keyboard closer so you’re not reaching
- Keeping your mouse near your body
- Raising your screen so your head stays balanced
- Learning how to adjust your chair properly
- Taking short, regular breaks
- Alternating between sitting and standing
Even the best chair won’t protect you if you sit still for hours.
The HSE recommends short, frequent breaks — for example, 5–10 minutes every hour. Your body is designed to move.
And remember:
“The best posture is the next posture.”
Why We Created the Ergonomic Guide
We created our Office & Home Office Ergonomic Guide to give people control over their own comfort.
It’s built around real-world experience — not theory — and walks you through:
- How to spot problems in your setup
- How to adjust your chair, desk, and screen
- How to position your keyboard and mouse
- How to reduce strain and fatigue
- How to work more comfortably, whether at home or in the office
It’s based on the HSE’s DSE principles, translated into clear, practical language.
No waffle. No jargon. Just expert-backed advice you can use straight away.
Download Your Free Ergonomic Guide
If you’re experiencing discomfort — or simply want to prevent it — this guide is for you.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
- Identify problems with your current working setup
- Adjust your chair, desk, and monitor for better comfort
- Reduce work-related discomfort and pain
- Prevent long-term health issues
Work comfortably, safely, and better.
And if the guide helps you, we’d love you to consider supporting one of our chosen charities that promote health, wellbeing, and community support across the South East.
Small changes at your desk can make a big difference — for you and for others.