HACKER Q&A
📣 spcebar

Portable Ergonomic Workspace?


I've recently moved to a small, fully furnished apartment. The place is nice, but there's really no good place to work ergonomically. There's a couch, a low kitchen table, and that's about it for existing workspace options. Does anyone have any suggestions ways to make an existing space more ergonomic, or for small pieces of furniture that could be used in a space like this?


  👤 rmvt Accepted Answer ✓
i've been moving around in the past couple of years, and working at the same time. whilst my current setup isn't the best i could have (more on this later), i try to have the basics that allow me for a better posture, starting with avoiding using the laptop on the couch or bed.

i put my laptop on top of a box - some people use books for this - so the top of the screen is more or less at eye level, and i distance it somewhat (an arm's length) from my eyes/face. i use a trackball (logitech m575) and, because i don't use the laptop's keyboard, i have a bluetooth keyboard (logitech mx mini). try to get a decent chair - one that you feel comfortable in for fairly long periods of time and allows you to sit fairly up straight, comfortably. i favour using a desk or table that's not either too low or too tall, allowing me to rest my arms on it gently and with enough depth that i can rest the arms from my elbows.

i have a ergodox that is, unfortunately, packed a way at the moment. i regret not bring it with me as it'd improve my "ergonomics" immensely.

if you can't get a decent table/desk consider getting something that sits on top of your low kitchen one to get it to a decent height.


👤 RGamma
Maybe cardboard furniture? Don't have a specific recommendation right now but there's extensions and pedestals for tables and such.