If you are not careful about how you set up your space, working from home can literally become a pain in the neck.
If your current work routine involves being slumped over your kitchen table, slouched on the sofa or perhaps even laying prostrate in bed, you may well end with neck, shoulder and back pain, or sore wrists and fingers.
Here are some ways to ensure that your work environment is healthy, ergonomic and productive.
Your chair is everything
First off, invest in a good task chair, advises Pallavi Dean, founder and creative director of Dubai design firm Roar. “Vitra, Herman Miller, Haworth – there are so many great brands out there," she says.
You should opt for a solid, sturdy chair that is adjustable in height, with a separate backrest that can be modified to support your lower back. The seat should be short enough that you get full back support, without the front of the seat digging into the back of your legs. There should be about two inches of clearance between the back of your knees and the front of the seat. The seat should be well padded and slope slightly downwards, to ensure your hips are angled slightly above your knees. Your feet should be flat on the floor – use a footrest or a stack of books if required.
Adjust armrests so your arms gently rest on them with your shoulders relaxed. If you cannot get your hands on a proper work chair, use pillows to pad your seat, offer back support and unsure that you are positioned at the right height. A rolled up towel can also offer lumbar support. Be conscious of your posture. Engage your stomach muscles and keep your shoulders relaxed, but not slumped.
Get the right balance
To switch things up, invest in a wellness ball. "Technogym has a great wellness ball that is made for office environments and exercise environments, so it doubles up as both,” says Dean. Balancing on the ball will force you to engage your core and help stop you slouching.
Hands on
Wrists should remain straight while typing. It is worth investing in a palm support to ensure this happens. Position your mouse close to your keyboard to ensure you are not overreaching. The same applies to other things you will be using regularly, like your phone. “If you frequently talk on the phone and type or write at the same time, place your phone on speaker or use a headset rather than cradling the phone between your head and neck,” advises the Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit organisation committed to clinical practice, education and research.
Screen time
Position your computer at least an arm’s length away. Try to align your screen with your line of vision. “If you wear bifocals, lower the monitor an additional 1 to 2 inches for more comfortable viewing,” advises the Mayo Clinic. Use a desk light to ensure that your work space is well illuminated, but try to reduce direct glare on your screen.
Shift to a standing position
Try to also find a surface that you can stand and work from, and mix things up through the day. “Agility is a big concept in workplace design and you should also do it at home. Try a kitchen counter, a breakfast counter, even a bookshelf that is the right height. Maybe do some of your calls while you are standing up,” suggests Dean.
The trouble with laptops
Laptops are not designed to be used for extended periods of time. Either the screen will be too low and cause you to strain your neck – or the keyboard will be too high and cause pressure on your wrists and arms. Ideally, you should get a separate keyboard and mouse, and place these in the appropriate positions. If you will be using your laptop, try to position it so the top edge of the screen is just below your eye height.
Take regular breaks
Even if your set-up is ergonomically sound, listen listen to your body. Get up, stretch and walk around at regular intervals.
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In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
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- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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The specs
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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ENGLAND SQUAD
For first two Test in India Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson , Dom Bess, Stuart Broad , Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. Reserves James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi.
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The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
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New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
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