Ergonomics – it’s not a word you use frequently, but it’s a concept that applies to your everyday life. Ergonomics is “an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely,” according to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary.

So how does that apply to you?

Do you ever feel uncomfortable sitting at a desk for hours on end? Or do your eyes ever hurt from staring at a computer screen?

Then you need to learn the basics of ergonomics and how to use it to your advantage to make your workspace user-friendly.

Paul Hokanson, industrial hygienist with the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, said there are several things to look at to make your workspace ergonomically correct. You should consider keyboard and monitor position, how you are seated and what position your arms are in.

Hokanson performs ergonomic evaluations for university employees. He looks at their workspaces and gives suggestions about how to make them more comfortable.

Sometimes, a standard desk or tabletop won’t do for using a computer.

“A table for a laptop or desktop needs to be lower than a standard 29-inch table,” said Fred Malven, associate professor of art and design and instructor of a course that examines the human factors of interior design, including ergonomics.

Malven suggests having your keyboard at 27 inches, which will put your hands in a more natural and comfortable position.

Hokanson said people oftentimes need two different levels in a workspace – the keyboard level (27 inches) and a higher level for reading and other tasks.

Desk chairs can be uncomfortable, especially if you’re spending hours typing up that term paper or posting on people’s Facebook Walls. One way to make your computer time more comfortable is to consider the kind of chair you’re sitting in. Many “ergonomically correct” chairs are available.

When considering a chair for your workspace, a few things to consider are adjustability, a “waterfall front” to prevent pinching the backs of your legs and lumbar support. Hokanson said a popular chair used in university offices is the Aeron chair.

“It’s considered an ergonomic chair,” Hokanson said. The chair has a mesh seat and back to make it “breathable;” adjustable arms, height, seat angle and depth, and lumbar support.

Aeron chairs are expensive, but their characteristics provide things to look for in more affordable chairs.

Another aspect of ergonomics is your work environment. Are there distractions? Does something in your environment cause you stress?

“Most of us just try to tough it out and make it work,” Malven said. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

Malven said environments sometimes have distractions, like music or movies. Sometimes, these things help people concentrate. But for others, the opposite can be true. If you need to block out noise while you’re working, you may want to look into getting a white noise machine. Malven said these machines can help mask unwanted noise.

The principles behind ergonomics make an environment comfortable and a workspace more productive. A few simple adjustments may be all you need.

Once made, typing that term paper may not seem like such a daunting task, and an ergonomically correct space means you can spend more time doing homework or checking Facebook with minimal discomfort.