There are two words often associated with ergonomics: comfort and productivity. As the science that makes human conditions and furniture befriend each other, people seem to have nothing bad to say about ergonomics.
But before we go any further, let’s first establish that ergonomics isn’t limited to furniture and equipment or any other tangible home appliance. However, we will focus on tangible things here since those are the easiest to find.
In this article, we will look at some of the disadvantages of using ergonomics in your home. If you feel that you’re all good because you have a comfy couch and other comfy stuff, think again. Here are some risks of home ergonomics you might have never thought of:
1. You become more likely to overwork
Reason: Because you have less physical and mental stress
If you’re somebody who likes to do something all the time–whether that’s cleaning, organizing shelves or drawers, or doing some of your office jobs at home–then working in a comfortable ergonomic space can make it hard for you to know when you’ve done too much work for a day.
Tiredness and body ache usually tell us when it’s time to rest. If you don’t feel them, then you’d have to be extra disciplined to allow yourself to pause and rest.
Solution: Plan your tasks ahead of time. A to-do list can help you see if you’re targeting too many tasks for a single day. It can also give a sense of accomplishment which can motivate you to reward yourself even if you feel like your body hasn’t done enough.
Resting is not easy for everyone–if you’re always on the move, it would be helpful to know that even resting needs some discipline sometimes.
2. Oversleeping can become a habit
Reason: Because your bed and pillows are too comfy
Improved sleep is one of the best promises of good beddings and sleep accessories like foam or contoured pillows. The downside, however, is that these things can work like gravity specifically designed to pull you back to bed.
Solution: If your sleeping pattern doesn’t get in the way of important commitments, such as your job, family events, or exercise routines, then go ahead and enjoy the amount of rest your bed allows you. However, if it does get in the way, then either a small or big adjustment would be necessary. This can include picking out a new song for your alarm or getting a strict morning routine.
Like with any habit-forming, this one will take lots of intentional effort and self-discipline. If you have a roommate or housemate, it would be good to ask for help.
3. Your electric bills might shoot up
Reason: Because you always want to stay at home
There are perks in leaving your home every once in a while. One of them is that you can save in electricity, water, and other resources you have that consume money. But if you stay at home longer than usual, then the opposite happens: you consume electricity, water, and other resources that add to your monthly bills.
Solution: Be deliberate about saving. Turn off the lights, the TV, and any other device when you don’t really need them. If you can let the sunshine in through your windows then do so–it lessens your need for artificial light while freshening up your space.
Also, keep your HVAC devices in check. Improperly maintained devices consume more energy.
4. Friends and family will keep barging in
Reason: Because they love your house
It’s nice to have a space where you can comfortably rest or do the things that matter to you. However, if your home becomes this kind of space for many people, then that might not be nice anymore.
While it’s okay and even healthy to have your friends and family come over, too much can get tiresome and irritating. Worse, you can get too occupied entertaining guests that you miss doing other important things.
Solution: Be clear about your boundaries and privacy. If you communicate early on that you can’t have guests often, your friends and family are likely to respect that. If they don’t, then at least you now know who to avoid!
5. Moving out can be very difficult
Reason: Because you love your house
Once you’ve made your home your ideal home–whether it’s a rented room, apartment, or your own place–moving out can become very difficult. You aren’t sure if you’re ever going to find another place like it. Plus, you’ve likely invested a lot of energy and money in it, making it even more hard to leave behind.
Solution: If your life circumstances are pushing you to move out and live in another place, then there’s no easy solution here. Know that leaving a home you’ve grown to love will always be difficult. But also know that if you’ve made one place a great place, then you can do it again.
Bring everything you’ve learned to the new place you’ll be occupying. If you can, also bring your ergonomic furniture and home appliances.
Conclusion
Living in an ergonomic home gives a plentiful amount of advantages as well as a few disadvantages. To maximize ergonomics and make it suit the lifestyle that you want, be sure to watch out for both its positive and negative impacts.
Make adjustments before anything gets out of hand. And of course, don’t forget to relax and let ergonomics boost your drive to focus on things that matter.
