A Complete University Desk Setup Guide for Students in Canada

As a Canadian university student, it's essential to create an environment conducive to your studies. Your university desk setup is one that must facilitate your educational needs while offering you the sense of comfort you need to maintain maximum productivity.

The principle of ergonomics is vital here, as you need to use it to ensure that your tools, equipment, and environment are positively impacting your activities. It would help if you considered your health as much as you consider your studying needs.

Getting work done is very important, but you can't allow your body to suffer while you do. Don't you want to finish your degree without having medical bills to deal with from progressive damage? Your study desk setup is a huge factor, and you're in the right place to learn how you should go about it. 

Understanding Ergonomics

Ergonomics is one of the most critical applied science concepts in the modern world. Some people may think that it's a thing geared towards people who work, but that's not the case. Canadian university students, such as yourself, also need to learn these principles of design and arrangement.

The idea is to ensure that your study space is safe and healthy, while promoting maximum efficiency. The disregard for things, such as proper posture and the need for activity, continuously wreck the body.

What can you do to stay on the safe side? The university desk setup recommendations below help you avoid falling victim to the dangers of a non-ergonomic workspace. You need only pay attention to the information and use it as a guide.

Pros & Cons of Ergonomic Desk Setup

Benefits of an Ergonomic University Desk Setup

• Prevents chronic pain by supporting the natural positioning of various body parts
• Improves productivity by increasing your natural comfort level
• Relieves pressure on multiple joints
• Allows you to work for longer more reliably

Disadvantages of a University Desk Setup

The idea of ergonomics presents many benefits. However, there are a couple of drawbacks. These are:

• Depending on the source of the ergonomic recommendations, a sedentary lifestyle could be encouraged.
• There can be cost implications for putting everything in place if you don't use the right equipment sources.

Ergonomic University Desk Setup Step by Step 

1. Choosing an Appropriate Desk for Your University Desk Setup

The best desk set up for college students requires a stellar desk. The table you choose is the centerpiece of your operation. It defines the amount of space you have, and it sets the limits for your design options.

Remember that you need to place all the equipment you use on it, and it needs to facilitate your requirements. Keeping your grades up requires you to be using a desk that isn't working against you.

An adjustable standing desk is a good idea for you. You should never be going through long study sessions being seated the whole time. The best thing to satisfy your body's health and activity requirements is to alternate between seated and standing positions. Of course, you also need to know how to use the desk that you select.

Many students who have the choice don't give much focus to the desk that they choose. However, if you mess up with your desk choice, things can go downhill for you for as long as you have it.

The bright side is that you have quite a few fantastic adjustable desk options to choose from, and they can likely all meet your needs.

2. Choosing the Right Ergonomic Chair for Your University Desk Setup

It would help if you had an excellent chair to compliment your desk selection. Ideally, you shouldn't be spending your entire session sitting, but you are going to be seated quite a bit. Therefore, it's best to ensure that your study desk setup includes seating with an ergonomic design. 

The chances are that you are going to have a single chair for the tenure of your study, so you need to be careful with your selection. Some materials last longer than others, and this is one of the factors to bear in mind. Of course, each material also has its own set of ups and downs. Mesh and leather, for example, are two material alternatives that people go for. Do your due diligence to ascertain which one fits your needs the best before you make your selection.

Autonomous has quite a few stellar chair options, such as the ErgoChair Pro, ErgoChair Plus, and the ErgoChair Recline. While all of them are designed to fit right into your study environment, you should explore all the potential benefits before you make a choice. These ones are also included in the best Canadian ergonomic chair list.

During your studies in Canada, you don't want to start having chronic medical issues and severe pains. Make a targeted effort to get the kind of seating that promotes a neutral spine, proper elbow positioning, and other ergonomic seating guidelines. 

3. Optimizing the Monitor in Your University Desk Setup

In today's university experience, most of what you're going to be interacting with is on screens. Whether you're sitting through a lecture or doing some independent reading, the chances are that some screen other is going to be a part of the equation. It stands to reason then that you need to do what you can to protect your eyes.

This is especially true when you consider the monitor you use in your university desk setup. Many computer users who spend a lot of time in front of screens experience various common symptoms. Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is generally at play, which you can identify based on signs, such as:

• Increased light sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Dry eyes
• Burning eyes
• Eyestrain

You don't want to develop any of these problems, as they can become very troublesome. If you do, you don't want to run the risk of making them even worse. Therefore, it's best to adjust your monitor to make things more bearable. Keep the brightness as low as you can without needing to strain your eyes. The idea is to reduce the light that enters your eyes.

The top of your screen should be at or below your eye level. Once you must tilt your head backward, bring the screen height down. You can also try using blue light filtering glasses, and programs, such as f.lux, to make the lighting more welcoming during later hours. 

4. Proper Lighting for Your University Desk Setup

Whenever ergonomics gets brought into a discussion, people automatically think about equipment, such as desks and chairs. While those were covered above, they don't make up the complete picture of the concept.

Believe it or not, lighting is also an essential part of the equation. Your vision works based on light entering your eyes. Unfortunately, while studying, you may have a setup that leads to too much or too little light to focus on.

Both outcomes are undesirable, and they can lead to progressive damage for your eyes. That's where lighting ergonomics comes into the mix, and it's something you ought to consider for your university desk setup.

The first step is to avoid lighting that is too dim or too bright. Bright light washes images on the computer screen, and dim light forces you to overcompensate. If your room is dim, consider overhead and table lighting for better brightness. If the room is bright, try to reduce whatever lighting is present.

While you may think white light is the best alternative, yellow shades are easiest on the eyes. That's one reason that programs designed to help block out blue light tend to produce a yellow screen effect. 

5. Ergonomic Keyboard for Your University Desk Setup

The keyboard is another big part of your ideal study desk setup. After all, once you're using your computer, you're likely going to be pressing a lot of keys. While the traditional flat keyboard style is the most popular, you could also consider a split, angled keyboard. 

The angled effect comes with a design that is supposed to help your wrists tremendously. Apart from the keyboard's layout, there is also the matter of positioning. Your keyboard is best positioned flat or tilting slightly toward your toes.

You may recognize that the small stands included on most keyboards angle them towards your head instead. Though you may be used to typing that way, it's ergonomic design, as it forces you the angle your wrists upwards. If your keyboard is in a good position, your wrists are supposed to be flat or slightly angled downward. 

Another suggestion is to purchase a shorter keyboard. Such designs tend to eliminate the numeric keypad that's on the right side of most conventional keyboards. The standard size with all the keys puts the alphanumeric buttons off-center. That's a problem, considering most of your typing involves letters. Shorter keyboards end at the arrow keys, which means you get optimal button placement for your keyboard use.  

6. Identifying a Mouse for Your University Desk Setup

Your mouse is the final essential point, and it should also adhere to ergonomic standards. If you use your computer a lot, you are more susceptible to conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Unfortunately, most people can't do much about this, as it stems from how they move their hands around as they work.

If you're like most Canadian university students, you probably spend most of your computer time on a laptop. Of course, such devices are convenient, since you can take them around to your various classes, or wherever you may need to go. However, the trackpad on a laptop has a terrible design.

Your best bet is to get and use an external mouse that feels comfortable in your hand. Instead of awkwardly positioning your hands, you get to rest your wrist in a neutral position. 

You can identify an ergonomically designed mouse based on the thumb support and outside curvature.  

Conclusion

You don't have to be a part of the workforce to start looking after your health while you get work done. Even as a Canadian university student, you can do yourself a big favor by adhering to ergonomics principles. Being comfortable and treating your body well makes getting through your course of study that much more pleasant.

There are many recommendations and suggestions above to help you create the best university desk setup possible. All you need to do is implement the directions to the best of your ability.