We move data across continents, share ideas over digital channels and coordinate meetings in virtual calendars, all while our bodies often stay precisely where they were this morning: in our office chairs. We’re no longer just talking about traditional, physical ergonomics here, but also about the numerous psychological aspects of it and how our minds and bodies work together.
The world of work is changing faster than ever before. People have never spent so many hours in the same position. According to a study by the Austrian Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, people who work in offices today spend around 70% of their day sitting*. At the same time, the demands on our workplaces have fundamentally changed. Where once efficiency and functionality reigned supreme, these days the focus is changing. We’re moving away from only thinking about efficiency and towards a holistic understanding of health and wellbeing.
A new era of ergonomics
The term ‘ergonomics’ is gaining new relevance. Drawn from the Greek words ergon (work) and nomos (law) it describes the basic idea of adapting work to people – not people to work. For a long time, the concept of ergonomics focused on getting your seat height right, having an adjustable desk and ensuring your screen was in the ideal position. But with increasing digitalisation and our changing awareness of our health, this understanding has broadened significantly. Today, the term covers two distinct but closely associated dimensions: the physical and the psychological.
Your body’s working, too
Physical ergonomics takes into account everything that impacts the human body in the workplace: posture, movement, equipment and room design. Ergonomic chairs, height-adjustable desks or workstations, adapted lighting and comfortable room temperatures help to reduce detrimental health impacts, avoid back pain and retain concentration. But it’s no longer just about finding the perfect position to work in, it’s about regularly switching position. By the time you’re in pain, it’s too late. Prevention is something you have to incorporate into your routine – small movements, short breaks, standing up between meetings and having a working environment that encourages, rather than prevents, physical activity.
Cognitive and mental ergonomics – the second dimension
Many people see cognitive and mental ergonomics as the same thing, but they actually differ in their focus. Cognitive ergonomics is about the processes that define our daily work, such as attention and information processing. In the modern working world, challenges often arise from being constantly contactable, frequently interrupted, and flooded with information. The aim of cognitive ergonomics, therefore, is to design work processes so that people can process information efficiently without feeling permanently overwhelmed. Clear structures, understandable information pathways, fewer distractions and smart, customised workspace design can help here.
Layered on top of this, mental ergonomics deals with how we process things in our own minds. It looks at how working conditions affect our stress levels and resilience. While cognitive ergonomics focuses on thought processes, mental ergonomics deals with long-term wellbeing and inner balance. Corporate culture plays a significant role here as it heavily influences how stress, recovery and mental health are dealt with during the workday. Where the cognitive aspect is primarily impacted by organisational frameworks, the mental aspect is mostly influenced by the culture a company has at its heart. Together with the physical perspective, they form the basis of holistic ergonomics – where we not only focus on how we work, but also how we perceive and process that work.
A balancing act
The different aspects are constantly impacting each other. If you sit in an uncomfortable seat for hours, your concentration isn’t going to last. If you’re working under a lot of mental strain, you might not notice physical warning signals until it’s too late. Poor air quality, disruptive noise and too little light not only have an impact on our bodies, but also our attentiveness, mood, and capacity to make decisions. This is why modern workspace concepts focus on both dimensions together. Open workspaces are becoming increasingly adapted to include different space concepts. Instead of one single working area, companies are creating zones for focused working, creative collaboration and informal interaction. And these concepts, in turn, are being enhanced with biophilic design – the strategic integration of natural elements that have been proven to increase people’s sense of wellbeing. Modern workspaces adapt to different tasks, ways of working and personal needs. The modern workplace has become an environment that continuously supports people in achieving their potential.