If you’re sitting down and straining to reach everything you need, causing pain and poor posture, then you may be working beyond your maximum reach zone. But what is a maximum reach zone exactly, and how might understanding it improve your productivity and overall comfort?
Improving your workspace will always start with a brand-new home office desk, but once this is in place, you can start organising your reach zones. Let’s get started.
What are reach zones?
How many times have you sat down to work, only to spend the next 20 minutes getting up and down to get what you need and readjusting your workspace to the optimum position? This is where reach zones come into play. Reach zones are incorporated into an ergonomic workspace to ensure that everything you need to efficiently complete your work is within a comfortable reaching distance. The proper implementation of reach zones, therefore, makes for a more streamlined and productive workspace.
By implementing ergonomic working zones, every essential working tool would be comfortably available from a natural, safe posture, while keeping your elbows close to your body and your neck and shoulders relaxed. This ergonomic practice involves splitting up your desk space into three separate areas to maximise comfort. To properly explain how this works, let’s break down those three zones.
The three main types of reach zones
By splitting your desk into three zones (or areas), you can create a perfectly ergonomic space that supports productivity by providing an appropriate place for everything on your desk. After all, a clean space is a clean mind, and when you have a place for everything within perfect reach, you will find that things get done a lot more efficiently. So, let’s get started with ‘Zone One’.
Zone One
Zone One is the space in your immediate vicinity. When working in this area, you should be able to sit back comfortably on your chair with a straight back and your elbows relaxed by your side. Otherwise known as the vertical neutral reach zone, this zone can be easily determined by sweeping your hands across the desk (provided there’s nothing in the way!) while keeping your elbows by your side. The area that your hands cover without needless extension is ‘Zone One’.
This zone should be used for the items that you use most frequently. By keeping these items close for effortless access, you can reduce strain and optimise efficiency.
Distance from the body: 30-40cm away from your sitting position, horizontally or vertically.
Items in this zone can include:
- Mouse & mousemat.
- Keyboard
- Notepad & pen.
Zone Two
Also known as the ‘Secondary Zone,’ Zone Two includes items positioned at arm’s length that are used occasionally throughout the day. Items in this zone should also be able to be reached in a comfortable position, with your back straight against the chair. Items from Zone One should not be placed here, as this could lead to awkward postures and increase the risk of neck and shoulder strain.
Distance from the body: >40cm away from your sitting position, horizontally or vertically.
Items in this zone can include:
- Telephone (for productivity’s sake, keep this away from Zone One!).
- Headset.
- Refreshments.
- Relevant paperwork.
Zone Three
Zone Three can also be known as the ‘Tertiary Zone’ or the ‘Non-Working Zone’ and should include anything that doesn’t need regular contact at all. Reaching into this zone should be limited, as it often requires stretching your arms and body forward, leading to unnecessary strain. If you find that you’re using items in this area more than normal, then they should be moved into Zone Two instead.
Wondering ‘What is the maximum reach zone?’. Welcome to Zone Three.
Zone Three is known as this since reaching for items in this area is to extend beyond your comfort limit. Rather than reaching your body across the desk, and in some instances twisting your entire waist, it’s often better to stand up and retrieve the item with a safer, more comfortable movement.
Distance from the body: 40-70 cm horizontally.
Items in this zone can include:
- Desk lamps.
- Desk storage.
- Rarely used stationery.
Zone Four (bonus zone)
We know we mentioned that there were only three zones, but some people consider storage to be a fourth zone. Existing only in larger workspaces, this zone includes anything that you will have to get up to access. Anything you would need in your day-to-day activities would never be stored in this zone, but its proper orderly preservation could be vital.
Items in this zone can include:
- Reference material.
- Archived documents in storage.
- Spare electrical components.
Why knowing these reach zones is important
Despite now knowing ‘What is the maximum reach zone at your desk?’, you may still be wondering why recognising these zones is so important to your everyday work. Well, sorting your workspace into three (or four) distinct zones isn’t merely an exercise in microscopic organisation; it also serves a purpose that improves your efficiency at work, as well as your own personal health.
- Boost efficiency and productivity: By keeping everything you need at a close distance, you are reducing the amount of time you’re walking around or stretching for items, minimising distractions for a more streamlined workflow.
- Optimised organisation: Everyone loves to be organised, whether you’re a typically methodical worker or a messy one. Setting up your workspace with a clear workflow helps to keep your entire space tidy and also allows you to know exactly where everything you need is, reducing time wasted searching for ‘that’ item.
- Reduce needless strain: By putting this method into practice, you can reduce strain on your back, shoulders, neck and arms. With there being 200,000 cases of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) in the UK every year, you can avoid becoming part of this statistic.
- Maintain a better posture: Maintaining a better working posture has become a popular talking point in recent years, and for good reason, too. After all, complications relating to a bad posture can lead to back pain, degeneration of joints and much more. By using an ergonomic zonal workspace, you can avoid awkward straining, allowing you to maintain better posture both at work and away from your desk.
- Prioritise your comfort: Finally, if you’re comfortable at work, you will not only produce better work, but you’ll be more relaxed while delivering it, reducing stress and improving your mood. By using an ergonomic zonal setup, you are prioritising your comfort and wellbeing.
How best to implement ergonomic reach zones
We wouldn’t recommend literally drawing each of the three zones on your desk to achieve ergonomic glory, with there being far better ways to put this method into practice. Although we’ve provided approximate measurements that notify you where each area is roughly positioned away from your body, these numbers don’t have to be followed as gospel. Indeed, putting the zonal method into practice is one of the simplest ways to streamline your workspace. Simply assess your desk, organise your items and arrange the space into the zones explained above to create a zonal ergonomic workspace.
But the use of zones only works with a purposefully designed ergonomic desk space, and when it comes to ergonomic spaces, we certainly know a thing or two. So, to implement perfect ergonomic reach zones, make sure you have these essentials:
Height-adjustable desk
Say goodbye to uncomfortable workspaces. Using a height-adjustable desk allows you to completely tailor your workspace to your height and size. This means that you can alternate between using them as traditional desks to switching to a standing desk. Wondering if a standing desk is worth it? Improving your productivity at work while improving blood circulation and reducing back pain, standing desks certainly have their perks.
Adjustable desk chair
There’s no way that you can create an ergonomic workstation without the adjustable desk chair that provides ample back, shoulder and neck support. Our work chairs are optimised to be simply perfect for an ergonomic workstation, allowing for endless features to suit your body, including adjustable arm height, lumbar support, seat depth and seat height. To create a high-quality home workstation, why settle for less than our superior desk chairs?
Monitor stand
Monitor stands may not seem like a workplace essential, but using them can enhance ergonomics and productivity while reducing neck strain. This allows for better posture inside and outside of work, with this improved comfort encouraging you to work with improved pace and efficiency.
Now we’ve answered ‘what is the maximum reach zone?’, you must be ready to optimise your workspace. With exceptional customer service and a range of products that thousands of customers across the country are already enjoying, with Slouch, you can instantly improve how you work, allowing you to reach your potential no matter how you’re using our products.
But, don’t just take our word for it, we have over 750 5-star reviews on Trustpilot from our happy customers whose backs we have saved from stiffness.
Want more information about our products? Simply reach out to our friendly team at [email protected] or contact us online today.
