How To Reclaim The Real Estate That's Rightfully Yours

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Desks look really spacious when they're empty, don't they? But once you add the phone, an accessory organizer and a PC monitor & keyboard (or even just a laptop), you have precious little room left over.

Add couple of stacks of paper and a few Post-It notes and not even the dust can find your desktop.

Well, here are some ways you can reclaim the desk space that's rightfully yours that go well beyond wall-mounting your filing bins.

Managing the Monitor

The first thing to do is deal with the biggest problem: the monitor. You have several ways to go here, the most expensive being replacing the behemoth CRT with a sleek flat panel display. (But even then, you're still taking up a chunk of valuable surface space.)

You can reclaim the most desk space and gain the greatest ergonomic benefit by going the monitor arm route.

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Consider the MA-200 from Humanscale, for example. It clamps securely to the edge of your desk and suspends your monitor as if it's floating on a cloud. You can move it around, tilt it and swivel it as effortlessly as you do your chair. And it supports your keyboard, too.

So you can position your screen and keyboard for maximum comfort plus get a bunch more desk space to use. Already have a flat panel monitor? Then check out the new M7 model.

The Disappearing Keyboard Trick

Another terrific way to deal with your keyboard and mouse is to mount an adjustable keyboard platform beneath your desk.

This is arguably the best solution from a Carpal Tunnel standpoint because it lets you work consistently within your "neutral reach zone," thus maintaining a low-risk, sustainable posture.

If you use a laptop a lot, you can increase your usable desk area by putting the computer on an adjustable laptop stand. These are especially popular in work-at-home situations because they roll around easily and adjust to any sitting position.

So you can do your emails or online shopping from your recliner, your sofa or even your bed.

Dealing With What's Under Your Desk, Too

As long as we're on the subject of ergonomic accessories, one of my personal favorites is the sliding CPU holder that attaches to the underside of your desk.

Not only does this put your CD and DVD drives right at arm's reach, it also makes the back of your machine considerably more accessible. It lets you rotate the CPU all the way around — no more "hands-and-knees-with-a-flashlight" routine to make cabling changes or check connections.

The CPU holder gets your system up off the floor and away from vacuum cleaners, major spills and similar hazards. And it locks in place to guard against theft.

I sure does a heck of a lot for something so simple.

As always, we're here to answer your questions and help you any way we can. Call us toll-free at 1-877-MY-OFFICE and one of our customer service reps will help you make your workspace more productive.