Most office workers spend a large part of their workday sitting. According to a survey released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2016, software developers spent around 90% of their time sitting.
Similarly, accountants, insurance agents, and lawyers work long hours sitting in front of their computer while attending phone meetings.
Desk jobs, while necessary, lead to diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Since not everyone can easily change careers, there are ways to reduce health risks.
One recommendation is by using an office headset. Here are four specific health benefits of using an office headset.
Avoids painful diseases
According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), neck and shoulder pains are a common complaint of office workers. Repeatedly cradling a phone handset for long hours will result in more severe problems if left unaddressed.
Fortunately, using a hands-free office headset will let one sit in a relaxed position, thereby reducing the possibility of muscle strains. Aside from avoiding pains, an office headset will prevent the incidence of postural problems.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is another disease caused by repetitive and prolonged holding of phones with bent wrists. Medical professionals encourage workers to use a hands-free office headset to reduce strained wrists.
Increases blood circulation
Office workers are at risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD), a blood circulation problem wherein there is reduced blood flow to the lower extremities.
With an office headset, however, circulation improves. While on the phone, one can comfortably multi-task and even perform some light exercises.
Here are some upper and lower body exercises that anyone can do while working hands-free:
- Triceps dips
- Arm pulses and circles
- Desk and wall push-ups
- Chair squats
- Standing rear pulses
- Pretend job rope
- Calf raises
- Wall seats
- Lunges
With a wireless headset, one can move around the office, talk to colleagues, or even pass by the pantry to get a cookie or glass of water. With a pedometer, one can easily reach their daily goal of 10,000 steps a day, a standard for maximum health.
Protects your ears
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 22 million workers in the U.S. are at risk of developing occupational hearing loss. Experts recommend the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) for industries like mining, manufacturing, and construction.
However, there is also exposure to noisy crowds of people in public health care, social services, and education. Doctors advise workers to use headsets with noise-cancellation features, one form of HPD.
Similarly, the noise reduction technology of the office headset has made it popular in the call centre industry. By isolating themselves from background noise, call centre agents can listen more clearly to customer concerns. Adjusting the volume to a comfortable level protects their ears.
For workers with hearing aids and cochlear implants, a binaural office headset is beneficial to hear with both ears.
Reduces stress
Listening to music is known to reduce stress. Most headsets, with their excellent sound quality, enable workers to enjoy relaxing music on their break periods. See our list of top 10 music streaming apps.
Secondly, the productivity benefits of an office headset result in a reduction of workload, a big elimination of stress. While in a phone meeting, being hands-free allows one to multi-task by jotting down notes, or catching up on emails.
A simple switch from traditional phones to the office headset will improve health and productivity. With so many models available, there should be one suitable for anyone’s budget.