What does it mean for a product to be ergonomic? On one hand, it means intuitive designs for people's movements throughout the day helping to increase efficiency and productivity while alleviating discomfort. Studies have shown that stiff, fixed postures while working can cause long-term health issues for employees. This can potentially be reduced by striking a better balance between sitting and standing via less sedentary workplace behavior whether from a traditional office, home office or even while traveling.

On the other hand, it also means just making life a little bit easier. In hybrid work, technology devices are our workplaces. Better device ergonomics make employees' daily work experience customizable to individual needs or schedules. Seamlessly switch from multiple screens to a mobile monitor to a smartphone; or choose the device with the best quality visual technology for the big presentation or meeting. Ergonomics are about maximizing our tech for our benefit.  

Here are five ways today's monitors are helping people adapt to a hybrid lifestyle while also improving their digital experience:

1. Lift, tilt, swivel, flip for greater range of motion

Lenovo product designers spend a lot of time thinking about the angle of your computer monitor, or the height of your desk. Having the ability to adjust devices up, down, side-to-side, or even by 90-degrees vertically, enhances the user experience. Innovations such as curved monitors can help you see more without turning your neck back and forth all day. Adjusting your monitor or device to meet your eyeline or help you sit in the most comfortable position can improve your neck and back health. No more hunching over at a cubicle!

2. Shining a light on eye care and digital wellness 

The importance of being proactive in addressing the increase of screen time cannot be overstated. The pandemic has forced millions of professionals, students and parents around the world to adapt to a new reality where work, school and home life are intermingled. This new reality led to increased levels of screen time, raising concerns about harmful blue light exposure among 94% of eye care providers and over 77% of employers. Modern display technology with natural low blue light can help improve well-being and reduce light exposure, no matter the age of the user.

It's crucial for technology providers to understand the challenges customers face with remote working and distance learning. Due to increased screen time across many devices, we need tech with the most advanced, integrated eyecare technologies to protect our eye health. For example, Lenovo™ has been actively focusing on eye health across its entire portfolio of products, for example, a wide variety of Lenovo monitors are TÜV and Eyesafe-certified to give users more confidence in their device as they work without worrying about the health impacts of excessive blue light exposure.

3. Mobile monitor technology saves your weightlifting for the gym

For many on-the-go professionals and content creators, shouldering the pain of a heavy work bag can place extra pressure on the nerves leading to the shoulders, neck and lower back resulting in stiffness. Your body just wasn't designed to carry that load and squinting when trying to present something on your tiny smartphone screen isn't comfortable either.

Refined tools like compact mobile monitors can support a flexible lifestyle with smarter ports, USB-C connectors and multi-touch options, to help workers stay more productive and collaborative. Mobile monitors meet this unique moment by allowing people to truly work from anywhere and deliver the same high quality monitor standards we expect from stationary monitors.

4. Flexible work for a happier life

As businesses and workers continue to embrace flexible working, there's a permanent shift happening in how we define the workplace. The win-win benefits of flexible working are not going unnoticed; businesses are being rewarded for their flexible policies with less employee attrition and reporting higher levels of performance. In fact, 75% of teleworkers plan to work remotely for the rest of their careers.

In short, happier employees do better on all fronts — from day-to-day health to productivity to career advancement. Multipurpose monitors as smart docking stations for work and play in any location can uphold this employee satisfaction by delivering tech that works hard for them. Monitors with features like HDR content capabilities via a monitor that can also supply higher refresh rates, e.g. up to 360Hz, deliver the highest quality visual experience no matter the setting. Using a monitor designed to work seamlessly with a modular camera, that tilts and swivels, allows for flexibility and is a clever way to transform a dedicated workspace into an affordable video conferencing solution.

5. Tech that doubles as home decor

As a bonus, monitors provided for work can be beautiful. New designs in lighter tones can live in harmony with home office or in-office aesthetics. Monitors built from richer materials like metal, plus more recycled plastics and upcycled natural composites used in monitors can enhance the appearance of the tech you need while being kinder to the planet. No more hiding your work monitor before hosting friends or family, it's now a visual staple of your hybrid home.

What's more, a monitor with USB-C hub can help keep your work area clean and picture-perfect with fewer cables on the table. A tidy desk doesn't just look better it helps people work smarter, a study carried out by researchers at Princeton University found that working in a cluttered office environment can affect our ability to focus.

Stefan Engel is the Vice President and General Manager of Lenovo's Visuals Business. He oversees the creation, sales and marketing of the company's Monitor product lines including ThinkVision™.