No-one wants to sit at their desk for 12 hours of the day. But if you spend a lot of time on your laptop, then it seems that you must be destined to spend your entire life chained to a desk. Right? Well no, actually. There are other positions that you can use your laptop, with one of the main one’s people wanting to know is how they can use their laptop in their bed.
Of course, this goes against everything that we’ve been taught, right? Keep the top of your screen at the right height, and make sure you don’t slouch otherwise you’ll ruin your back. Well, not everyone can spend their entire day at their desk. So, here’s the best way to sit if you want to use your laptop in your bed.
How can I sit comfortably in bed with my laptop?
If you’re looking to use a laptop in your bed, then there are a few golden rules you should follow. Don’t just cower over your laptop crosslegged. Instead, it’s a much better idea to get some pillows that can support your back, and try to sit upright when you’re working. This way, you can maintain a good posture whilst using your laptop.
For those that are going to use their laptop in bed, then there are a few things that you should do. And, there are also a few things that you shouldn’t do as well. So, let’s look at some of the precautions you can take when you’re using a laptop in the bed.
5 Things You Must Do When Using a Laptop in Bed
1. Use a Laptop Stand
Another thing that you can do to get a good position in your bed for using a laptop is to buy a stand. You can get laptop stands that will hover over your bed, making them the ideal choice for those who don’t want to use a laptop in their lap. You can find laptop stands for a pretty reasonable price online, and they can help you maintain an upright posture instead of cowering over your laptop screen.
2. Use pillows as support
Even if you’re using your laptop in bed, you’re going to need to use something to support your back. Whether this be a stack of pillows, your headboard or even just leaning up against the wall, it’s important for you to find a way to give your back the support it needs.
3. Get a separate mouse & keyboard
Another thing that you can do to ensure that you maintain a good posture when you’re using your laptop in bed is to get an additional mouse and keyboard to use. This will allow you to raise the height of your monitor, which is much better for your eyes.
4. Use a laptop with a touchscreen
One of the reasons why it can be difficult for you to use a laptop in bed is because you ideally want to recreate the same posture as if you were at a desk. This includes having the keyboard in front of you, which you need to use to type properly.
However, you could consider opting for a laptop with a touchscreen, which can make it a lot easier for you to use for typing. As well as typing, a touchscreen laptop can be a much better choice if you’re going to use it for design as well, as you can get a stylus to use with it as well. So, these laptops often are the better choice for using in bed.
5. Get the right lighting
Another thing to think about is the lighting that you’re going to set up and use with your laptop. A good lamp is an essential part of your bedroom setup, as it’ll help to keep your eyes safe when using your laptop.
This doesn’t necessarily mean to say that you need a super bright light, as many people find working in a dimmed light is easier for them. For this reason, it would be a good idea to get lighting where you can adjust the brightness to suit your own preference.
4 Things You Must NOT Do When Using a Laptop in Bed
So, you know what to do when you’re using your laptop. But what habits should you try to avoid? There are a few different things that you shouldn’t do if you’re using your laptop on your bed.
1. Hunch over your laptop
Sitting with your legs crossed and hunching over your laptop is undoubtedly the worst way for you to work. Not only is it bad for your posture, but it’s not a good angle for you to be using your laptop at either.
Trying to avoid this kind of posture is essential if you’re going to be using your laptop in bed, as although it can be tempting, this is bad for your overall body health.
2. Using your laptop in the dark
When you’re using your laptop in bed, you’re already putting your body into a strange position. This can cause problems for your eyes, which might end up in eye strain.
If you use your laptop in the dark, then this eye strain is only going to become more likely, as your eyes aren’t used to looking at a bright screen in the darkness. So, avoid using the laptop in the dark for long periods of time.
Of course, this isn’t to say you can’t skip to the next Netflix show, or type a quick email with the lights off. You can use your laptop in the dark (ideally you’ll have a laptop with a backlit keyboard for this) for short periods of time, but not for too long.
3. Using a pillow to balance your laptop
For some reason, people seem to think that if they use a pillow to support their laptop, then they can sit in any way they wish to. Although using a pillow can allow you to raise the laptop to the right level for your eyes, you should just place your laptop on a pillow and expect this to make all the difference.
4. Forget to take a break
It’s very easy to get completely engrossed in your laptop. Whether you’re binging Netflix or you’re actually trying to get some work done, hours can go by quite quickly when you’re using your laptop in bed.
However, it’s important to remember that you should be taking regular breaks, even if you can be bothered to get out of bed. So, a 5 minute break and a few yoga poses should be more than enough to keep the blood flowing and protect your eyes. And no, texting on your phone isn’t a screen break!
Conclusion
In conclusion, using your laptop in bed is never going to be your first choice, but it’s still nice to know that you can use your laptop in bed if you need to. Making sure that you use your laptop in the right way when you’re bed is essential to maintain a good posture, as well as avoiding any other potential issues that might pop up, like eye strain.
