Guidelines for using laptop Computers.

When traveling, make sure to set your self up as ergonomically as possible. If you are in a hotel, conference room, or any other facility, don’t settle for resting your laptop on a desk, table, counter, or surface that is high or far from reach. Your options include:

• Using a pillow, pad or even folded towels, to raise your chair high enough so that your elbows are level or slightly higher than the keyboard (elbows at approximately 90 degrees).
• Asking if the hotel has a docking station for laptops. If not, ask if there are computer workstations for desktops (many hotels are computer user friendly) and plug into their keyboard and monitor.

If you can’t find a surface low enough, or a chair high enough, then your lap is always an option.

• Sit so that your knees and hips are level. This will allow the laptop to rest comfortably on your lap.
• Again, be careful with your neck. Look down at the screen by tucking your chin in as opposed to bending your entire neck down, as this can cause strain and fatigue to the neck and shoulder area.
• Try using a chair that does not have armrests to give you room to move your arms.

If you elect to place your computer on the food tray, and it is too high to achieve comfort, try raising your seat height by folding one or two blankets under you. If that doesn’t work, you may be best off using your lap.
Laptops are often heavy which means you should avoid carrying them with a handle. Try carrying them on your shoulder and use a bag with a padded shoulder strap.
Pace yourself. Take frequent breaks. Stand up and stretch. If you feel any strains or pains, stop what you are doing and experiment with different positions. The same rules of healthy computer use applies to laptops as well as desktops.