10 ways to make your computer setup more comfortable
Updated: Oct 15
By Andy Duckmanton, BOst (Hons), GOsC registered osteopath.
Editorial update: 15 October 2026.
A comfortable computer setup should help you do your work and change position easily. It does not need to hold you in one supposedly perfect posture all day. These ten checks are starting points to adapt to your body, tasks and equipment.
Start by noticing which task is difficult: sustained typing, looking between screens or using a laptop at a low table. Try one or two changes that address that task. Consider adjustments to equipment you already have before buying more.
1. Adjust the chair to the task
Choose a height that lets you use the keyboard without repeatedly lifting your shoulders. Use the backrest if it is comfortable and change your position during the day. If the chair cannot adjust enough, discuss suitable equipment with your employer.
2. Support your feet
Aim for comfortable foot support. A footrest may help if raising the chair for the desk leaves your feet unsupported. Leave enough room beneath the desk to move your legs.
3. Make the screen easy to see
Place the main screen in front of you at a distance and height that lets you read comfortably. Increase text size before repeatedly leaning towards the display. Your glasses and the task may affect the most comfortable position.
4. Keep frequently used items nearby
Bring the keyboard, mouse and other items you use often within easy reach. Allow space to support the hands or forearms if that feels comfortable, and avoid pressing against a hard desk edge.
5. Adapt a laptop for longer sessions
For sustained work, a separate keyboard and mouse can allow you to raise the laptop screen independently. A separate monitor is another option. A laptop balanced on your knees may be convenient briefly but offers fewer adjustment choices.
6. Position extra screens around the task
Keep the screen you use most directly in front of you. If you use two equally, arrange them so you can turn comfortably between them. Move documents closer to the screen when frequent reading makes you twist repeatedly.
7. Reduce glare
Adjust the screen position, blinds and lighting if reflections make you lean or squint. Set brightness and text size for comfortable viewing. Persistent visual difficulty is a reason to seek appropriate eye-care advice.
8. Avoid holding a phone with your shoulder
A headset or speakerphone, where appropriate, can make long calls easier while keeping your hands free. Choose an arrangement that suits privacy requirements and the work you need to do.
9. Change activity regularly
HSE recommends short, frequent breaks or changes of task for display-screen work. A pause may involve standing, walking or doing another task, rather than staying seated and switching to your phone. The timing should suit the work and your needs.
A standing desk offers another position, but standing still for hours is not a solution for everyone. If you use one, vary sitting and standing according to comfort and the task; there is no fixed ratio you need to achieve.
10. Review what actually helps
Change one or two things, then see whether work feels easier. If you are covered by workplace display-screen requirements, ask for a workstation assessment. Persistent discomfort should not simply be blamed on posture or treated as proof of damage.
Consider the rest of the day too, including your commute, caring responsibilities and unfamiliar activity. A workstation adjustment can be useful without explaining or resolving every symptom.
Seek clinical advice if pain continues, affects sleep or function, or comes with persistent tingling, numbness or weakness. New or rapidly worsening neurological symptoms need prompt medical assessment.
Read the neck pain guide or low back pain guide for symptom-specific advice. Getting active offers ideas for movement outside desk work.
Sources and further information
Sources checked: 13 October 2026. These examples support, and do not replace, a workplace assessment where needed.