In the office

• Use a docking station with an external keyboard and mouse with your laptop whenever possible. Standard workstation setup parameters apply.
• If using your laptop screen as your standard monitor, position it 15 to 20 inches away.
• Hook up a standard keyboard and mouse (or input device of choice) to the docking station.

• If you do not have a docking station and must work on a lap top then change positions frequently to avoid overuse of any one paticular muscle group.
• Perform micro-break stretches regularly (every 45-60 minutes).

Hotel rooms

• Travel with a "notebook wrist rest" (e.g. a piece of foam your laptop sits on that provides wrist support).
• Always keep an extra mouse (or alternative input device) with your laptop to reduce the amount of time spent using the laptop's device.
• If you work with your laptop on a surface that is too high (the hotel table or desk) use a pillow as an arm/wrist rest to relieve arm and shoulder discomfort.
• Most hotel chairs are not adjustable, and are too low to allow for proper arm and shoulder positioning. Therefore, try sitting on a pillow or phone book to position your shoulders and arms in more neutral position.
• Perform micro-break stretches regularly (every 45-60 minutes).

Air travel

• Whether working with your laptop in your lap or on the tray table, raise your armrests up and use airline pillows to support your arms.
• Use a soft wrist support (e.g. foam) to avoid bending your wrists back.
• Eyes: Air travel tends to cause "dry-eyes," especially if you wear contact lenses. To keep your eyes moist, blink often and regularly.
• To reduce strain on small visual muscles, look around the cabin every 15-20 minutes and focus on faraway objects for 30 seconds.

• Consider using a large font size.
• Perform micro-break stretches regularly (every 20-30 minutes).

Carrying

• Full laptop bags typically weigh between 8-20 pounds. Therefore, always use wide padded shoulder straps or ideally a "backpack" style carrying case with two shoulder straps.
• Alternate between shoulders regularly.
• You may be able to lighten the load by leaving heavy extra batteries or your portable printer behind.

• Take minibreaks while carrying, and stretch your neck and shoulder muscles (neck, mid-back, and shoulder shrugs).
• Use wheeled luggage for items that don't need to be carried in your laptop bag, or, better yet, use wheeled luggage to wheel your laptop.