Studying Online;Succeeding through Distance Learning at University

30 Getting ready for online study 
use, so it needs to be comfortable and reliable. In much the same 
way as the desk, opt for the most expensive chair you can aford. 
According to the Consumers’ Association, it is essential to get a 
comfortable chair that can prevent muscle strain (Morgan, 2021). 
Whether you select a grand leather chair, one made of mesh, or a 
chair that allows you to kneel on it is more of a personal choice. 
What is essential for students who are studying online is that they 
consider health and safety in much the same way as a campus 
university would do for students on their premises. Investing in 
a good chair will help ensure your studying is comfortable and 
helps your overall well-being. Tere are plenty of websites that 
provide advice on choosing a good chair. Ultimately, that advice 
comes down to having a chair that is adjustable, and that has good 
back support. 
Where will you sit? 
Te position of your desk and chair in the room is essential. You 
will want to sit in a situation where your desk and computer 
screen are not subject to shadows or refections. As you will see 
in Chapter 11, one of the main difculties with studying online is 
its impact on your eyes. Troughout an online degree, you will be 
looking at a computer for several years, which means it is crucial 
to take steps to help ensure your eyes are not afected. Part of that 
process is thinking about where the desk will be. 
If your desk has a window behind it, your screen will have an-
noying refections that cause you to strain your eyes or miss im-
portant details in what you are viewing. Equally, if you sit with a 
window behind you, the video conference calls you take part in 
will not be good because you will be in silhouette. Furthermore, 
according to the Feng Shui master, Sarah McAllister, the best po-
sition for your desk is diagonally opposite the door, facing into the 
room (McAllister, 2020). If you have a wall behind you, then you 
will feel protected. 

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