Seating position and hand placement

When working at a computer, it is very important to sit correctly. The chair should be adjusted to the proper height. Sit upright without leaning against the back of the chair. Keep your feet under the desk next to each other; it is not recommended to stretch them forward or tuck them under the chair. Do not tense your shoulders. Your arms from the shoulder to the elbow should hang freely downward and remain parallel to your torso. Your wrists should not rest on the keyboard, and your elbows should lightly touch your body. Bend your elbows at approximately a 90-degree angle. Direct your forearms toward the center of the keyboard, let your fingers rest lightly on the keys, and keep your hands centered. Your hands, forearms, and elbows should be at the same level as the keyboard. The front edges of the keyboard and the desk should be aligned

Tip: Buy a soft wrist rest. First, it will raise your wrists to the level of the keyboard, and second, it will prevent your wrists from being pressed against the edge of the desk

Sequence for positioning your hands and fingers on the keyboard:

1. Bend your arms at the elbows and extend your hands forward with your palms facing down
2. Bring your hands together so that your index fingers touch each other, with your thumbs pointing downward
3. Lower the first two phalanges of your fingers downward, slightly bending them
4. Move your hands apart, leaving about 4 cm between your index fingers
5. Place your hands on the keyboard (the left index finger will rest on the F key and the right index finger on the J key; these keys have raised marks that help you control correct hand placement)

If the recommendations are followed correctly, all fingers will fall into the home position, touching the center of their assigned keys with their fingertips. When placed in the home position, the fingers should be slightly curved, as if holding a round object. The index fingers should lightly touch the center of the F and J keys but should not press on them. Proper seating and hand placement are shown in the image below

Tip: When practicing your first keystrokes, do not forget about elbow position. Do not press them too tightly against your body or move them too far outward. Your arms should hang freely from the shoulders; otherwise, your hands will take an incorrect position on the keyboard