While laptops give us convenience in many ways, they also place us at risk for injuries. Because the laptop and screen are attached, it can cause both neck and wrist pain.

Ergonomic Risks from Laptops

• Awkward wrist position
• Pressure on the carpal tunnel
• Flexed neck
• Rounded shoulder

Ergonomic Tips for Laptop Users

• Work on a table that is appropriate for your height
• Sit close to the table on a comfortable chair
• Bend your head as little as possible
• Make sure your ears are directly above your shoulders
• If you intend to use your laptop for long periods of time, it is best to get separate monitor, mouse and keyboard to decrease the risk for injuries
• Have a laptop stand or alternatively use books underneath the laptop
• Do not rest for your hands on the laptop surface while typing and make use of a 3-ring binder under the laptop. This decreases the risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Make sure your elbows are not bent more than 90 degrees and this is best achieved by getting a high-enough chair
• Reduce strain on your back by making sure you have footrest if your chair is high.

There will never be a true ergonomic position when using laptops thus it is still important to take a break and change position often.

One of the most useful tools in college is an online storage space where you can keep your school files. Some colleges provide cloud storage within your student email account, but this is usually very limited and difficult to use. There are a ton of other options out there for cloud storage, ranging from 2 GB to 50 GB of free space with an account.

Here’s a list of the best online storage tools available. All of these are free to use.

Free Online Storage Providers

• Google Drive With each Gmail account, Google provides up to 15 GB of storage space in the Google Drive. Google Drive integrates seamlessly with the full range of Google tools, like your email, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and so on. You can share single documents or entire folders if you need to collaborate on a project.
• OneDrive is a free storage option available to anyone with a Microsoft account. You get up to 5 GB of storage space. If you upgrade your Microsoft account to include the suite of Microsoft products, you can get up to 5 TB of storage.
• Amazon Drive is for Amazon Prime users. You can store up to 5 GB of files, including pictures, videos, and more.
• Dropbox only provides 2 GB of storage, but it can sync across all your devices. This is especially useful for those who forgot to email their papers in on time. You can use your phone to access Dropbox and attach files to your email.
• Sync is a super-secure storage provider. Free accounts get 5 GB of end-to-end encrypted storage.

MEGA users can get up to a whopping 50 GB of free storage when they sign up with a free account and download the app.