Recovery times
Including recovery times during VDU work increases work rate and reduces the number of errors (Van den Heuvel, et al., 2002; Hedge, et al., 2001). If employees leave their workplace and take a walk during these recovery times, their energy level increases and they look at problems differently (Thayer, 2008). This results in
more creativity and a better problem-solving capability (Oppezzo & Schwartz, 2014). In terms of the workplace, this means that VDU users can increase their work performance considerably by leaving their workstation for three minutes every hour to walk around.
Mental rest
Mental rest is as important for employees as it is for professional athletes. To achieve the right effect, however, requires providing enough free time when work is no longer on the employee’s mind. When the demands of work increase, it is important to keep employees from having to work longer hours. Telework can provide a solution since it reduces commuting time. On the other hand, decisions to keep on working a little longer and to focus continuously on work are harder for employees to make. Another solution is to look at how employees could save time by making minor changes.

Saving time
It’s possible to save time by optimising the conditions needed for VDU work. Employees use a desktop computer, laptop, tablet and/or smartphone to do their VDU work. The number of hours we spend a day at this is increasing, and this doesn’t include the number of hours we use these devices for leisure-time activities. Having a large enough screen (at least 19 inches) is essential to be able to work quickly. The work rate is considerably slower on a smartphone, tablet or laptop because of their small screens (Raptis, et al., 2013; Findlater & McGrenere 2008).
In addition to their small screens, these devices have some more disadvantages. Typing, for example, is much slower on them than on a standard keyboard. Due to the lack of tactile feedback, typing on a tablet is 26% slower than on a standard keyboard (Chaparro, et al., 2014). Another factor is the colour of the keyboard: 80% of employees type faster on a light-coloured keyboard with dark characters than on a standard black

keyboard with white letters (IJmker, 2015).
The majority of employees make no use of the numeric section of the keyboard. Using a compact keyboard reduces the reaching distance between the keyboard and the mouse, so this saves time. If a notebook stand elevates the laptop’s screen and employees use an external mouse and keyboard, the work rate increases (depending on the task) from 17% (Lindblad, et al., 2004) to 115% ( Sommerich, et al., 2001).
Uniting the goals of organisations and employees
Professional athletes ensure their physical and mental recovery so that they can improve every day and thus excel at crucial moments. Based on this model, employees could perform better by taking a 3-minute walk every hour and by making sure that they do their VDU work with a freely adjustable screen
of at least 19 inches in diameter and an external keyboard and external mouse. Making use of these practical solutions makes it possible to reduce overtime and, at the same time, to achieve the goals of both organisations and their employees. If you would like to know more about how these insights can be applied to practical situation, then read: A practical guide to improving work performance with insights from pro sports.