Be it for a work project that you need to get done or a Netflix show that you need to finish; we have all worked with a laptop on our bed, especially when we are lazy. If you feel guilty and embarrassed about using a laptop on the bed, don’t be because you aren’t the only one doing so.
While using laptop on bed does sound tempting and a whole lot comfortable, it is not the healthiest habit that you could harbor. Consistent usage of a laptop in bed can inflict signs of discomfort and stiffness around the lower and upper back, which will eventually worsen with time.
Not just your body, working it a laptop on bed can lead to laptop overheating, something that is extremely risky, especially if you are neglectful. However, you can use a laptop on bed, especially if you know the ergonomics and the correct tips that go into the same.
Using your laptop components the right way on the bed can reduce the risks of damage to the device and your physical health. Here, I have scrounged through the internet to bring you the best tips to help sort out the issues when it comes to using a laptop on a bed.
Table of Contents
Tips to Keep Laptop Cool on Bed
- Use a Sturdy Surface
- Avoid Sitting Cross-Legged
- Invest in a Laptop Cooling Pad
- Consider Your Comfort
- Focus on the Lighting
- Hook your Laptop to the TV
- Rotate your Screen
- Stretch and Stand
- Consider Buying External Devices
How to Keep Laptop Cool on Bed: Tips
1. Use a Sturdy Surface
One of the biggest mistakes that you make while using a laptop in bed is keeping it on a pillow or your lap. Keeping it on a soft surface often blocks the vents, leading to overheating. The best way to combat that is by placing your laptop on a firm and sturdy surface; it could be a bed laptop table or a lap desk that is more feasible for you.
However, we know that not every person has access to these items, which means that you can keep them on a stack of books or a hard surface that you have lying around in your home. These are several laptop tables for bed that you can invest your coins on.
In case the laptop tables are not space-efficient for you, consider buying a lap desk instead. They are ideal for preventing overheating, offering optimal comfort, and preventing the risks of accidents too.
2. Avoid Sitting Cross-Legged
This might not seem like a big deal in the beginning, but sitting cross-legged will eventually impact the user experience, causing strain on the leg muscles along with persistent pain. However, the alarming impact is on the legs since sitting cross-legged cuts out the blood circulation, leading to numbness and a tingling feeling.
Not just your legs, sitting like this on the bed with a laptop in front of you will eventually take a toll on your lower back, causing pain and a hunched posture. Not just the lower back, this position also strains the muscles around the neck and the shoulders, making them stiff and in pain.
Sitting crossed leg with laptop in bed exemplifies bad posture and eventually results in chronic pain and discomfort in the long run. Even if you are sitting cross-legged, try to have a laptop stand or laptop table in front of you to reduce the strain.
3. Invest in a Laptop Cooling Pad
For optimal ventilation and air circulation from the vents in the laptop, you must maintain the devices’ ergonomics. This also improves the device’s life span and prevents the risks of overheating that many users often complain about. Keep in mind that every laptop, during its operation, will heat up. Some heat up more and some less, depending on their hardware and the way they are used.
While using the best laptop tables for bed can solve overheating issues, investing in a laptop cooling pad is a far better option. If you are an avid gamer or use your laptop for more than 10-12 hours a day consistently, investing in a cooling pad can do wonders for your device.
Cooling pads use the holes in the bottom of the device, ensuring optimal air circulation to prevent overheating and ensure long-lasting device usage. A laptop stand will get the work done. However, we’d suggest getting a laptop cooling pad for better usage.
4. Consider Your Comfort
While the definition of comfort is extremely subjective and depends on the needs of the users, experts suggest that the best position to keep your laptop while on a bed is to keep it on your knees. For this, you can just lie down on your back and raise your knees and keep the laptop on your thighs.
However, keep in mind that this position is only ideal for shorter periods and not for hours, especially if you own a laptop that heats up quickly.
Also, avoid using your laptop while lying down on your stomach because even that results in discomfort around your lower back and neck. You can use a pillow to ensure proper elevation; however, avoid using the pillow for longer periods.
5. Focus on the Lighting
While the majority of us focus on getting a laptop desk or using a laptop stand for optimal comfort, the one thing that most people miss out on is the lighting. Persistent usage of a laptop in bed without proper lighting affects the eyesight pretty badly.
Keep in mind that these impacts don’t happen overnight, which means that your eyesight will get worse eventually by putting a lot of strain on the eyes, resulting in blurry vision or constant pain and redness.
To stop and avoid that from happening, you must check the lighting in the room you are in. Sit in front of the direct sunlight source or have enough artificial lighting to illuminate the entire room. Also, invest in laptops that offer an anti-glare display that reflects excessive light sources.
In case you have to work in darker settings, invest in laptops with a backlit keyboard to ensure enough lighting around the room.
6. Hook your Laptop to the TV
While we wouldn’t suggest this for your work needs, you can use this interaction design and connect your laptop to the TV while watching your favorite show or movie. If you have a smart TV, the chances are to connect to the TV via Bluetooth. However, if that isn’t the case, you might have to invest in an HDMI cable to ensure seamless connectivity.
However, if you connect your laptop to the TV for work, you will need external accessories like a wireless mouse and keyboard for a comfortable work experience.
7. Rotate your Screen
Another one of the best tricks to use your laptop in bed is by rotating your screen’s orientation, especially when you are watching a movie while sleeping sideways.
Instead of letting your screen stay in landscape mode, you can always rotate the screen to portrait mode to help you use your laptop while lying down. However, ensure that you always place your laptop on top of a laptop table or a cooling pad to prevent the risks of heat and damage to your laptop in the long run.
8. Stretch and Stand
Just like on a normal computer desk and chair, you need to stand and stretch even when you are sitting on your bed with a laptop. This is necessary to prevent strain on the muscles and the complaints of pain and discomfort that most of the users tend to complain about.
If you don’t have an option to stand up, sit there and stretch your back and limbs now and then relieve the muscles’ stiffness and strain.
9. Consider Buying External Devices
Another trick while using a laptop in bed is to invest in some external devices like a mouse and keyboard. I am suggesting this because it provides the user with more flexibility while using the components of the laptop, which you wouldn’t have to worry about the ergonomics of the device.
Wireless external devices offer you maximum flexibility and reduce the strain and discomfort that several users experience while using a laptop in bed.
Using external devices also enables you to maintain the ideal right-angle position that reduces the risks of neck strains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it Bad to Use a Laptop in Bed?
While this is not an ideal setting, it is one of the most common positions people leverage for optimal comfort. It is okay to use a laptop on the bed now and then; however, make sure that you don’t make a habit out of it. That’s when the problem arises.
Why do Laptops Overheat in Bed?
The majority of the laptops are designed with air vents on the bottom or the device’s sides. Keeping your laptop on the bed or over a pillow covers up these vents, resulting in blocked air circulation leading to overheating risks. Blockage in the fan vents prevents even dissipation of heat, resulting in the excess production of heat.
Is it Worth Invest in Laptop Tables for Bed?
Yes, if you don’t have a proper computer desk and chair set at home, investing in the best laptop tables for bed is your next best option. Not only do they improve the ergonomics, but they also reduce the strain on your body in the long run.
Conclusion
Using a laptop in bed can seem very inviting. However, the idea can soon take a sour turn if you don’t follow the tips mentioned above. Not only do you need to manage the temperatures, but you also need to ensure that the laptop screen is at the correct angle for optimal convenience. At the end of the day, you want to enjoy the benefits of using a laptop in your bed and not make it a big problem.
