Spending eight hours or more at a computer workstation cranking out designs is hard enough without having to cope with muscle strain and other annoying side effects of using a computer mouse. These four tips can help you avoid these problems and ensure you and your mouse stay productive over time.

1. Use keyboard shortcuts whenever possible. Non-stop use of a mouse or track-ball can lead to muscle strain in your fingers, hands, wrists, arms or shoulders. Investigate the keyboard shortcuts available in your most used design programs, since this will offload the need to drag, drop and click the mouse as much – significantly reducing the wear and tear on your body.

2. Placement is key. Try moving the mouse closer to your body, as that also will reduce the strain on your arm and shoulder. As a guideline, your arm should be by your side with your elbow at about 90 degrees and your wrist straight and parallel to the desk. Don't bend your wrist upward – that’s a recipe for carpal tunnel.

3. Always use a mouse pad. No matter how silly or useless mousepads seem, they actually are good for you and should be used at all times. Make sure the one you choose has a surface covering that allows free, easy movement. A clean space on your desk is not an appropriate alternative, since it does not provide the necessary padding or friction of a real mouse pad and could lead to further muscle strain.

4. Clean the mouse ball. Mouse balls are dust magnets. Make sure you clean yours on a regular basis. It will roll much better if it’s clean, and you won’t be left wondering why your mouse isn’t going where you want or having to struggle to get it to obey your commands.