Why bringing your own chair to office might change your life

Here’s a question for you – are you happy with your office chair?

For most people, the answer to that question would be a resounding ‘no’. Maybe it’s the lack of ergonomics, or maybe it’s just not very comfortable – but a fair number of people dislike the chairs they use in office every day, and that’s because not enough attention is paid to getting the right ones.

How many hours a day do you spend sitting in your chair? The average workday is 8-9 hours long – of that, most people would spend at least 5-6 hours in their chairs. That’s almost a quarter of each and every day sitting uncomfortably, and that could easily do long-term damage to your health.

What’s the solution, you ask? You need to make your health (which directly affects your productivity) the highest priority here. Now, you could go about that in a couple of ways – you could lobby for better chairs in your office, or you could take matters into your own hands.

Getting your own office chair might sound silly, but you’ll have complete control over the buying process. You can choose the features that matter to you, and you get to pick the chair you’re most comfortable with.

Here’s what you should keep in mind while picking the perfect office chair for you:

‘Ergonomic’ has become one of those keywords that just about every advertisement will toss around; but the truth of such claims is that little more than lip service is paid to these issues.

• Mobility – Whether you like them wheeled chairs or stationary, the ideal chair needs to be able to swivel. This ensures that you won’t have to twist into awkward positions to reach objects in your workspace.
• Reclining – A reclining chair reduces pressure on your back and spine, and ensures that you don’t have to compromise your posture.
• Posture – When considering posture, there are two primary factors to keep in mind – your thighs and your forearms. The former need to be parallel to the ground, and the latter should be parallel to the table.
• Depth – The ideal distance between the back of your knees and the front of the seat is no more than four fingers’ width.
• Armrests – Your arms should be resting comfortably, and your shoulders must not be hunched.
• Lumbar support – Back pain is one of the most common office ailments. A chair with good lumbar support can do wonders for your back and your posture.

A good chair can keep you feeling energized. It can improve your focus, and keep you fresh. It can keep you healthy and productive. A bad chair…well, you can imagine. Office chairs are usually bought in bulk, where convenience or a good price are the highest priority. If that’s true for you, you need to take matters into your own hands and change those priorities by getting your own chair.