Looking to take a comfortable seat at your workstation? Computer chairs come in a huge assortment so that you can find just the right one to suit your needs. View all Office SeatingHome > Home > Sit down and relax in our favorite office chairs Anyone who works a typical 9-to-5 job knows that sitting is the bane of their existence. Our backs and overall body structure aren’t made to withstand hours sitting at a desk, but work often demands just that. Opting for the proper office chair, one designed to cradle you as you work and provide you with the ample comfort, is a practical and well-advised solution. More: Don’t just sit there, check out the best standing desks you can buy The best chairs go beyond what you’d expect. Many offer resounding ergonomic benefits, breathable mesh backing, and excellent lumbar support, while simultaneously granting you a swath of customization options spanning everything from colors to contours. None of them are going to be a cure-all for your workday woes — at least, not in the way a standing desk might be — but customized suspension and the appropriate aesthetics go far in the long haul.
The Best: Herman Miller Embody So, what is it about the Embody we hold so revered? It’s a fair question, sure, especially considering the Embody’s lofty price tag and accompanying shipping costs. Well, for starters, the chair offers a dynamic matrix of “pixels” that allow the seat and back to automatically conform to your body’s every movement, while the chair’s central spine and flexible ribs work to maintain proper posture regardless if you lean forward or recline. Said movement capabilities help promote better blood and oxygen flow, and if that wasn’t enough, the advanced tilt mechanism helps combat unwanted hip, neck, and lumbar strain. The chair even sizes to fit your body perfectly, comes in a swath of colors, and features a skin-like covering for increased airflow. Buy one now from: DXRacer Formula Series DOH/FH08/NW ItalModern Bungie High Back Office Chair Office Star Air GridStop whatever you're doing and freeze. Now, evaluate your body.
Does anything -- your neck, perhaps -- feel achy? And your wrists and fingers -- are they okay after all that typing and texting?While working long hours at the computer, you've complained about (and subsequently ignored) the toll desk work takes on your body. But it's easy to brush off the daily aches and pains when the solution is so unclear.If you're lucky, your company might offer its employees ergonomic consultations. But, if you're among the majority without such luxuries, it's time to take matters into your own hands.Obviously, talk to a doctor or ergonomic specialist before making any changes, but we talked to a couple of ergo experts, and this is what they recommended. Scoot your chair away from your desk and sit down comfortably. For many people, it would look a lot like sitting in a car. Your feet are on the floor in front of you; your hands are in your lap; and your shoulders relax as you lean back just a bit. Your behind...is behind you.This is called your "natural posture."
In it, your vertebrae are stacked, your entire back moves as you breathe, and your pelvis is positioned so that your spine is stacked properly.Memorize this natural posture. Since we've been taught to "sit up straight" and "tuck in" the tailbone, it won't be an easy change. If it helps, take Esther Gokhale's advice and pretend you have a tail.With this in mind, you can start building an ergonomic workstation that supports this posture.Building around the natural posture, the keyboard and mouse should be positioned in a way that keeps your elbows to your sides, and your arms at or below a 90-degree angle. This way, the muscle load is reduced and you're not straining.Position your keyboard 1 to 2 inches above your thighs. For most people, that probably means employing a pull-out keyboard tray. Alternatively, you can lower your desk, but the keyboard tray is a preferred method. The keyboard should ideally be positioned with a negative tilt -- down and away from you, so that your arms and hand follow the downward slope of your thighs.
That being said, never use the kickstands provided underneath most keyboards.Ideally, your keyboard and mouse should be shoulder-distance apart and as level as possible. A couple of things will help you achieve this.First, consider purchasing a keyboard without a number pad, as the number pad puts the letter keys -- your primary input tools -- off-center. As for keeping the mouse and keyboard level, you might want to raise your keyboard with some DIYing, or get a flatter mouse.Setting up your screen, or screens, doesn't have to be complicated. Arrange them in this order, and you'll be set.If your screen is too far away, you'll start doing something ergonomics experts like to call "turtling," or craning your neck. Place the monitor too far away, and you'll find yourself extending to reach it. To find the sweet spot, sit back and extend your arm. The tips of your middle finger should land on your screen. If you have two monitors, set them up side by side (no gap), and place the secondary monitor off-center.
Those who use both monitors equally should center them both. Now, sit back and extend your arm and pan in an arch. As you pan your arm, your finger tip should almost always touch the monitors. Use the same logic when placing other items, like a document holder or a phone.To adjust the height, try this ergo trick: close your eyes. When you open them, your eyes should land on the address bar. If not, lower or raise the monitors using the built-in option, with risers, or with a book. You can also check out this guide for more on height adjustment.Finally, tilt the monitors down just a smidge to avoid reflections.Your chair is your best ergonomic friend. It supports your back, your bottom, and your posture. There are many chairs to choose from, but only a few important things to look out for.Think back to your natural posture. With your tailbone sticking out just a bit, and your vertebrae in their slight curve, the lumbar portion of your spine points in toward your belly. To help you sustain this posture, find a chair that offers good lumbar support.
When you sit down, there should be a little space between the edge of the chair and the back of your knees, about the size of your fist. Depending on the chair, you might be able to adjust the seat depth accordingly.When you sit, your feet should be on the floor (not dangling) in front of you, and your thighs should be slightly below your hips. Shorter folks might need to use a footrest, while extra-tall types might need to adjust the height of the desk.If you ever find yourself tucking your feet behind you, sitting on one leg, or in another funky position, you chair needs to be adjusted.After all is said and done, there's one final piece that you can't simply set-and-forget: physical activity. Take a break at least once an hour to walk around the office or stretch. If it helps, set an hourly alarm as a reminder.No matter how ergonomic your workstation is, stretching your body is the only thing that can combat the health issues that arise from prolonged sitting. To guide this article, we turned to Alan Hedge, a professor at Cornell University who has been teaching, researching, and consulting on ergonomics for over 30 years.