Have you ever thought about how much time you spend in an office chair? If you are a desk-bound individual like millions of other people, you at least end up spending 40 hours a week in your work chair. That means that you are seated in that chair for more than 1,900 hours during the course of every year. Just looking at that number, you would be able to tell that a major portion of our lives is spent sitting in an office chair.
But you know what's really strange? People tend to spend more on a workstation or desk as compared to a chair. Whether it's a traditional workspace or a home office, desks are likely to be more expensive. This is particularly unfortunate given the fact that most people sit in their office chairs longer than they sleep at night. These are the reasons why it is essential to buy a comfortable, functional, and reliable work chair that doesn't compromise your health.
An Office Chair Makes or Breaks Your Work Experience
Many ergonomics studies have proven that a supporting office chair boosts the productivity and efficiency of the individual sitting in it. A terrible office chair, on the other hand, may cause back strain, leg pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome, all of which result in wasted time at work and, as a result, a drop in productivity. Rather than losing work hours because of health conditions, it is critical to invest in suitable office chairs that encourage back health and prevent you from missing work. The chair's cost is more than offset by fewer absences.
What Is the Importance of a Good Chair?
Aside from reducing back pain, having a nice office chair has several advantages. The weariness and pain that may result from sitting in the same chair for hours on end can be avoided with a nice, supportive office chair. People who are more comfortable are more productive and contribute to a more favourable work atmosphere, according to studies. Finally, having the appropriate, comfortable office chair lowers the number of breaks required by a person because of discomfort.
Try Before You Buy
Before purchasing a chair, you should try it on to ensure that it fits your comfort and ergonomic needs properly. In order to make an informed decision, it's critical to understand how the chair should feel. Many office supply providers will allow you to give chairs a go so you may try them out and see which one best suits you. When buying new chairs, chair owners should check for the following features:
- Memory foam should be used if at all feasible. Other cushions rapidly wear out and make the chair uncomfortable and unpleasant.
- The backrest should be able to conform to the curve of your spine and should also support the lower back curvature.
- The centre of the computer screen should be visible from a seated posture facing forward while the back of the chair should reach to the centre of the shoulder blades, or even higher.
- In order to give proper support, the feet should be able to easily rest flat on the floor. Adjust the chair height or add a footrest if necessary.
- Armrests that are close to the body and enable the shoulder to relax are ideal.
- The arm height should be adjustable and correspond to the desk height so the shoulders are not strained as a result.
- The chair seat should be long enough to provide two or three-finger lengths of space between it and the knee.
5 Things to Look for in an Office Chair
Office chairs are an important component of any indoor décor, and many people strive to make them seem attractive without thinking about the health effects they will have. Above everything, the chair's design or ergonomics should be addressed.
Chair Fabric
The fabric should be permeable to prevent the chair from getting hot and unpleasant after many hours of use. It should also have sufficient cushion to support the person sitting on it without allowing the individual to feel the chair's base through the cushion.
Lumbar Support
A decent office chair will provide lower back support. Some of the better ones will even include adjustable lumbar support so that the user may customise the chair to their own lower back. This is critical in reducing back strain, which may increase and lead to sciatica, a not-so-desirable ailment.
Adjustability
Although almost all office chairs offer height and arm adjustments, they aren't the most crucial features to look for when purchasing an office chair. The finest office chairs feature at least five adjustments, and some have as many as fourteen. Lumbar support, arm breadth and height, seat back width and height, seat and back angle, and tension management are all important elements that should be customizable.
Wheel Base
Nearly all office chairs have a wheelbase; however, if the workplace is carpeted, a chair with carpet-specific wheels may be required. Reaching across a desk to get objects that are out of reach might cause strain, but rolling can help.
Rotatable Base
All office chairs should be able to swivel freely to provide easy access to different portions of the desk. Arm tiredness might come from overextending to reach different things if the chair does not swivel freely.
Final Word
Finding the perfect chair that is both comfortable and prevents strain and damage is critical to having a happy, healthy, and productive work environment. Make sure that you get to test several chairs before buying one to ensure that the office chair contributes to increased productivity.
