An office chair might seem like a small detail, but it’s essential to your health, productivity, and overall well-being. You’ll spend hundreds of hours in your chair every year and want to be sure you’re making the right choice.
Why Your Office Chair Matters
If you have an office job, you’d probably be shocked to learn how much time you spend in your office chair over the course of a year. Throughout an eight- or nine-hour workday, it’s possible that you spend as much as six hours sitting at your desk. That equals 30 hours per week, 120 hours per month, and as much as 1,500-plus hours over the course of a year.
The right office chair can mean the difference between good health and bad health, and high output and stagnant results. It impacts several areas of your life and job, including:
- Comfort. The last thing you want is to be uncomfortable when sitting at your desk. It steals your focus and causes you to think about things other than the work at hand. A comfortable chair makes it to where you don’t even think about your chair during the workday. It simply blends in and complements rather than distracts.
- Better health. Studies show that the right office chair reduces blood sugar levels, promotes better heart health, enhances energy levels, and reduces back and neck pain.
- Improved productivity. Too much sitting leaves you unmotivated and tired. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and lose focus. By combining the right office chair with a standing desk, you can perform at peak levels whether you’re sitting or standing.
When you look at the office chair selection process through the lens of these three factors, it becomes overwhelmingly evident just how important it is. Make sure you slow down the process enough to be intentional with your decisions.
4 Tips for Choosing the Right Chair
Choosing the right office chair is a highly personal choice that comes down to a few key decision points. Here are a few ways to filter your choice:
- Consider Ergonomics
If you spend more than an hour or two in your office chair every workday, you have to take ergonomics seriously. The standard office chairs you purchase at a big box store aren’t going to provide the level of support and customization that you need. Instead, shop high-quality online office furniture stores and read the online reviews.
- Think About Style
There are more than a dozen different styles of office chairs. Some are compact, while others are plush. You have chairs with headrests and others that have nothing but a seat and back. Some chairs are made of leather, while other chairs have mesh fabric that’s more breathable. It’s ultimately up to you to determine the look and feel that you want.
- Stick to a Budget
A budget shouldn’t be the ultimate deciding factor, but it is something to consider. There are $100 office chairs, $500 chairs, and even $1,000 chairs. You get different features and benefits at different price points. Determining what your budget is ahead of time helps to narrow your selection and focus your efforts.
- Try if Possible
It’s not always possible, but if you can try out an office chair prior to buying, it’s a good idea. Because no matter what the reviews say, your body shape, needs, and preferences are different than the next person’s.
Giving an office chair a test drive allows you to find that perfect fit. But even if you can’t try out the specific model that you’re looking to buy, trying out other models on a showroom floor lets you make informed assessments regarding what features you like, don’t like, etc.
Buy With Confidence
You aren’t marrying your office chair, but you will spend several thousand hours with it before it’s all said and done. Make sure it’s something that’s both comfortable and ergonomically friendly. If you need to spend a little extra to get the right fit, do it. Your health and productivity are on the line!