What if your favorite chair was trying to kill you?
Whether you work in an office or from home, many of us are sitting down for most of the day. And the chairs and desks we rely on may be hurting our backs and necks.
The result is that you lose productivity and spend your entire day in pain. The solution is simple: you need ergonomic office furniture.
Keep reading to learn more about ergonomic furniture and its many benefits!
What Is Ergonomic Office Furniture?
The word "ergonomic" may sound confusing. But the idea behind it is very simple.
Ergonomic furniture is designed in a special way to improve your posture. This results in less pain to areas like your back, neck, and wrists.
When it comes to office furniture, ergonomic options include special keyboards, desks, monitors, chairs, and more. In fact, there are a ton of options to choose from.
Don't worry, though -- we've put together a solid guide to the very best ergonomic office furniture!
Memory Foam Mouse Pad
Do you experience wrist pain some of the time? Maybe all of the time?
In many cases, the culprit is your computer mouse. You may be using that mouse for eight hours a day or even longer. This can cause some serious pain and strain on your wrist.
However, a memory foam mouse pad can change all of that. More than a simple pad, this special memory foam invention gives you a comfortable place for your wrist.
This is a "one/two" punch for comfort and convenience. Your mouse will be easier to reach and use while your wrist will receive less stress all around.
Ergonomic Chair
If you're on a tight budget, you may only be able to get one ergonomic item. If that's the case, we recommend getting a chair upgrade.
First of all, look for an adjustable chair. You should be able to change factors like height in order to find that "just right" level of comfort.
Second, make sure it has good lumbar support. This makes a real difference when it comes to back pain.
The seats should be comfortable deep (between 16 and 19 inches). This is self-explanatory: no one wants a numb bottom at the end of the day!
Finally, try to get material such as breathable mesh. Whatever you choose, it needs to be a mixture of soft and firm.
An office chair is like a bed: "too soft" can actually be just as bad as "too hard"!
Adjustable Desk
Aside from the chair, your desk plays the biggest role in your posture. If a desk is too tall, you'll strain your neck when you look up at your computer monitor. And if it's too low, you simply strain your neck in the other direction.
The solution: get an adjustable desk! Fortunately, such desks now come in multiple options.
Some of these desks now function like adjustable chairs. That means people of different heights can customize exactly how tall they want the desk to be.
A more modern solution is the standing desk. These are also adjustable and let you type and otherwise work while standing. This is a great way to boost posture while also burning calories!
Ergonomic Keyboard
Earlier, we talked about the importance of getting a good mousepad. The other important desktop upgrade is the ergonomic keyboard.
The rectangular design of most keyboards is definitely a classic. However, that classic design can actually cause pain in your wrists and in your fingers.
Ergonomic keyboards may look pretty strange, but they help to fix these problems. And after a slight learning curve, you'll be more efficient than ever.
In case you were wondering, the curved design of these keyboards was made to match the resting area of your hands. That means less stress every time you type, and that adds up quickly!
Monitor Placement
For better or for worse, most of our posture issues are centered around the computer. And that's because most of us have jobs where we are staring at the monitor all day!
It's possible that upgrading your desk may fix any monitor issues. However, you may need to take other measures (or may not want to upgrade your entire desk right now).
The goal is to have a monitor that is at your eye level and about 20 inches away from you. And it should be at a slight angle--say, 10 or 20 degrees.
The easiest fix for all of this is a good monitor stand. This gives you the flexibility that your eyes, back, and neck have been looking for!
Laptop Stand
So far, we've focused on the idea of working at a traditional desk and on a desktop. However, what about those who use laptops?
Sorry to be the bearers of bad news: laptop users get posture problems too. All of that ideal monitor placement we mentioned before is tough to do when the computer is sitting in your lap.
There are laptop stands designed specifically for improving productivity on the go. By using these stands on top of a desk or table, you can improve the ergonomic experience of using any laptop.
Improved Workstation
This last one isn't exactly a product. Instead, it's a culmination of your other ergonomic upgrades.
It's time to give your work desk a makeover. Goodbye, work desk; hello, workstation!
The idea is to finalize your desk by making it as comfortable as possible. That might include adding a footrest to keep your feet happy for the rest of the day.
Alternately, you may want fans or heaters for a comfortable temperature. And you may want a charging station for your phone and other devices.
When you're done, you won't just have better posture. You'll have a better and more productive workspace.
The Bottom Line
Now you know more about ergonomic office furniture. But do you know where you can buy the very best?
At Uncaged Ergonomics, we bring you the very best selection of ergonomic products. To get started on your office upgrade, check out our active chairs today!