So why should it be any different for office chairs?

Why try before you buy isn’t as simple as it seems
Lots of people will happily sit in an desk chair at an office equipment retailer for less than a minute and make a snap decision to buy.

It’s likely they’re looking for a new chair because their old one is worn out and uncomfortable. So it’s only natural that whatever you sit in will feel great by comparison.

There is no way such an arbitrary test can possibly indicate whether a chair is right for you or not. Even if you sat in it for half an hour you still wouldn’t know if it was suitable.

In reality you need to sit in an office chair for several days before you know whether it’s right for you or not. The reason it takes this length of time to be completely sure is because your body needs to be comfortable with the way the chair feels. And the only way to be certain is to use it for many hours at a time.

It’s unlikely you will get the chance to test a chair thoroughly without first buying it. So buying online makes as much sense as buying offline and it’s a lot simpler too.

Why buying offline is a lot of hassle
At first it seems that buying offline makes sense. However as we’ve already seen a few quick minutes sitting in the display chair is meaningless in terms of knowing whether it’s suitable for you. So you won’t know if it’s right until you tested it properly at work over several days.

Also you have to drive to go and buy the chair. Then you have the hassle of loading it into your vehicle and handling the delivery yourself.

And if the chair has to be returned then you have to box it back up, load it back in your car and use more gas to return it for a refund.

Buying online avoids a lot of these hassles

Why buying online makes sense
When you buy online it’s far more convenient. For a start you don’t need to be the delivery driver. Instead your chair gets delivered to your door by a service like FedEx or UPS. The only lifting you need to do is taking it out of the box and into your office.

Provided you approach your chair purchase online thoroughly it makes a great deal of sense to buy this way.

You will also have a far greater choice of chairs online than you will find at the typical office furniture store.

To begin with do some online research for suitable chairs to shortlist. Read reviews of chairs on sites such as this. Read customer feedback to see if there are any comments pointing out potential problems.

Once you’ve narrowed down to the chair you want the only other thing to check before ordering is what the return policy is.

Why a 30 day return period is vital
A good online store will allow you 30 days in which to return a chair if you find it’s not suitable.

It’s essential to have this sort of time to be really sure the chair is right for you. Depending on the type of chair you will likely want to fine tune the adjustments over the first few days. Then when you feel you have everything set properly it will give you the chance to try it under all sorts of conditions.

Does it still feel as comfortable when you’ve been sitting in it for 6 hours or more? Does it support you properly when carrying out different tasks such as typing, surfing the net, reading etc?

Also, think about the color of the fabric. Black or grey make a good choice as they will go with most color schemes. If you are looking to match the seat covering with your interior contact the supplier and ask them to send you samples of fabric. You don’t want to find the color clashes with your surroundings.

If you do decide to return it you’ll probably have to pay the return carriage typically about $75. Although this seems to make online purchase more costly should you need to return you chair. When you weigh up all the hassle of driving to a store and lugging the chair into your car twice. The true cost of an offline return is likely just as much if not more.

Some stores also charge a re-stocking fee so make sure you check thoroughly to avoid any nasty surprises.

Summary
Let’s quickly summarize the key points we’ve covered here:

• Sitting in a sample chair for 5 minutes is no way to know if it’s suitable
• Buying offline has hidden costs that aren’t immediately apparent
• The choice of chairs online is far more comprehensive
• Insist on a 30 day return period so you can test the chair properly

Here’s where you can find a quick summary of some of the best office chairs to place on your shortlist of potential chairs.

Got A "Mike Tyson" Chair?

Do you ever feel like sitting in your office chair all day is like climbing into a boxing ring with Mike Tyson?

It buffets you from pillar to post, inflicting pain on your body. No matter what you do, the longer you’re in it the more it hurts.

Until by the end of the day your dying for the bell to end the final round so you can get out of it and head off home.

Maybe it’s time you went out and got an ergonomic office chair.

What exactly is an ergonomic office chair?
This is actually quite a difficult question to answer. Truthfully an ergonomic office chair has no proper definition and so is actually meaningless when describing any chair. If this wasn’t bad enough, there is no government or industry standard to describe such a chair.

Consequently you have to be very careful when attempting to buy one to make sure you don’t get stitched up.

How can you be misled when buying a chair described as ergonomic?
All too easily I’m afraid. Because there is no proper definition it means that suppliers can use the term to describe just about anything that has a seat, back and swivel base.

You see this all the time in discount warehouses, cheap shoddy chairs with little more than bamboo springs bearing the epithet ‘ergonomic’ which magically transforms a piece of junk into something apparently worth owning.

I don’t think so. So, just because it says ergonomic on the wrapper guarantees nothing. Great! How do I sift the wheat from the chaff?

Solving the ergonomic chair dilemma
Let’s begin by giving the term ergonomic office chair some kind of definition. Here’s how I would describe such a seat.

“An ergonomic office chair is an office chair that has been carefully designed for the user to be able to work productively, efficiently and safely as well as minimizing any feeling of fatigue or discomfort.”

OK why don’t we take things a stage further and consider the actual functions such a chair needs. I believe there are 5 essential functions our chair needs to be truly worthy of the title ergonomic. Here they are:

• Adjustable seat depth for optimal leg comfort
• Adjustable back height to allow the lower back to be correctly supported
• Adjustable Arm Height for ease of movement and minimize the risk of RSI
• Pneumatic height adjustment to suit your body height and weight
• Adjustable tilt tension allowing each individual user to set the correct pressure

Some high-end chairs actually automate back and tension adjustments, making it even easier to set up to your personal needs. And bear in, you are going to need to invest $300+ if you want of get all the advantages that an ergonomic office chair offers.

What benefits will you gain by selecting the right chair?
You will find is very easy to adjust the settings for the way you like to work. Once correctly configured you’ll notice as you move, the chair moves with you to safely and comfortably support you at all times.

You will be less aware of the chair due to its superior comfort and so find you can concentrate throughout your day’s work. This results in much better productivity and focus on your work.

Because the chair is designed to give you proper support, muscles don’t tire nearly as quickly. This also improves blood flow helping to keep you feeling much more alert and fresh even when tackling complex problems.

You’ll know when you have everything set up to match with your body because the chair will feel like it fits like a glove. And insisting on the 5 essential functions will greatly increase your chances of doing so and avoiding the wrong chair.

Making sure you don’t end up with the wrong product
Let’s quickly summarize the points I’ve covered so you don’t get landed with a liability but instead find a chair that will serve you for many years to come.

Remember there is no official description of an ergonomic office chair, so maintain a healthy skepticism about any products labeled ergonomic, especially cheap chairs.

Use my definition to point you in the right direction.

Insist on getting the 5 essential functions on any chair you buy.

Remember the benefits you will gain by picking a proper ergonomic office seat and realize you need to make an investment to get the right product.

By applying these guidelines you will give yourself a great chance of finding the right chair. After all, you surely don’t want another of those Mike Tyson chairs do you?

Here’s a summary of some excellent ergonomic office chairs which have been carefully designed to give you great working comfort for those long hours in the office.

Did you ever have one of those bouncy balls as a kid? I know I did and yet I never imagined exercise balls might be used one day by people as office chairs.

What is an exercise ball chair?

Evolution Ball Chair

Exercise balls have been around for many years now and they are popular with people who want to keep fit and toned.

They are very resilient and extremely easy to use, you just need to inflate them and then you’re all set.

Some people just use the ball on its own as a chair, however I don’t think that’s a good idea.

If you plan to use one, it’s best go for a proper exercise ball chair and these days they are very popular with office workers.

Why have they taken off and what persuades people to use them
I think the biggest reason they are so popular as office seats is mainly down to the fact that some people are heartily fed up with the discomfort of their office chair. This is almost always due to the fact that they have only ever used cheap crappy chairs and so assume that all chairs are uncomfortable. They read about how wonderful ball chairs are and all the healthy benefits and decide to take the plunge.

Is an exercise ball a healthy office seat alternative?
Many people switching to a ball chair do so because they believe it is a healthier way to sit. However, the benefits of sitting on one and the health advantages of using it as a means of exercise, tend to become blurred.
Sitting on an exercise ball alone is not advisable because it requires you full attention in keeping balanced. As soon as your concentration lapses you may very well find yourself on the deck. This is particularly true when first getting used to one.

If you really like the idea of an exercise ball chair, much better to choose one that includes a frame as it has a number of benefits.

Advantages of a ball chair

• They are very simple to use you only need inflate it to suit your body size
• Cost effective and generally much cheaper than a good office chair
• Very resilient and can take heavy users who may weigh 350lbs or more
• Safe as an office chair provided it is the sort made for use as a chair
• The ball can be removed and used as a means of exercise

Disadvantages of a ball chair

• Some users have stability problems with them especially at first
• Need to build up your core muscles for prolonged use
• It can be difficult to maintain good back posture on models without back supports
• Maneuverability can be more difficult than a conventional office chair
• Many ergonomists are deeply skeptical about their benefits

Is an exercise ball a good choice as an office chair?
As you have seen there are advantages and disadvantages in using an exercise ball as your office chair. A ball on its own is not a good idea, it just isn’t stable enough or practical in use. However, when you go for a proper ball chair with its own frame they can make good office seats. Best to go for one with castors, arms and a back because you’ll find it a lot of easier to use.

And bear in mind, it may well take some time for your core muscles to build up. So be patient and get used to it gradually by sitting in it for short periods to begin with. After all, you don’t want one of those boing, boing, bang moments from childhood, office floors and desk edges can be quite unforgiving.

Further reading
Many ergonomists don’t recommend using ball chairs, you can read about their reasons here. And if you want to know more about what’s available here’s where you can find some reviews of ball chairs.

Avoid Halloween Horror Chairs

Just a few days from now it will be Halloween and families will be having parties with kids enjoying their tricks and treats. Fortunately it’s all just harmless fun and folks have a great time as the nightmares are only make believe.

If you are looking to replace your office chair you need to avoid making for real Halloween mistakes. Because if you get it wrong the ghouls will be with you every minute you sit in your new chair.

It’s actually very easy to be sucked in by what seems like a great office chair. When you are shopping in your local office supplies store chances are you may be tempted by the glitzy display of office seating. And when you sit in the sample chair it feels comfortable too. That’s not surprising, when you’ve been wandering around for a while it’s nice to take the weight off your feet, so it likely will feel welcoming.

It’s only when you’ve used a chair for an hour or two that its limitations become all too clear.

In this article we’re going to take a look at 3 key ways of avoiding buying the wrong office chair

• Buying a chair with no tension adjustment
• Buying a chair with fixed arms
• Buying a chair solely on price

So let’s look at the first problem.

Don’t buy a chair which lacks tension adjustment
When you spend all day working in a desk chair it’s only natural that you want to relax and recline every now and then. Many cheap chairs have no way of altering the pressure required as you lean back in them.

What you get is a preset tension based on the manufacturer’s best guess on what’s right. You might get lucky, however for many it soon becomes a nightmare.

Light framed people find themselves gripping the chair arms and straining to get the thing to go back. And as soon as you relax the damn thing flips you forward again.

Heavy built people have the opposite problem. The chair just lurches backward without warning threatening to pitch you on the floor.

So, make sure any chair you’re thinking of buying let’s you adjust the tilt tension. Some automatically adjust to suit your weight but you won’t find this feature on budget chairs.

Onto the next rule.

Don’t buy a chair with fixed arms
The right arms on an office chair are important. Humans all come in different sizes and it simply isn’t possible to cater for individual preferences with a fixed arm.

You need to make sure the arms on your chair are height adjustable. That way you can set them so your lower arms are comfortably supported with you shoulders resting naturally.

Some arms have additional features like being able to move them forwards, backwards or in and out. These arms are often called highly adjustable and the added features can be useful.

And the last rule.

Never buy an office chair just because it’s cheap
More often than not cheap office chairs turn out to be a very poor bargain in the long run. Occasionally there is an opportunity to get a genuine reduction on a quality chair, maybe a discontinued range or ex showroom item. And that’s fine.

However, what you must avoid is chairs priced around $100 or less. The reason is simple. Chairs like this are made to meet a price point. The only thing on the maker’s mind is how it can cut costs to meet the price. There are a lot of things in a task chair you can’t see and this is where corners get cut.

Low quality seat foam that goes flatter than a squashed ant after a couple months use.
Poor quality steel components that quickly wear and become sloppy or break altogether.
Cheap upholstery that just doesn’t last.

Buying on price alone truly is a false economy tempting as it may seem.

So to save yourself from horror chairs:

• Make sure the chair has tension adjustment to let you relax easily when you need to
• Fixed arms rarely give good support; make sure you can adjust the height of the arms
• Don’t buy solely on price; it’s a false economy which you will quickly regret.

Make these part of your selection criteria and your chair won’t haunt you the rest of the year.

Here’s a useful video and article on the key features that make up a proper ergonomic office chair to help point you in the right direction.

Why poor sitting habits cause you discomfort
Very often the reason an office chair becomes uncomfortable is not wholly down to the chair. It’s often as a result of not sitting properly in it. And the thing is it’s actually far easier to sit badly in a chair than it is to sit well. Maybe you remember the old adage of sitting upright that your parents and teachers drummed into you when you were growing up. Somehow it doesn’t appear to help.

Why sitting up straight doesn’t work
On the face of it sitting up straight seems like a good idea. The reality is that you’re forcing your body into an unnatural posture when you try and sit up straight. What happens is you tend to overarch your back and this then overcorrects the placement of your spine and bones forcing them into a forced uncomfortable posture. The initial set up when you sit down is what matters.

It’s all down to them bones
The base of your pelvis has a bony protrusion on each side called the ischial tuberosity. Or in plain English the sitting or sitz bones. The way these bones are positioned is vital for your sitting comfort. If you place your hands under your buttocks as you sit down you should feel the bony protrusion of your sitz bones. As you sit try pulling them into alignment so that you are sitting on the bones. This then sets up your pelvis correctly for sitting and you will find that the rest of your supporting bones will line up properly as a result. When everything is correctly arranged it’s easy to sit in comfort. Get it wrong and pain is never far away.

How poor sitting habits cause you discomfort
Where most people get it wrong is they sit on the back of their pelvis and so the sitting bones don’t get used. What happens is the spine starts to become rounded. It has a knock on effect as it rotates your shoulders and places your head forwards.

And it’s the poor postural alignment that quickly begins to inflict pain on the body as everything is working under strain. Unlike the natural support you get with the correct placement of the sitz bones. Because we’re not used to sitting correctly many find it difficult to achieve and need a helping hand.

How a simple wedge can transform your posture

The Wedge For Aligning Sitting Bones

Posture expert Kathleen Porter is well aware of the trouble people have with being able to sit correctly, especially after they’ve spent many years sitting the wrong way.

She has come up with a neat little posture corrector called the Wedge. And if you’re thinking that you’ve tried seat wedges before and they don’t work this is a little different.

Most seat wedges take up the whole of the seat and that’s where Kathleen’s wedge is unusual. It’s much smaller and can literally be carried anywhere.

It’s designed to change your posture in a way that realigns the rear part of your bottom. It quickly places your sitz bones in the correct position. What you do is to place the wedge at the rear of your buttocks and as you sit down you lift and shuffle your left and right buttock in turn to align the sitz bones correctly. Once your sitting properly the wedge keeps your posture correctly aligned.

Of course if you chair is worn out and needs to be replaced the wedge won’t magically make your chair better. Although it will probably help if sitting is intolerable.

Wrapping up
Let’s quickly look at what we’ve covered here:
It’s not always the fault of your office chair that you suffer discomfort
Sitting rigidly up straight is unnatural and won’t improve your posture
You need to learn how to sit and use your sitz bones
Using a device like the wedge can greatly assist you to sit healthily

So before you decide to replace your chair with one with all those cool new features, take time to see if you are sitting correctly. You’ll need to persevere to make it a habit as you unlearn the way you have previously been sitting. Here’s where you can find more details on the wedge to help you achieve good sitting posture.

Whilst all of this is undoubtedly true, proper desk set up is important for your working comfort, and as we’ll see it’s not as permanent as it seems.

What is desk set up?
Setting up your desk is all about making sure you that you make the best use of your workspace. It’s making sure that the things you need to complete your work in comfort are all positioned in the right place, so you aren’t straining to reach them. I know this is all obvious and yet many people have a lousy desk set up.

Who needs to have a good desk set up?
Pretty much anyone who spends more than an hour or so a day at a workstation needs to ensure that their workspace is organized efficiently. So, if you working time is spent in front of a desk you need to know how to get it properly organized.

How to set up your desk correctly
As already pointed out your desk is a permanent fixture, it’s rather like a house the thing doesn’t move once it’s built. Everything that you use with your desk is movable and that is the key to successfully achieving a healthy, comfortable way of working. So think of your desk as your house and all the things you use with it are the furnishings.

The first thing you need to do is make sure your office chair is properly adjusted. Your feet should be firmly on the floor with your thighs at a slightly open angle to your upper body. If your chair has adjustable arms make sure they are positioned to support your lower arms properly with your shoulders in a natural relaxed posture. And be sure you can reach your keyboard and mouse easily too. Lastly set your chair back to give good lower back support in your lumbar region.

Once you’re happy that you are sitting comfortably, it’s time to look at the rest of your equipment.

Next in line is your monitor
Set the height of the screen so that your eyes are lined up with the top area of screen. Move the monitor in or out as necessary so that you can comfortably read the screen without craning your neck forwards. This is very important to get right as continually leaning forwards puts huge stress on the neck muscles and is a major source of neck and shoulder pain.

Other equipment
Now it’s time to consider all the other things you use continually during your working day. Things like phones, printers, scanners, files etc. Prioritize them and make sure the things you use most frequently are close to hand so you aren’t straining to reach them.

Visualize an imaginary arc extending about 12 inches from the center of the front of your desk immediately in front of where you are sitting. Try and get all your most frequently used equipment within this space if at all possible.

Finally the things you use less often can be located at more remote areas of you desk, maybe not even on the desk top at all if space is limited. All that is called for is a little bit of forward planning.

This all sounds a bit complicated I don’t know if it’s worth the hassle
I know it all sounds a bit complicated and yet if you follow this simple step-by-step procedure it will ensure you have all the corners covered making it easy.

Some simple tips
Here are a couple of simple tips in case you’re feeling reluctant about making any wholesale changes.

First keep a note of the equipment you actually use frequently over a 2 or 3 day period. Don’t assume you use something regularly you might be surprised that what you thought you need a lot isn’t actually used that much at all.

Second, take note of any regular aches and pains you suffer while working. See if you can spot something you’re doing that could be causing any discomfort. Maybe sitting badly, or straining to reach something several times a day.

You’ll find if you if you prepare before plunging into making radical changes it should make the whole process easier and help you gain a healthier working posture. It’s all pretty straightforward when you stick the process.

Summary
Let’s quickly sum up the key points we’ve covered in this article.

• Good desk set up is all about working more efficiently
• All office workers need to set up their desk properly
• Start by getting your office chair correctly adjusted for good comfort
• Position your monitor accurately so you aren’t straining to read the screen
• Place commonly used items within a 12 inch radius
• Move less frequently used things to the back of your desk or elsewhere
• Keep a log of what use most frequently for a couple of days before making changes
• If you have aches and pains can you spot any bad habits which may be causing them

Yes it’s true. That desk is an inanimate fixed lump of wood on legs however if you don’t use it properly it’s likely to be a source of pain and discomfort. Following these simple ideas will give you an excellent chance of good working comfort throughout the day.

Setting up your office follows similar principles, especially when your budget is limited.

In this article we’re going to look at the relationship between your desk and office chair and how to apportion a tight budget.

We’re covering the following 3 areas:

• What is the function a desk?
• What is the function of an office chair?
• Which should you spend more on, desk or chair?

Let’s start by looking at the purpose of a desk
Essentially a desk is a convenient work surface that forms a key part of your office setup. In human terms it represents the body’s trunk and it is what your equipment rests on.

It holds the stuff you need to interact with to complete your work. A desk is a fixture for holding your key equipment like your computer, keyboard, mouse, files etc. This is its function.

It’s obviously desirable for it to look good, have pleasing aesthetic lines and be able to handle cables and wires neatly. Nonetheless, its function is largely rudimentary.

If you had to, you could actually get by with a sheet of chipboard supported on a pair of oil drums provided the worktop was the right height and had no nasty sharp edges. Of course it would look awful and I don’t suggest for a moment you would do this. My point is that if you are on a tight budget a very basic desk is all you need to perform your work. Where does your chair come into things?

What is the function of an office chair?
Returning to the analogy with your body, your chair represents your heart. Whereas your desk is unchanging, your chair is continually on the move as it supports your body throughout the day.

As you move it moves with you and as a result forms a much more active part of your work set up. Imagine for a moment trying to work in a chair which was bolted to the floor, set to a fixed height and had a fixed back and fixed arms. It wouldn’t be very long before you found it very uncomfortable to continue working. Consequently how you allocate your budget needs careful thought.

Which should you spend more on, desk or chair?
When you are working to a very tight budget, it’s far more important to spend the lion’s share of your money on a good ergonomic office chair. You need something that is going to support you and be comfortable when working under pressure.

Of course it’s tempting to plump for a funky looking desk with a fancy curved top and grab a cool looking chair from IKEA. Whilst it might all look great it won’t be long before you’re finding it all uncomfortable to work at because of lack of support.

Much the best option is to go for the best seat you can afford, even if it does look a bit boring. If you have a serious workload to complete each day, comfort is much the best option. And that starts with getting the right chair.

So just to recap what we’ve covered here:

• Your desk is a convenient surface that holds your essential work items
• Your office chair is the heart of your work area and provides support and comfort
• On a tight budget always allocate enough for a good ergonomic office chair

Just as with a hi-fi system the speakers deliver the end result. So too does your task chair when it comes to comfort and getting your jobs done when working long hours in the office.

Here’s where you can read an article on the 5 essential features you should look for in an ergonomic office chair.

Despite all the advances in office chair design nobody has yet come with an on board computer to remind you to maintain it.

What do you mean maintain my office chair? That’s ridiculous, it doesn’t need engine oil you know.

Of course it doesn’t. Nonetheless some simple care checks can definitely help extend your chair’s life.

Why your office chair isn’t maintenance free
A swivel chair has moving parts and will definitely benefit from some occasional checks. Quite apart form which a lot of dust and dirt can accumulate on it over time and this can be more harmful than you might think.

Looking after the upholstery
You would be amazed at the amount of grime and grit that the fabric of your office chair can harbor. Don’t believe me? If you haven’t vacuumed your chair recently, try this test.

Slip of your shoe and give the seat of your chair a couple of sharp belts with it. Chances are clouds of dust will shoot out of it. A lot of fabrics hide the dust in them very effectively and you might think what you can’t see won’t do any harm. Actually it’s the unseen part that is doing the damage. Contained within all that muck are microscopic particles of grit. As you shuffle and move around on your chair the grit acts like sandpaper shortening the life of your chair’s upholstery.

It’s a good idea to give the upholstery a thorough vacuum every week. Additionally once a year give it a clean with spray foam upholstery cleaner. Test it for color fastness on a hidden part first though.

What if you have leather upholstery?
Dirt and dust is just as harmful to leather even though it doesn’t get so deeply embedded. Begin by vacuuming off surface dust and then wipe it down with clean damp cloth.

Once it’s dry feed the leather by either applying saddle soap or using a good leather cream. Again test to see it doesn’t affect the finish before applying it. Vac and wipe weekly and feed the leather every 6 months or so. What else do you need to look after?

Keep those wheels rolling smoothly
Office chair casters accumulate dust and grime like magnets. Because it happens gradually you probably don’t notice any change. As the muck builds up it clogs the wheel spindles and just makes the chair more difficult to move.

Begin by turning your chair upside down. Next pull out any loose clumps of fluff and dirt. Follow this by giving each wheel a clean with a powerful vacuum suction pipe.

Sometimes it’s awkward to get into the workings of the wheels, especially double wheel casters. For these a tin of compressed air may be the best way to literally blow the gunge out.

Once you have cleaned the grime out try giving the spindles a light spray with WD40 or silicone spray to help them roll more easily. Make sure to protect surrounding areas with a sheet; you don’t want to stain things. Wheel maintenance should be done every 6 months. There’s one other thing to check.

Loose and missing screws and fixings
The average office chair gets a lot of hammer and things can work loose. Whenever you’re doing maintenance on your chair check that any exposed fixings are tight or missing. These will be mostly on the underside of your chair. Things like screws holding the arms, back and chair mechanism onto the chair’s seat pad.

Bear in mind chair bases are often plywood or injection-molded plastic. Usually they have screw threads pressed into them into which the bolts and screws locate. Constant movement can loosen the fixings. For persistent loose fixings try coating the threads in Loctite to keep them more secure.

The only other thing to do is to apply some light oil to the gas lift with a cloth every 6 months.

Carrying out these simple checks will help extend the life of your chair.

Lets quickly recap:
Office chairs do need regular maintenance
Vacuum the upholstery weekly and spray clean it annually
With leather vac and wipe weekly and feed every 6 months
Wheels gather dust like magnets clean them out every 6 months and lubricate
Check and tighten all exposed fixings regularly

Unlike a car your chair doesn’t have an onboard computer to advise servicing is due. Why not set up some diary reminders on your computer when it’s time to clean and check your chair.

Resources
Here’s a good foam upholstery cleaner, neutralizes odors too. For leather cleaners this specialist has a comprehensive range. And if your chair has gone beyond maintenance and needs replacing here’s a quick summary of some excellent office chairs you should have on your shortlist.

And it struck me how true this is for so many people who spend long hours everyday in an office chair. And yet at the same time it goes against conventional wisdom because when we feel tired and exhausted often our only wish is to sit down to rest and relax.

So How Can Sitting Cause Exhaustion?

There are a number of reasons why we can feel exhausted after sitting all day in our computer chair, so let’s examine them.

Lack of movement is a major culprit. It’s really easy to become engrossed in what you’re doing. What happens is we end up in the same position for extended periods and that’s not good because the human body wasn’t designed to operate in this way.

Working too long without a break is another exhausting and damaging habit. Maybe you have a tight deadline to meet and so you push yourself too hard and finish up becoming tired out because you didn’t pace yourself.

Sitting in a poor posture all day is a surefire way to wear yourself out. Often we know we are sitting poorly and still we don’t take steps to correct things and those poor aching muscles and limbs end up fatigued craving rejuvenation.

Lack of comfort caused by a poor chair can be particularly strenuous for our bodies. As the day goes on we end up becoming worn out by the constant absence of being able to get comfortable.

How Can We Combat Sitting Exhaustion?

Movement and variation of your sitting position is a great way of keeping the body toned and alert. In fact many better quality chair manufacturers such as HÅG design their chairs to encourage natural movement. So as you move the chair goes with you and provides comfortable support throughout the day.

Getting out of your chair regularly during the day helps a lot to combat sitting fatigue. Changing posture is a great boost for the body’s muscles and helps take the strain off overworked areas and gets blood pumping back to recharge them.

Doing exercises at regular intervals during the workday will further help to keep your body toned and mind alert. These needn’t be anything complicated even simple stretches and neck and shoulder routines are quick and easy to do. And it you don’t have the best of chairs you will find these simple exercises will certainly help reduce tiredness and discomfort.

Finally, let’s summarize the causes of sitting exhaustion and how best to fight it.

Causes Of Exhaustion

• Minimal movement while sitting and working
• Working too long without taking a break
• Sitting in a poor posture
• Lack of comfort due to a poor chair

Fighting Exhaustion

• Moving and varying position while working
• Getting up out of your chair frequently
• Performing simple exercises in the office

And if your chair is worn out, here’s where you can find a quick summary of some quality office chairs that will help reduce sitting exhaustion.

If you visit Chatsworth House which is steeped in English history you will see no less than 4 royal thrones.

These grand seats are huge with loads of ornamentation designed to make those Kings and Queens of England who sat in them look important. However, they probably looked awkward sitting on these thrones that would comfortably house King Kong with room to spare.

Still, it left everyone else in no doubt that they were in the presence of the ruler.

Consequently it’s not surprising that this idea of big is best persists and yet big for big’s sake is a bad thing and a flawed concept.

People often make the mistake of buying an office chair for its looks.
They like the idea of having a chair which looks impressive and imposing. Subconsciously they tell themselves that it improves their status and how others perceive them. This may well be true if the chair fits them, otherwise it is very likely to end in discomfort, regret and ridicule.

So when is a big office chair best?
Well, obviously if you are large framed, tall or heavily built then a big and tall chair will make a lot of sense. This doesn’t mean that all big chairs will be a good choice for you, but more on that later.

And when is a big office chair a serious mistake?
Short people and even average built individuals will quickly rue buying a chair which is far too big for them. They struggle to get comfortable in it and seem to be forever shuffling around trying to find that elusive comfy position.

After all, if you have size 6 feet you wouldn’t buy a pair of size 12 shoes would you? Nonetheless people often overlook this when choosing an office chair.

Here are some quick tips on office seat size selection.
While sitting, measure the overall size of you “bumprint” and then add about an inch to each side. Use this to check the chair you are considering has a seat pad width which is similar or very slightly larger.

Stand without shoes on, measure from the floor to the inside of your knee joint. Make sure that the chair you select has a height adjustment range which includes the measurement you took.

Measure the distance across your shoulders and make sure the arm width setting is similar. And if it is significantly wider, which it often is, see if the arms can be adjusted to swivel inwards so they support you properly.

One final point.
Just because a chair is big and looks great doesn’t imply any level of quality at all. See if you can find what others say about it, preferably after they have owned it for at least a month. And remember the old adage “if it looks too good to be true then it probably is.”