Workspace Talk: The Benefits of An Ergonomic Chair

Does your job require hours of sitting? Do you ever complain about a sore neck, back, or hips? These bothersome aches may be from working in the wrong chair every day for 40 hours a week. If you’re nodding your head, thinking, “this sounds like me,” you may want to consider swapping your current chair for an ergonomic one. It might seem to be an unnecessary cost to you, but the benefits may persuade you to make the switch.

What is an ergonomic chair? 

Let’s kick off this section with Google Dictionary’s definition of the fancy, schmancy word, ergonomic: relating to or designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment. Two key words pop out of this definition: comfort and efficiency. What more do you need to know about the iconic ergonomic chair?

Let’s start with some basic features.

The ergonomic chair’s structure and design align with the definition above. Take a look at some standard ergonomic chair features:

• Adjustable armrests
• Moveable seat height
• Adjustable seat depth and width
• Padded armrests, backrests, and seat

To sum it up: ergonomic chairs provide the ultimate comfort you need to survive an 8-hour workday at a desk. It relieves back, shoulder, and neck pain through adjustable features. The best part is that the ergonomic chair is ideal for all body types—every workspace deserves a stack of ergonomic chairs!

What are the benefits of an ergonomic chair?

1. Alleviate muscle pain

Muscle pain is the ultimate downer. It’s already somewhat painful to force our limbs out of bed each morning, but muscle soreness on top of that can really put a hamper on your workday.

The ergonomic chair’s number one benefit is that it attempts to alleviate shoulder, neck, and back pain. Just think about the features: adjustable armrests, moveable seat height, changeable seat depth and width, and padded in all the right places. These features all hold a magic superpower, too. The adjustable armrests determine the proximity between the desk and chair—proper proximity can take pressure off your neck and shoulders! Plus, seat depth, width, and height can aid with posture. Muscle pain can make every little movement difficult, so you might as well do whatever you can to eliminate it, right? 

Side note: while we’re on muscle aches, ergonomic chairs can help with hip pain too. They work to minimize the strain dumping onto your hips. This chair just keeps getting better, am I right?

2. Improved focus

Stress can deflect focus, resulting in a less productive work day. And tense, aching muscles can certainly propel stress. And it’s hard to focus when you’ve got a nagging pain in your neck.

When your body revels in comfort, when your muscles take a breather, it’s easier to elevate your focus. Let’s highlight some research-backed evidence from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. The researchers discovered that workers with ergonomic furniture had fewer errors, better timeliness for work due, and higher attendance. Not bad! Who knew a chair could make such an impact? 

3. Made for all body types

Finding a chair that accommodates your body type is essential. For example, say someone is taller than you, and you both have the same fixed chair; the set-up might bode well with the taller person. Meanwhile, your feet barely brush the carpet, and you fight muscle pain all day because of it—gross.

Thankfully, ergonomic chairs support all kinds of different bodies; you can even mold your chair to fit your spine curvature. Talk about ultimate support. No one has the same body, so why should everyone have the same fixed chair when you can have an ergonomic chair with adjustable settings? 

4. Better blood circulation

Get that blood flowing through your body! A proper sitting position, such as a 90-degree angle, can promote blood circulation. And guess what? Blood circulation can boost your brain power while preventing numb legs.

Just a reminder that good circulation also helps heart health and stops you from looking like a ghost by keeping your complexion natural. It’s a good thing the ergonomic chair allows you to adjust your seat—most of us don’t want to look like apparitions; we all want a sharp mind to survive the workday. 

5. Relish in comfort

Comfort is key. Laying on a couch or sinking into a pile of pillows might grant temporary comfort while you’re working remotely. But eventually, your neck feels stiff, your arms grow tired, and adjusting your make-shift pillow computer stand becomes annoying.

The ergonomic chair is like working from your bed vertically instead of horizontally. The padded features and adjustability elevate this chair above a regular, stiff, fixed office chair to a dreamland for your behind and spine.

Set up your ergonomic chair to reap the benefits

When you settle into your new ergonomic chair, reap the benefits by setting it up properly. First things first: are you sitting at the correct height? You want your forearms to fall along the same line as your desk. The bottom of your forehead should align with the tip of your computer screen. And when you sink deep into that padded seat, check to see if two or three fingers can fit from the back of your knee to the seat. 

Now you know the advantages of an ergonomic chair

You can’t go wrong with an ergonomic chair with features that promote blood circulation and ease muscle pain, resulting in improved focus, increased brain power, and hopefully, overall happiness. I mean, who is mad when they’re comfortable? No one (we hope). 

And you don’t even need to purchase one to try it out and see how your body soaks in the benefits. With Anyplace, you can rent a furnished apartment that already includes an ergonomic chair and an equipped home office setup. 

The bottom line? An ergonomic chair is one of the best ways to reward your body at work—trust us, your focus and overall work performance will thank you! 

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Where to next? Find monthly rentals designed for remote workers on Anyplace.