New Year's Guide to Sitting! Day 1 - The Desk Chair

Happy 2019!

To kick off the new year, I’m sending out a daily email for the next week (only for the next week!), each day focusing on a different type of chair or way we sit.  At the end of the week, I will launch my long-requested audio guide for sitting!  

How we sit is more important than what we sit on, but...if your seating is working against you, you’ll be on a uphill battle to sitting better.  

Each day this week I’ll talk about a form of seating, some common issues with each one, and suggest simple solutions to help with the most common problems.

Day 1 - The office chair - common problems and low-cost solutions

Problem:  Back of chair tilts back and/or seat is too deep

Some chairs do have an option to fully straighten the back, but more often than not, desk chairs angle back at the top, so to make contact with the back of the chair you have to be slightly reclined. 

Many people naturally want to sit up as they work, but could use a bit of support from the back of the chair.  Without a straight back, you’ll likely find yourself inching toward the screen or leaning way back and sliding down the back of the chair.  This problem becomes compounded when the seat is too deep for the person sitting on it.

Solution:  Add a cushion

Back Cushion:  You could try one that straps around the chair, but on many popular chairs with slippery, tapered sides, the strap slides down and won’t stay in place.  A cushion from your living room couch, or rolled up towel might be a more effective back support.  You could also try placing  yoga meditation bolster like this one behind your back.

Bolsters are designed for sitting on (on the floor), but they can also work well as a firm, upright back support.

Seat Cushion:  I recommend a wedge or other seat cushion to angle you slightly more forward.  Here's an example of a wedge cushion.  I also like this seat cushion by BackJoy They help to lift your pelvis and place more weight on your feet, which takes pressure off of you hips and back.  You'll feel more perched and ready to work. 

There may be times when you choose to recline, but the changes suggested above can help you feel more balanced and supported when you are most actively working on your computer without completely replacing your chair.

Do you eat and work at your kitchen dining room table?  Check out my email tomorrow on the topic of the dining chair.

An check out what further topics to expect this week:

The dining chair
Seating in restaurants and cafes
Stools
The yoga ball
Seating in planes, trains and automobiles
The floor