Are You Sitting Superior?

Not all office chairs are created equal. This year, industry leading brands like Global Total Office and Mayline are raising the industry bar. The "smart chairs" from these brands make it easier than ever to sit superior in the workplace. In today's post, we'll highlight the ergonomic posture tips, tricks, and chairs available on the market to help you take your work life to a whole new level. Enjoy!

Office comfort starts with the chair! That being said, even the best office chair on the market is only as good as it's owner. If you want to sit superior, you can't be afraid to adjust your chair features. Take the time to master your chair's attributes. Watch demo videos online, read the instruction manual, and test out the functionality of every feature. Be willing to adapt at a moments notice without fear of "loosing a good sitting position".

To sit superior, you can't take a "set it and forget it" approach. Most seating professionals will adjust their personal chairs every hour. When sitting at your desk, make sure you keep your back in contact with the chair at all times. Each time you lean away, you're missing out on valuable support. Be sure to operate with your feet placed flat on the ground and facing forward. The day of using the base of your chair as a foot rest have got to stop. There's simply no ergonomic benefit to doing this.

2016 is going to be all about "smart chairs". To clarify, smart chairs will reduce the need for adjustment. You'll be able to take a seat and start working in your computer chair without the need to constantly pull levers and adjust tension knobs. This booming trend is rapidly becoming an industry standard.

This year, Global Total Office is hitting the ground running. The recent release of chair lines like G20, Vion, and Arti have industry professionals abuzz. The G20 chair is a synchronized tilter that automatically adjusts to body weight. The Vion collection is all about versatility. This popular new line offers chairs for tasking, conference, and training area applications that make finding the optimal working position a breeze. Global's new Arti chair articulates like the human spine and allows the chair to mimic any users profile.

Brands like Mayline are also jumping on board with the smart chair movement. Their new Living Task Chair is incredibly user friendly. The Living chair moves as you move. The passive seat slider is weight activated while the flexible back provides constant support that adjusts to you as you sit and move naturally. The chair seat automatically adjusts to it's user and distributes weight without the need for adjustment. Now that's cool!

In the long run, sitting superior in 2016 will take more than just a great chair. Studies have shown that placing a simple chart with posture reminders within view of your workstation will yield big time results. To truly sit superior, you have to be willing to make changes to your personal workplace habits. Select an awesome new "smart chair", master it's features, and sit in success.

Office Organizing: Tricks Of The Trade

No workspace can operate at peak performance levels without being well organized. Good organization starts with a good plan and great habits. In today's post we'll share the tips, tricks, and product suggestions you'll need to achieve both. Enjoy!

Start With A Deep Cleaning

It always helps to start fresh! Take the time to give your office a thorough cleaning. Take out the trash, organize your file cabinet and desk top. Vacuum underneath your desk to get rid of all those old candy wrappers and crumbs. In the long run, it will be much easier to form new habits if you start your organizing mission with a clean space.

Create A Plan

Your office organizing will be much more effective if you have a plan. Once your space has been thoroughly cleaned, write down a list of areas that will need tending to both daily and weekly. Prioritize your list and tackle them one by one as the day goes on. Check out the sample list below to get you started.

• Take out trash
• Vacuum floor
• Organize files
• Organize desk top

Form Good Habits

Sure a plan of attack will help, but you've got to be wiling to form the habits necessary to stay well organized. The weekly organizing routine you create should be one you can realisticly stick too. Get in the habit of putting files back in their place when your done using them. This well help you avoid spending too much time at the end of the day putting them back in their place. Commit to never leaving your office in a messy state. This will ensure you arrive back to work the following day with a clean work environment that's ready to roll. Good habits like this will set you on the path to organizational success.

Use The Right Storage Solutions

Perhaps your office space is poorly organized because your simply out of room. If this is the case, there's definitely some great ways to tackle the problem. Ditch the potted plants and room aesthetics that provide little value in an overly crowded space. Replace them with versatile storage solutions. A wall storage cabinet or bookcase will provide the same appeal while keeping your stationary and important literature well organized.

If you're limited on floor space, take to the walls! Hutch units are a great way to maximize organizing space. These handy tools mount directly to the wall or sit on top of desk surfaces. It's likely that a hutch to match your current office furniture collection is available. Adding a wall mount hutch will increase visual appeal while rewarding you with the additional space needed to keep your office functioning properly.

If you're still in need of organizing space, consider the addition of a mobile file pedestal. These space saving storage solutions can be situated directly underneath desk and credenza surfaces or along perimeter walls. Pencil Box File and File File pedestal options are widely available from top rated manufactures like Global Total Office, Mayline, and Cherryman Indsutries.

Follow Through

Once your office space is well organized, you've got to follow through. Don't slip back into old habits and let important tasks go unattended to for months at a time. It's never fun to spend hours looking for a document that's out of place or buried under a sea of paperwork. Hold yourself accountable and your work day will be all the better for it.

Additional Tips

• Keep track of file cabinet keys to ensure you can always get to your important documents when you need them.
• Lock or password protect all physical and digital files for security purposes. 
• Be sure to keep your digital files properly organized as well. Create thumbnails on your home screen to help.
• Purge old files and documents to ensure your drawers do not become overly crowded.
• Establish task areas that are defined by the type of activity that happens in each zone of your office space. For example, your main workspace would be the desk while your reference area would be where your file cabinets are located.
• Keep the items most commonly used throughout the day the closest to your desk to avoid unnecessary trips across the office. 
• Make a list of daily work goals you hope to accomplish by certain times.

Here's What Good Posture Will Do For You!

Forming good posture habits in the workplace is an absolute must. In today's post we'll share 5 important things proper posture will do for you. From improving blood flow to increasing productivity, the posture tips and tricks in today's post should be implemented into your office lifestyle to ensure your health and effectiveness. Enjoy!

1.) Good Posture Will Improve Blood Flow

If you're hunching over your keyboard tray to type, it's time for a change! This poor positioning will limit your blood flow and make you ineffective when computing. Be sure to sit upright at all times and keep your head aligned with your computer screen. If you can't raise the height of your computer monitor, invest in a computer screen mount from a reputable brand like ESI, Symmetry Office, or Systematix. You can also raise or lower the height of your office chair to ensure you're not overextending when computing at your desk. If you want to take things a step further, consider switching to a height adjustable desk. These trending ergonomic products promote continuous movement in the workplace and greatly improve blood flow.

2.) Good Posture Will Reduce Back Pain

Back pain is never fun! To fight back properly, you'll need to form good posture habits. When computing at your desk, be sure to keep your back in contact with your chair at all times. Adjust the angle of your chair back to ensure you're at the proper angle needed to make this happen. Don't lean forward to type, this reduces the ergonomic effectiveness of you chair! In addition, take the time to take short breaks every hour to stretch. You can can also place an ergonomic tips chart at your workstation for reminders. Studies has shown this simple practice really makes a big difference with workers!

3.) Good Posture Will Help You Fight Fatigue

Fatigue will strike at a moments notice. You have to be prepared! Good posture will help you fight fatigue and avoid becoming stressed when you work. Slouching in your chair, overextending to compute, and typing at improper angles will no doubt make fatigue a major factor in your work day. Start by setting up your keyboard tray for success. Make sure you're not typing with your computer tray on top of your desk. There's really no way to type with proper posture if you're doing this! Integrate an articulating keyboard tray into your workstation that will allow you to adjust the height and tilt angle of your tray. Doing this will improve posture and help you eliminate fatigue.

4.) Good Posture Will Reduce Leg Pain

Dealing with sore knees and cramps in the workplace? Forming good posture habits can help! When computing at your desk, be sure to keep your feet placed flat on the floor and facing forward. Crossing your legs or using the base of your office chair as a foot rest is not recommended. Using an ergonomic foot rest can also be a big help. Take the pressure of your knees by using an office chair with a waterfall seat edge. It will improve your posture as well as your blood flow. Before you know it, leg and knee pain will be a thing of the past.

5.) Good Posture Will Make You More Productive

Last but not least, good posture will make you more productive in the workplace. If you want to operate at peak performance levels, you'll need to commit yourself to solid posture habits. Studies have shown that employees who work with good posture are more effective on a daily basis. In the long run, productivity and comfort go hand in hand. If you settle for poor posture, you'll no doubt be missing out on both of these two valued office attributes. Sit upright, keep your back in contact with your desk chair when working, utilize ergonomic tools to help, and place a posture reminders chart at your desk. Do these things together and you'll be set up for and improved sitting experience and success in the workplace.

Workplace Tips: Improving Blood Flow

If you find yourself sitting for long periods of time at work, you're probably dealing with the effects of poor blood flow. Poor blood flow will cause stiffness in muscles, cramps, and fatigue if you're not careful. In today's post we'll share our workplace tips to help you improve blood flow and create a more ergo friendly lifestyle in the office. Enjoy!

1.) Go With A Waterfall Seat Edge

If it's time for an office chair upgrade, consider purchasing one with a waterfall seat edge. You'll be glad you did! Chairs like the Circuit CET 1 model from Ergo Contract Furniture and the Oroblanco from Cherryman Industries come highly recommended. An office chair with a waterfall seat edge will help take pressure of your knees when operating at your desk. The curved seat cushion at the end of your chair will have you sitting more effectively and comfortably in no time. The smooth transition created by the waterfall edge will improve blood flow and help you fight back against fatigue.

2.) Switch To A Height Adjustable Desk

Poor blood flow can often be attributed to sitting for long periods of time without movement. That being said, switching to a height adjustable desk will keep you more active in the workplace and thus reduce the risks associated with poor blood flow. Brands like Mayline, ESI Ergonomic Solutions, and Symmetry Office all offer height adjustable desks that promote continuous body movement in the workplace. If bad posture habits are keeping you down, work standing up with a height adjustable desk. As one of the latest ergonomic trends, making the switch to an ergonomic desk may seem a bit new to you. Rest assured, the benefits are quite extensive. In addition to improved blood flow, standing height desks will also help you reduce the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

3.) Use A Sit To Stand Keyboard Tray

As adjustable height desks are still a bit new to the industry, their higher price point may be a bit much for the average shopper. If you're looking to save a buck and still improve blood flow, you can't go wrong with a sit to stand keyboard tray. With many of the same benefits of standing height desks, sit to stand keyboard trays promote continuous body movement, reduce fatigue, and greatly improve flood flow in the workplace. The key is to avoid becoming stationary in the workplace. Be active and effective by working in both sitting and standing positions throughout the day. You'll be all the healthier for it!

4.) Commit To Good Posture Habits

Ergonomic products will definitely help you improve blood flow in the workplace, but there's no substitute for good posture habits! When computing at your desk, avoid hunching over the keyboard tray. Be sure to keep your back in contact with your chair's seating surface at all times. Keep your feet planted flat on the floor and avoid crossing your legs. Adjust the height of your computer monitor to ensure you're not looking down when you type. When combined, these posture tips will make you more effective while simultaneously improving blood flow. To help, consider placing a posture reminder chart at your workstation. Studies have shown that workers who take on this simple task show undeniable results!

5.) Stretch Regularly Throughout The Day

Dealing with muscle stiffness and soreness at work? Fighting back pain? It's time to get up out of your chair and stretch! These common ailments are directly related to poor blood flow and need to be addressed quickly. In fact, there's another new trend call deskercise that you need to know about. Deskercise is the practice of exercising right at your desk. Using your office chair and desk surface to help you stay healthy is truly genius. There are tons of awesome stretches you can find online and in videos to implement into your work day. Any ergonomic guru will tell you that stretching throughout the day is an absolute must. As your coworkers are at the same health risks as you are when sitting for extended periods, get them involved. Stretch together and hold each other accountable. It may sound a bit silly, but regular stretching and a good deskercise routine can actually add years to your life.

Success At Work: Planning Makes Perfect!

A well planned work week will set you up for success. From getting good rest to staying well organized, planning plays a key role in improving productivity and effectiveness in the office. In today's post we'll highlight 5 great ways to plan properly. Enjoy!

1.) Plan Rest

Don't stay up all night watching movies and eating junk food. This bad habit is a recipe for an unsuccessful work day. Instead, plan a good sleep schedule that ensures you receive your full 8 hours. Leave the late nights for the weekend! Go to bed early enough that you wake up feeling refreshed instead of slow and groggy. In the long run, a solid work week starts with a good nights rest!

2.) Plan Breakfast

Most of us skip breakfast because of common excuses like "I'm in too much of a hurry". That being said, if you make breakfast part of your weekly plan, you'll be healthier and more productive for it. The key is to get your metabolism working and your body energized. Even a piece of fruit, multi grain bar, or bowl of cereal will get the job done. If you're too busy to eat at home, make sure you give yourself 15 minutes in the morning to get something in your tummy. Eating breakfast will help wake you up, and provide you with a solid foundation for your work day. Plan for breakfast each week. You'll be glad you did!

3.) Plan Daily Goals

While you're at your desk enjoying your morning breakfast, take the time to write down a list of goals for your day. Next to each goal, write an estimated time of completion. Your goals can be anything form responding to emails, preparing for a presentation, and making sales calls. As simple as your goals may be, planning them out on paper will help you stay on task throughout the day. Don't fly through your workday with no plan. This is sure hinder your effectiveness. As you cross your daily goals off the list, you'll no doubt enjoy little boosts of motivation.

4.) Plan Lunch

If you fail to plan lunch properly, you'll likely find yourself in line at a fast food restaurant ordering the dreaded bacon cheeseburger and french fries. Take the time to plan out your meals each week. If eating healthy is a chore for you, make Friday a cheat day and treat yourself for being good all week. On Sunday night, sit down and come up with ideas for what to eat for lunch. Literally, millions of ideas are available online for easy lunches that won't leave you wanting to take a nap in your office chair when you're finished eating them! If you don't like bringing your lunch to work, you'll likely be visiting a local restaurant. Check out their menu before arriving and make a selection in advance. This will help you avoid making an impulsive food choice with little to no nutritional benefits!

5.) Plan To Organize

If you want to operate a peak performance levels, you'll need to allot a little time each day for organizing. If you clear the days post it notes off your desk and reorganize your file cabinet at the end of each day, you'll be set up for success the following morning. Creating an organizational plan for your workspace is really quite simple. Make a little checklist of tasks to complete before rushing out of the office. Tasks may include taking out the trash, cleaning off your desk surface, reorganizing files, and logging out of password protected accounts on your computer for security. Go down the list and check them off each day. Avoid leaving the office and remembering you forgot to send an important email once your halfway home. This will leave you feeling anxious and stressed out until the next morning. They say, a little organization goes a long way. And we couldn't agree more!

6 Ways To Boost Productivity In Your Workspace

It's tough to stay productive at work day-in and day-out. Luckily, our team is ready to share 6 awesome ways to keep you and your coworkers operating at your best. From promoting collaboration to eating healthy, these diverse tips and strategies will no doubt boost performance levels around your office!

1.) Promote Collaboration

When your locked up in your own private workspace, you're solely relying on yourself to remain productive. That being said, if you promote collaboration with your teammates you'll be far better suited for business success. Try hosting weekly strategy and planning sessions with your coworkers. Throw out ideas, ask for advice, and set goals. Doing so will take productivity to a whole new level! If your business is in need of a makeover, consider removing those old cubicles and replacing them with open desking configurations. While cubicles are great for privacy and noise reduction, open desking promotes collaboration and boosts productivity levels! Brands like Mayline and Global Total Office offer excellent open desking solutions that should be considered by any business looking for a performance boost.

2.) Reduce Fatigue

Fatigue is a real productivity killer! Commonly related to poor sleep the night before, if you're feeling fatigued and groggy at your desk, it's time to shake things up a bit. Commit to a good sleep schedule and ensure you get your full 8 hours. Make sure you eat breakfast every morning and avoid pounding multiple cups of coffee. To further fight fatigue, consider a deskercise routine. As one of the hottest workplace trends of 2015, deskercise involves using your desks, computer chairs and office surroundings to grab a few minutes of exercise right there in the office! Simple stretches and deskercise activities can be found online to help you conquer fatigue once and for all.

3.) Limit Distractions

If you're easily distracted around the office, the odds are you're not that productive. To be at your best and achieve your workplace goals, limiting distractions is a must. When you arrive at work each morning, create a list of daily tasks and assign them completion times. If you commit to staying on task and following your daily list, distractions will slowly fade away. Avoid those long chats at the water cooler and in the break room. Stay off the cell phone and away from productivity killing social media sites. Use your lunch break to catch up online and with your coworkers. By the end of the week, you'll have saved so much time by limiting distractions that you'll have accomplished all your goals. When this is the case, feel free to chat away!

4.) Commit To Ergonomics

A proper education on the value of ergonomics in the workplace will greatly benefit you and your coworkers. We all hear the "E" word dropped daily around the office, but are we really putting what we hear into affect? A real commitment to ergonomics will boost your productivity, save you time, and keep you operating far more comfortably. Before you can fully commit to an ergonomic plan, you have to assess your personal workplace needs. Determine your areas of discomfort and move forward accordingly. As office comfort starts with the chair, consider an upgrade that will better support your key areas. Take things a step further by accessorizing your workspace. Ergonomic CPU holders and adjustable monitor arms will go a long way in your productivity quest. Once you've taken your work environment to the next level, spread the word. Help your teammates commit to ergonomics and your business will be all the better for it!

5.) Reduce Stress

Stress is another productivity killer that can be found around every corner if you're not careful. Stress at home can easily affect your work day and vice versa. So how do we combat such a ruthless foe? By staying focused on the tasks at hand and striving to create happy surroundings. Do your best to eliminate stress in the workplace by staying organized and ready to work. If you arrive at work each day to a messy workstation, it will be difficult to remain productive, but incredibly easy to get stressed out. In addition, take a few minutes each day to simply go outside and take a walk. Get some fresh air. You can't very well enjoy your work day if you're stressing behind the desk. Don't cram too many goals into a single day. Break up your week with effective planning and strategies designed to distribute the work load. If stress is still challenging you, consider talking to your family members, coworkers, or professionals about your issues. This mental and physical problem can be be beat. Stay positive, we know you can do it!

6.) Eat Healthy

The days of gorging on greasy burgers and fries at lunch are over. No more crawling back into your office chair groggy, over fed, and ready for an extended nap. It's time to start eating healthy! Plan your weekly meals with the help of the internet, coworkers, and friends, and family members. Ask for healthy meal ideas and find a wide variety of recipes you're actually interested in trying. The mental hurdles are the hardest part of committing to a healthy lunch routine. Don't convince yourself that the only healthy options are salads! There are simply too many tasty and healthy options out there that will have you feeling rejuvenated and energized when you return to work. A healthy eating routine will save you money, boost productivity, and have you feeling better about your self and your work day.