Set Your Comfort Standards In 2017

Do you have standards for your personal comfort in the workplace? You should! As the new year gets underway, now is the perfect time to commit to ergonomic operating. Today on the OfficeAnything.com blog we'll provide you with the tips, product suggestions, and advice needed to make 2017 your most effective year ever. From mastering your chair's features to avoiding bad posture habits, we've got you covered.

First things first, you have to get to know your office chair. If you're unfamiliar with your chair and its features, you won't be able to operate it correctly. To get the most out of your chair, it needs to be synchronized to your body and workstation.

Go ahead and pull out your chair manual and give it a read. Refreshing yourself on your chairs components will help you set high quality comfort standards you can maintain. If you can't find your chair manual, visit the manufacturer's website. Most of them are available online. You can download it a file on your computer.

Once you've looked over your manual, you're now ready to start mastering the features. Memorize the functions of the levers on your office chair mechanism will have you ready to adjust at a moments notice. To set effective comfort standards, you can't take a "set it and forget it" approach.

Throughout the day, you'll likely need to adjust your ergonomic office chair a few times to stay posture perfect and true to the standards you've set. Each time you lean forward, your chair needs to tilt with you. It's absolutely essential to keep your back in contact with the chair at all times to stay properly supported.

The height of your chair should be set to a point that allows you to work with your feet flat on the ground and facing forward. The days of using your chair base as a foot rest need to come to an end as quickly as possible. Set the standard for correct operating by painting paper chair height and feet alignment. Perching on the base of your swivel chair will result in poor blood flow that leads to cramping and fatigue.

Operating comfortably in 2017 is more about you than your chair. Good habits go a long way, but you can also set up your office workstation to be more ergonomically correct. You'll want to start by getting your computer screen up to eye level. If you find yourself looking at a down word angle to see the monitor while typing, raise it up. Investing in an ergonomic monitor arm will get the job done professionally. That being said, if the budget is tight a stack of books or a shoebox box will do the trick.

Last but not least, you'll want to make a posture chair that highlights your personal operating goals to keep them fresh in your mind throughout the work day. Place your chart within eye sight of your computer screen. Believe it or not, studies have shown that workers who utilize posture tip charts report positive results. It's hard to memorize perfect sitting tips and comfort standards throughout task filled days. That's why a simple posture chart is a must.

Tips For Your Posture Chart:

Sit with feet flat on the ground and facing forward.
Don't use the base of the office chair as a foot rest.
Keep the computer screen at eye level for proper spine and neck alignment.
Keep your back in contact with the chair at all times to ensure proper support.
Take a 10 minute break once every hour to stay refreshed and avoid extended sits.

The last tip is a real biggie! You can't allow yourself to work for hours at a time without standing up. Studies show that this bad habit leads to serious health problems. Commit to comfort and productivity standards in 2017 by keeping your body refreshed. Stand up, go for a short walk around the office, stretch those muscles, and drink some water to stay hydrated.

The 5 Most Troublesome Sitting Habits Explained

Having trouble with your sit? Feeling uncomfortable and productivity is suffering? Have no fear! Our ergo experts are here! Today on the Office Anything Blog we'll identify 5 of the most troublesome sitting habits while sharing the tips, tricks, and advice needed to kick them to the curb. Enjoy!

1.) Slouching

You've heard it since you were little. Don't slouch! This all too common problem affects far to many workers. Each time you slouch and lean away from your chair, you're missing out on the essential support needed to operate effectively for long periods of time. To solve this issue, make it a point to keep your back in contact with your chair. Set your office chair back angle to a comfortable, upright position that ensures your spine is properly supported.

2.) Perching

When sitting at your desk, avoid using the base of your chair as a footrest. This bad habit, also referred to as perching, limits blood flow and leads to fatigue. Perching on your chair base can cause pain and cramping that significantly diminishes your chances of operating comfortably throughout the entirety of your day. The solution? Work with your feet flat on the ground and facing forward. It's a simple fix, you just have to commit to it. Many of the most common office chair posture tips revolve around muscle memory. This one is no different!

3.) Looking Down

This simple but troublesome sitting habit is typically the result of your computer screens being situated too low. Looking down at your keyboard or screens when typing over the course of the work day will cause you neck to stiffen up. This muscle tension will eventually lead to soreness and pain. To avoid looking down, raise your computer screens! The professional solution is the integration of a computer screen mount that offers a wide range of adjustment capabilities. If you choose to go this way, you can't go wrong with the monitor arms from ESI Ergonomic Solutions and Symmetry Office. If funds are tight, use a stack of books, or even a cardboard box to raise your screens up in the time being.

4.) Extended Sits

Believe it or not, one of the most common and troublesome sitting habits is directly related to sitting for long periods of time! Extended sits cause fatigue. When you become tired, your posture tends to suffer. To avoid this common problem, take short breaks. Once every hour, stand up and walk away from your desk. Stretch out those muscles and grab a drink of water to stay hydrated. The health risks associated with sitting for long periods of time are very serious. Studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time without taking breaks can actually reduce your life span. Take this bad habit seriously. Don't get overly wrapped up into a project to the point where you stay in your chair for hours upon hours. Force yourself to take short stretch breaks as often as possible!

5.) Sitting At The Wrong Height

Be honest. When is the last time your adjusted your office chair? If you can't remember, the odds are you're due for a quick chair and desk synchronizing session. All too often, workers take a set it and forget it approach to office chair comfort. To operate at peak performance levels and avoid troublesome sitting habits, you need to familiarize yourself with that fancy ergonomic swivel chair and the adjustment features you invested in. Don't be afraid to adjust several times throughout the day to meet the needs of any particular task. Sitting too low or high in your chair will cause your posture to suffer. You'll be limiting blood flow and subjecting yourself to unnecessary fatigue and physical strain that can be quickly avoided with the pull of a lever.

Office Epidemics: 5 Bad Posture Habits Exposed

Poor posture will surely result in back pain and discomfort in the workplace. That being said, it's absolutely essential to form good sitting habits. Make the most of your work day by avoiding falling prey to this common office epidemic. Today on the blog, well expose 5 common posture problems experienced by the everyday worker and simple ways to resolve them with minimal effort. Enjoy!

1.) Perching

Do you ever find yourself sitting with your feet propped up on the base of your office chair? That's perching! This poor posture habit restricts blood flow and limits functionality. Your best bet is to operate with your feet facing forward and flat on the ground. The natural sitting position may not be the coolest, but it's certainly the most beneficial!

2.) The Lazy Boy

Your office chair may recline, but that doesn't make it a recliner! Don't extend your legs out in front of your and cross your feet like you do on those long Saturday movie session. Much like perching, this poor posture habit limits blood flow and will have you falling prey to fatigue in no time.

3.) Hunching

The back of your task chair provides lot's of ergonomic values that you don't want to miss out on by hunching over your keyboard tray to type. Each time you lean away from your office chair to work, your spine left fitting the bill. Strive to keep your back in contact with you chair at all times to achieve correct posture and optimal support.

4.) Stare Down

Still having trouble remembering where those computer keys are? It's time to break the habit of looking down to type. When you stare down at your computer keyboard tray you're falling into bad posture. Looking down puts strain on your neck and causes unnecessary fatigue that can be avoided with a little practice. Even if you've mastered the keyboard, you'll still need to make sure your computer screen is at eye level. While an ergonomic monitor arm is the preferred choice, if funds are tight, you can get by with a stack of books to ensure you're not looking down at your monitors.


5.) Extended Sits

Even workers with great posture habits can slip back into a rut. To avoid falling prey to this epidemic, take short breaks! As sitting for long periods of time can actually shorten your life span, make it a point to stand up and walk around once an hour. Get the blood flowing! Grab a sip of water. Get some fresh air. Do whatever it takes to avoid sitting at your desk for more than an hour at a time. You'll return to your desk rejuvenated and ready to operate using those quality posture habits you've worked hard to master.

Improve Office Posture With Simple Reminders!

To sit correct, you'll need to form good posture habits that will help you through those strenuous days at the office. That being said, studies have shown that placing a list of reminders within eye sight of your computer screen yields major results. Today on the OfficeAnything.com blog we'll help you come up with a list of helpful reminders to post at your workstation. Use these tips to effectively fight discomfort and fatigue in 2016 and beyond.

1.) Keep Back In Contact With Chair

It's important to let your chair do it's job! If you find yourself leaning away from the main support structure of your chair, you'll be missing out on key ergonomic benefits. To avoid leaning away, get in the habit of utilizing your chairs tilt function. Most chairs manufactured after 2005 come standard with tilt ready mechanisms to help you operate effectively in all situations. Start by synchronizing your swivel chair seat and back. Set your chair to an angle that keeps you operating at 90 degrees when computing. Maintain this position as often as possible. When you need to access areas around your station, don't over extend. Stand up from your chair and avoid slipping into poor posture positions as a result of leaning away from your chair back.

2.) Don't Hunch To Type

This office epidemic causes major back pain, strain, and fatigue! Sadly, we all fall victim to this common problem. We find ourselves enthralled in important tasks throughout the day, and suddenly we're operating in over eager computing positions that have us hunched over our keyboard trays. Make it a habit to lean into your chair when typing. Each time you hunch over, your spine is provided with little to know support. Essentially, you're subjecting yourself to strain that's completely avoidable by sitting upright to type.

3.) Set Computer Screen To Eye Level

If your computer screen is below eye level, you'll be looking down to type. When you're looking down to type, you're straining your neck and eyes. This poor posture habit can be quickly solved by raising your computer screen to eye level. While an ergonomic monitor mount is the preferred option, those looking to save a few bucks and raise their computer screen up to eye level with a stack of books. In the long run, it doesn't have to be pretty to be effective!

4.) Place Feet Flat and Facing Forward

Don't use the base of your office chair as a foot rest. This bad habit limits blood flow to your legs and will cause productivity drops throughout the day. Instead, operate in your task chair with your feet flat on the ground and facing forward. This correct operating position ensures good posture and top notch stability. Other poor positions like "the relaxer" that involve extending your legs out in front of your like you're in a beach chair should also be avoided at all costs!

5.) Take Short Breaks

Here's a reminder that won't be hard to forget. Take short breaks! When you sit for long periods of time, your body becomes tired. Extended sits result in poor posture and can even shorten your life space. That being said, it's important to take a 10 minute break once every hour. Stand up, walk away from your office desk and stretch out those muscles. Go grab a drink of water or some fresh air. You'll return to your desk more focused and less strained. This simple practice will have you fighting key posture related problems that result from fatigue and muscle pain caused by rushing through the work day without standing up! To make a long story short, to achieve a better sit, you've got to stand up once in awhile!

5 Ergonomic Tips for 2016

It's time to kick those bad posture habits to the curb. Make 2016 the most comfortable and productive year ever with the help of modern ergonomics. In today's post we're highlighting 6 simple and easy to follow tips to help you achieve improved performance in the workplace. Put these tips to use and form the good habits needed to dominate 2016.

1.) Work Standing Up

Sit to stand products are the latest craze. Wondering why? As sitting for long periods of time can actually shorten your life span, it's important to promote continuous movement in the workplace as much as possible. That's where sit to stand products come in. A sit to stand desk or keyboard tray will help improve blood flow and reduce fatigue. You'll be operating more efficiently and comfortably throughout the day while simultaneously fighting back against office health risks that are looking to bring you down.

2.) Use A "Smart Chair"

Even the most luxurious and expensive ergonomic chair is only as good as it's owner. If you don't put your chair adjustment features to use, you'll gain little support and find yourself wondering why discomfort is still playing a key role in your work day. As most chair operators hate having to pull levers and adjust tension knobs to find the correct sitting position, industry leading seating manufacturers have introduced "smart chairs" that reduce the need for constant adjusting. Smart chairs make finding comfort a breeze. Cutting edge smart chairs like The 6671-2 model from the Global Total Office Ari collection articulate like a human spine and mimic the user's profile.

3.) Reduce Eye Strain

It's hard to work effectively if you're constantly rubbing your eyes and fighting blurred vision. Let's be honest, starring at a computer screen all day long is a problem. That being said, it's likely unavoidable for those looking to keep their jobs. A simple screen filter can be picked up at your local office store. It's a good place to start. To take things a step further, we highly recommend attaching an articulating monitor arm to your workstation. Visual strain can be quickly reduced by raising your computer screen to eye level. An articulating monitor mount will help you tackle this task in minutes. If funds are tight, don't skip this tip. Just use a stack of books or magazines to raise your screens. You can make the switch to a professional monitor arm when you're ready, but do what you can to fight visual strain in the mean time!

4.) Promote Good Blood Flow

When blood flow is reduced, you're muscles can cramp and "fall asleep". We've all had it happen, and it's no fun. Luckily, there are some great ways to fight back. First and foremost, work with your feet facing forward and flat on the ground. Don't cross your feet or prop them up on the base of your office chair like a foot rest. In addition, you can promote good blood flow by using an ergonomic task chair with a waterfall seat edge. When all else fails, take short breaks! Stand up from your desk. Shake out those muscles. Walk around for a few minutes, and get the blood flowing before returning to your workstation.

5.) Use Posture Reminders and Ergonomic Tips Charts

Studies have shown that workers who placed a list of tips and reminders within eye sight of their computer screen yielded positive results. The best part, it's free! Print out a list of good posture tips and ergonomic reminders today to start forming the good habits needed to operate at peak performance levels in the workplace. We've provided a few of our favorite tips to help.

Helpful Workplace Tips:

• Keep Back In Contact With Chair At All Times
• Don't Hunch Over Keyboard Tray To Type
• Keep Feet Flat On Ground And Facing Forward
• Take A 5 to 10 Minute Break Once Every Hour
• Keep Computer Screen At Eye Level
• Don't Look Down To Type
• Compute At Correct Angles

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.