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

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.