When it comes to office work, or working from home, there’s nothing more important than comfort. You want to make sure that, not only are you incredibly comfortable, but that your posture is being adequately supported.
An unsupported posture can leave you in lots of pain, and massively impact the quality of your work. But no two people will ever have the same posture. Each person has their own unique needs when it comes to comfort. As such, when it comes to office chairs, adjustability is paramount.
The best office chairs should provide you with plenty of options for adjustability. Adjustability allows you to change aspects of your chair to best suit your unique posture. But what should you do with all of those adjustability options? How do you utilise them to their best to support your own posture?
Read below, because in this guide, the Reliant tech experts are going to take you through everything you need to know. So that you can easily adjust your office chair exactly as you need!
How Should You Adjust Your Office Chair For Comfort?
Adjust the Armrests
If your office chair has built-in armrests, then it’s best to start there. Your chair’s armrests should provide consistent support for your arms throughout the working day.
Your arms should be in a neutral position throughout the day. Neutral positioning ensures your arms and shoulders are relaxed throughout the working day. This keeps you from tiring out!
To find the perfect height for your chair’s armrests, it’s best to start by first sitting in the chair and relaxing your shoulders. This puts your arms in a neutral position. Preferably, when rested on the armrests, your arms shouldn’t feel like they’re being pushed up. Instead, they should rest at a 90-degree angle. This is a comfortable angle that allows your shoulders and arms to rest!
Adjust The Height
Finding the right height is obviously very important when sitting in an office chair. But how exactly do you find it?
First, step up from the chair and stand directly in front of it. The optimal seat height should be just below your kneecaps. Adjust the seat’s height until it sits comfortably in that position. Having the seat’s height at just below the kneecaps ensures you can sit comfortably, with both feet planted firmly on the ground. This is important because it helps to reduce the strain placed on your legs and feet. It allows you to achieve a neutral position that won’t result in leg aches down the line!
Adjust The Backrest
Many office chairs allow you to adjust how close the backrest is to the seat itself. It’s important to find the right position because, again, it reduces the strain on your legs. When sitting all of the way on the chair’s seat, and with your back pressed against the backrest, there should be enough space between the edge of the seat and your legs.
To find the right position, sit down with your feet flat on the floor. Then, simply adjust the positioning of the backrest until there is enough clearance between your calves and the seat itself. Preferably, there should be about 5 centimetres between your calves and the edge of the seat itself!
You will also want to adjust the backrest so that it provides adequate support for your back. Make sure to adjust the height and position of the backrest so that it comfortably fits in the small of your back. The small of your back is known as the lumbar region. This important part of the spine has a natural inward curve. Having the backrest press into the lumbar region ensures this inward curve is maintained. Insufficient lumbar support can lead to back pains or even long-term back issues!
If your office chair has a dedicated lumbar support attachment, then simply adjust its height so that it presses into the lumbar region!
Adjust The Headrest
We saved this for last, because your office chair may not have a headrest. If it does, you’ll want to position it right. Luckily, this is very easy. For optimal comfort, the headrest should support the very base of the back of your head. You shouldn’t feel as though your head is being pushed forward. This allows you to relax your neck and shoulder muscles. Again, this keeps aches and pains from developing across the body.
How Can You Stay Comfortable During The Working Day?
As well as ensuring your office chair is perfectly adjusted, it’s good to take plenty of breaks. Don’t stay seated throughout the entire day. Make sure to stand up and walk around a little every hour. This helps to alleviate the pressure placed on your back and helps to get the blood pumping. Increased blood flow to the brain also helps to improve your mood and your problem-solving skills!
Make sure to get up and walk around during the working day. This alleviates pressure on your back and gets the blood flowing. This, in turn, improves your physical comfort, and your mood during the day!
Make sure to monitor your posture during the day. If you notice yourself slouching, be sure to correct your position as quickly as you can. Make sure to also keep both of your feet flat against the floor for added support.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Adjust Your Office Chair For Comfort?
Make sure to play around with all of the adjustable features on your office chair. Most importantly, the backrest should be adjusted to keep your back straight throughout the day. The lowest part of the backrest should also provide support for the lumbar region. Good lumbar support helps to keep back pain from developing!
