Office Chairs and Ergonomic Tips to Position Your Seat for Productivity in the Workplace

Good Ergonomics in the Workplace

Some employees can spend most of their day simply seated in front of their computer in an office chair completing the daily tasks. Knowing how to properly position your executive office chair can lead to better productivity in the workplace and of course, a much happier you and hopefully a much happier boss. Ergonomics and good positioning of your executive or task seat can prevent fatique and discomfort as well as promote circulation and good body health.

Lumbar Support

Proper Lumbar Support, preferably with adjustment features for postioning, is important to your spine. Most task or executive office chairs come with some sort of lumbar support. To be truly ergonomic, you need to have an adjustment feature on this support mechanism in order to position it to your spine. When properly used a good lumbar support can ensure that your spine and pelvis get exceptional, continuous support.

Reclined Positioning

The slightly reclined position is always the best position to stay in, sit back and relax. When pressure is applied to the back of your office chair, it should recline easily and fluidly, minimizing muscle strain. Moving while you work is healthy and the slightly relcined position is the best for the least back strain. This angle enhances circulation to your extremities, so your lower body and legs don't become quickly fatiqued.

Tilt Mechanism

A tilt mechanism with tension control and locking points is recommended. Some tasks require you to stay in one position for a period of time and locking points on the tile mechanism can help to remind yourself to keep the chair in that slightly reclined position and sit back and realx. Make sure to sit back in your Office Chair throughout the day, trying not to lean forward and lessening the pelvic and strain on your vertebrae.

Upholstery for Your Seat

Breathability and durability of the fabric is important when seated for long hours, make sure the upholstery is right for your needs and environment. Some fabrics and mesh materials when seated for long periods should help maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature that enhances both comfort and productivity. Other leather and vinyl upholsteries, while popular and look nice, can be hard to work in for hours at a time.

Foot Placement

Make sure your feet are flat and firmly on the floor. Some users will require a foot rest or mat while others will simply need to adjust the seat height to get the correct distance from the floor. The proper angle when viewed from the side is ninety degrees. In example, your lower legs are at a ninety degree angle from your upper thigh and your upper body is ninety degrees from your upper thigh. Keeping your feet flat will help keep this position and maintain good blood flow.

Workstation Heights

Keeping your workstation, computer monitor, keyboard tray and mouse all at the appropriate heights and distances are also important to good ergonomics.The top of your monitor should be at or below the normal vision line. Saving your neck from constantly being put in the wrong postition will save you from many back problems later on. Making sure to keep your eyes the recommended manufacturer distance from the computer monitor is also important. Make sure that your wrists are relaxed and are positioned parallel with the ground in a neutral position.Also make sure to adjust the height of the seat so that your elbows are just at or above the keyboard tray height.

Summary

Your daily movement is critical to your body health. The level of ease that you experience when changing positions correlates to how often you move throughout the day. Keeping your chair in a healthy ergonomic position encourages movement, provides support and promotes a continuously healthy sit. Moving while you work is healthy, moving while correctly positioned is even better and ideally you should continue to work for long periods of time in your office chair easily and naturally.

Find The Right Lighting To Increase Productivity In Your Office

When many employers worry over the productivity in their office, they consider common office problems like relationships, compensation, outside stresses, and the air temperature. However, many do not consider the important role that light plays in the workplace. From fluorescents to the Kosnic gu10, find out how lighting affects staff productivity and how you can use lighting to your advantage as a business owner.

How Does Lighting Affect Productivity?

Lighting is an important concept in the workplace and numerous studies have been conducted to establish the relationship between quality of work, health, mood, and concentration.

A Silicon Valleystudy found that 79% of office workers who use computers prefer better lighting in their work environment. The Steelcase Office Environment Index study determined that employees consider eye strain caused by poor lighting to be one of the biggest health problems in the workplace. The American Society of Interior Designers study found that 68% of workers complain about the lighting in their office.

The National Lighting Bureau established that lighting alters an employee's performance and productivity in two ways: indirectly and directly. Direct lighting affects how well you can see and indirect lighting affects how well you can pay attention, what mood you are in, your behaviour, your hormonal balance, and your ability to remain alert.

Consider for a minute how you feel outside on a sunny day. Do you feel energized, happy, and more peaceful than on dreary days? The same type of feelings can be attributed to the right type of lighting.

When you are choosing a light source for your office consider the following tips.

Use lighting that does not have audible ballast, like the Kosnic gu10 LED bulb. Fluorescents tend to emit humming sounds while they are on, and this can be distracting in an office setting. Don't settle for flickering lights. Fluorescents and other types of lamps may flicker a bit, especially when they are close to dying. Even the smallest flicker can be distracting for some, and a research study done by a Dr. Levin in 1995 concluded that 10 percent of Americans experience migraines as a result of flickering lights. During the winter months, seasonal affective disorder is very common due to the lack of sunlight individuals encounter. Make sure your office is filled with bright white light during these months to avoid feelings of depression and sadness. Make sure to include additional lighting in certain areas. For instance, if you are having a hard time seeing your computer screen despite bright overhead lighting, don't settle for squinting. Use desk lamps or floor lamps near your computer to improve your vision and productivity. Obtain access to daylight through skylights or open windows whenever you can. This will provide you with both psychological and physiological satisfaction and comfort.

Whether you are thinking of installing halogen lamps, fluorescents, or Kosnic gu10 led bulbs, keep in mind that the lighting should function for the people in your office, not for the building itself. With the proper lighting, you can increase comfort, enhance your productivity, and improve your health.