At work, you are always encouraged to strive to be better. But, have you ever considered striving for better posture? Most of the time we are unaware of our posture until we experience aches or soreness associated with it. Good posture can help you feel less tense, strained and fatigued, especially during a long work day. However, even when we want to improve our posture, it can take some practice to develop awareness, make adjustments and get in the habit of sitting or standing the correct way. But, how can you practice without knowing what to practice? That is where we step in. We did some detective work to figure out some of the best ways to improve posture, and we are here to share them with you.
Stay grounded; that is, keep your feet on the ground. Obviously, when you are standing this goes without saying, but when sitting, it is also important to keep your feet either on the ground or some sort of surface such as a footrest.
Focus on the knees. When sitting, position yourself in a way that allows for optimal and continual circulation. While many people naturally cross their legs when sitting down, doing so can actually cause more issues by cutting off circulation in the legs. To avoid this, try keeping legs uncrossed while also leaving a little distance between the edge of your seat and the back of your knees, minimizing pressure and therefore improving overall circulation.
You might have guessed that we are into office chairs. That is because we know these chairs have a wide range of capabilities intended to help you sit better. So, of course we suggest you use those to your advantage. Most office chairs are designed to be tailored to the user, making them highly adjustable. Among these features are adjustable backrests which help provide both lumbar support and often, overall back support. This is important when trying to minimize fatigue. Other common adjustable features include seat and back height adjustment as well as tilt-tension and tilt-lock controls. Take control of your chair and adjust it in a way that not only supports you best, but also supports good posture. Our ergonomic chairs are highly adjustable, making them excellent choices to support good posture.
Get moving. No, we are not asking you to run a marathon, but we are suggesting you continually change positions when sitting for extended periods of time. This not only helps maintain good posture, but it also can help you stay focused. And, while we are on this topic, it does not hurt to get up from your desk to move periodically, either. A brisk walk, even if it is just to the break room and back, can be highly beneficial.
Relax. Being at work may not be the first thing you associate with that word. But, trust us, it is possible to stay relaxed while working. And, it can actually help you work better. Try to maintain a relaxed position by easing tension in the shoulders and resting forearms, preferably parallel to the floor—chairs with adjustable armrests can help with this. Many of our chairs already come with armrests, but chairs like the Alera Essentia have optional armrests that can be purchased separately.
Take a stand. Standing, especially following long periods of sitting, can make a world of difference. But, did you know that how you stand is just as important as how you sit? Standing straight plays a huge role in practicing good posture. Make sure to draw the shoulders slightly back and keep your head centered to avoid neck strain.
Weight distribution is also important while standing. Feet should be in alignment with the shoulders, while bearing weight mostly on the balls of feet. Intermittently shifting weight between both legs and feet can also be helpful. Additionally, making sure not to lock your knees is especially important when standing for hours at a time. To avoid this, it helps to bend the knees slightly.
Whether sitting or standing, good posture is essential in reducing added stress on the body. Becoming aware of your posture, following these guidelines and then practicing can help you develop positive habits. For more chairs that can help promote better posture, take a look at our office chairs collection.