Use Multiple Chairs

May 2019 — Tip of the Month

Standing desks are all the rage these days. They promise to help improve your posture and avoid problems caused by sitting in a chair all day. The problem is — not all of us like to stand while we're working.

I'm one of those people who prefers to sit while I'm at my computer. I find it harder to stand in one place than to sit for a long period of time. I'm also more focused when I'm sitting. If I'm more productive sitting, a standing desk doesn't really benefit me since I have to work longer to get the same amount of work done.

But I still bought a standing desk. Why? Because I can adjust it a few inches and use it with different chairs that have different seat heights. I currently use a Herman Miller Embody chair and a balance ball chair (which was about one-tenth the price of the Herman Miller chair).

Both chairs have their pros and cons. The Herman Miller chair has nice support and is fully adjustable, but I still find myself slouching in it at times. The balance ball chair keeps me from slouching and engages my core muscles, but it can be fatiguing to sit on the ball all day.

I alternate between these chairs as soon as I feel soreness in my neck or back. I use the Herman Miller chair 75% of the time and the balance ball chair 25%. This has been a great solution for me the past few years and has helped me avoid some of the back and neck problems I've had in the past.

Using multiple chairs with an adjustable desk is a great option if you don't like standing at your desk but you also don't like to sit in one position all day. With balance ball chairs available under $80, it's worth the small investment to try it out.

- Per Christensson