Feeling achy, sore and struggling to understand what you may have done to cause this pain? Many people are the cause of their own pain without even knowing it due to the way that they sit at their desk. 


As children we are often told off by our parents and grandparents for our posture and most of us shrug it off, but it really is as important as they always said. Good posture is the key to avoiding injury, reducing aches and pains and boosting your mental health. When you are sat at your desk for 8 hours+ a day it becomes even more important.


As many of us are working from home at the moment and may not be using the most beneficial office furniture, we thought we would share some advice on how to sit at your desk properly and get the best from your posture. 


  1. Remember the 90 angle° 

When you’re sitting at your desk all day long it’s very easy to become lazy with your posture and slump over, but it’s really important to keep your seated position at a 90 degree angle with your back resting on your chair upright and your feet placed flat on the floor. Investing in the right ergonomic chair will help you achieve this for longer periods of time.


  • Relax your shoulders 

  • It’s really important to keep your shoulders as relaxed as possible. Hunching them over or tensing them up towards your ears is not good for your back or your neck. If you struggle with this, consider using a back or full posture support.


  • Only your forearms should be leant on the desk 

  • Keep your arms off your desk. If you’re leaning right over your desk when typing then you are too far away from your keyboard and in the wrong position. Try and keep your wrists from becoming bent and your back from hunching over. If you are struggling with this particular issue, try out our armrest supports to help you stay in the correct position. 


  • Computer angle 

  • Keep your computer at an angle that is eye level. Don’t have it lower so that you are looking down or higher so that you’re looking up. This causes strain on your neck which also flows down through your back. Try out laptop stands to help you get your monitor in the right position.


  • Don’t sit cross legged 

  • Similar to our first point, the way you sit is everything! Don’t sit cross legged as your body will naturally pull weight onto one side of the body and lead you to slouch. You may think it’s comfortable at the time but you will soon feel the negative effects from it and find yourself in pain. If you are sitting this way because you are short and your legs dangle, get an under desk foot rest to help your balance. 


  • Invest in a sit-stand desk

  • A sit-stand desk offers many benefits to our health as well as our posture. It can help reduce muscular and joint aches, increase productivity, concentration and alertness, while also improving circulation. It’s important for many different reasons to not be sat down all day long, so a sit-stand desk can fix that problem by giving you the option to work both sitting and standing. Try one of our sit-stand desks for yourself or your staff and enjoy the benefits you will feel. 

    February 03, 2021 — Tim Scott