Whether it’s a good or bad thing will depend solely on the person you ask, but in today’s world, often our lives involve a lot of sitting.
We’re all striving for that balanced lifestyle, the 8 hours of sleep, the healthy diet, plenty of time with friends and family, and a job we might not love but don’t mind doing. For many, this beautiful balance will likely involve a hefty amount of sitting – both in and outside of our homes. We might sit in a variety of chairs on a given day; at the breakfast table, on the bus, in the office, the restaurant or bar after work, at the taxi back home, the sofa in our living rooms, the dressing table in our bedrooms (not to mention the toilet). It should come as no surprise that with all this sitting, poor-quality chairs can seriously impact your health.
Like many things in life, preventative and lifestyle decisions can save you from irreparable damage and years of pain. Much like vaccines are ideal to stop you from getting a bad illness, looking after your posture before there’s any issue will help prevent deterioration/injury. Common sense, right? Unfortunately, far too many of us rely on our youthful strength and endurance to then find ourselves with lasting injuries as we age. Investing in quality furniture may seem like an unnecessary or exorbitant cost, which you could end up paying in the long run. The development of back issues as you age is one of the leading causes of mobility problems. These issues have a knock-on effect on the rest of your health and are often comorbidity with obesity. Better to spend big on quality chairs now than contribute to the rise in medical equipment sales, including bariatric equipment later.
If you’re anything like the majority of the population, a lot of your rest and relaxation time will be spent lounging on your couch or sofa. Obviously, your highest priority when picking out your new couch will be the level of comfort and symbiosis with the design of your living room. Those with young kids will also be thinking of durability, and those approaching old age may be thinking of mobility, but when picking the ideal fit for you, you should also be considering the ergonomic implications. Much like beds, we all have a preference for firmness. Some of us will want a couch we can sink into, and others will prefer something with a little less give, which all comes down to personal choice.
When thinking of your health, particularly that of your lumbar, the professionals recommend solid frames and medium firm memory foam cushions. This combination still allows for flexibility in the overall softness of your sofa without compromising the quality.
Sitting at a dining room table for every meal feels like it’s headed out of fashion. It’s typically only seen in big families and those with children at home. As we’re moving to a space where a majority of the 25-40’s demographic are childfree and or single, it’s likely dining tables will predominantly be used for special occasions (Christmas, birthdays & Easter).
If you find yourself in the minority or from a generation that values the routine of dinner in the dining room, then you should think very carefully about what chairs you place around the table. Minimalist designs can look very chic and sophisticated, but they aren’t always the best for you. Ensuring you have a high backrest that supports the natural curve of the spine is recommended. If you’re really dedicated to the cause, you might also look for chairs with ample padding to provide adequate support, along with encompassing armrests to relieve the weight from your shoulders. From there, the size, colour and shape are all down to your personal tastes and overall aesthetic.
If you’re one of the thousands of people who are still working in an on-your-feet-all-day industry, this won’t really help you, but maybe you can pass on the wisdom to the people in your life. For the thousands of you that are part of the 9-5 (or thereabouts) grind that sees you spend upwards of 8 hours a day on your tooshie, listen up. Our bodies don’t do the best when they’re confined to a seated position for such an extended period of time. If you want to avoid serious back issues later in life, now is the time to make sure you look after yourself with quality, supportive chairs.
Your home office is where you’ll have the most say in your workstation setup. It can be easy to start looking at desks and office chairs and become altogether overwhelmed. So many choices – the best mesh back office chair, leather office chairs, heavy-duty office chairs, meeting room chairs in different sizes and colours, boardroom chairs, and the list goes on. When we hit our local furniture store and start trying out all the options, we often find ourselves drawn towards cheap and comfy when we should be thinking ergonomic and sturdy.
Ergonomic chairs aren’t always the most comfortable ones you’ll try; in fact, for a new user, they can be quite uncomfortable – particularly if you have bad posture. Over time, as this improves, you’ll find their comfort will get better, and so too, will your back. A quality office chair is likely to set you back quite a bit, but as we’ve already established, if you don’t pay now, you will pay later. If your job requires that you have a home office, you may find it worthwhile asking your employer to subsidise some (or all) of the cost.
Obviously, if you’re working in an office, you have much less control over the equipment that is supplied to you. It’s a fault of a lot of workplaces to pour all their funding into fancy reception area seating or boardroom seating as opposed to the everyday office. Quality office chairs are extremely important for every employee. If your workplace isn’t providing this for you, and you’re unable to sway them to up their game, it’s highly recommendable that you look into ways that you can supply your own chair in the office. No one wants to shoulder a cost like this that should not be necessary, but it will be your back that pays the price if you don’t!