Are you Sitting comfortably?
They say sitting is the new smoking, but for many of us it’s also a necessary part of working life. So, if you’re going to spend several hours a day sitting at a desk for your job, here are a few things to keep in mind to help your posture and reduce strain on your back.
Adjust your desk
If you work somewhere with adjustable desks, awesome: welcome to the future. Adjust the height of your desk so that when sitting in your chair with your upper arms parallel to your spine, your forearms rest on your desk at 90 degrees to your body. If you work somewhere without adjustable desks, check out the next tip.
Adjust your seat
Sit with your backside up against the chair back and adjust the height of your chair so that your thighs rest comfortably on the chair, your knees are level with your hips and your feet are flat on the floor. Use a footrest if needed.
Adjust your screen
If you can, use a monitor positioned around an arm’s length in front of you with the top of the screen at, or just below, eye level. If you use a laptop, be sure to look up regularly to reduce strain on your neck.
And keep moving!
Regular breaks are the key. At least once an hour, make sure you give yourself a few minutes to stand up and walk around. It will give your back a chance to relax while you engage some other muscles, will help you stay fresh and alert, and will also get you closer to your daily step goal!
