It is Friday. I’ve had a long work week compounded by nights of midnight canning. I’m feeling the affects of single parenting. And this is the chair I sit in during the day. 
Oh, it’s comfortable….if it was in a corner of my grandmother’s bedroom and I needed to take a break from cleaning out her closets. For an office chair, it’s terrible. My sacrum is sore and I’m not even sure what a sacrum is. My hip flexors are tight. My shoulders are hunched and the back of my neck is constricted. Wait, am I turning into Gollum? I have to sit on one of my fancy silk throw pillows just to reach my keyboard.
I’ve complained about my sorry chair situation to Jake and he must be missing me something awful because he offered to buy me — a really nice one — for Christmas.
But what kind to get?
The Aeron chair ($700-$800) has been quite popular for at least a decade, and it’s extremely comfortable, but there’s something vaguely geeky and “gadget-y” about it, like it was designed for turtleneck-wearing Microsoft nerds back in the 90s.
I’ve heard good things about Humanscale Liberty chair ($700-$900), which is supposed to be just as comfy as the Aeron, but with less handles and knobs.
I have a friend who swears by her Ikea Markus swivel chair ($200) but she also doesn’t work from home, and only sits in the chair on weekends or after work. Not sure how comfy Ikea is after 40-60 hour work week.
I’m hesitant to go the inexpensive route with an office chair because as a writer, my chair is my tool, right up there with a computer and an internet connection. And right now, my tool is making me sore and uncomfortable.
And how does the saying go? ”When it comes to quality, you only buy it once.” Any stand out office chairs I should know about?
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http://www.comfysacks.com/comfy-sacks
I had an office job for a few years, and the pain and other effects from sitting all day made me go back to a site job in construction. Now when I work at my computer, which is still a considerable amount of time, I work at a standing desk. It is the best thing I have ever done for my back and overall alignment. You can buy them, but I made my own out of that inexpensive track shelving.
The keyboard should be level with or slightly above your elbows, and the top of the screen should be level with your eyes. A footrest to put on foot on at a time is good too, as I found myself cocking my hip a lot at first, and making my back ache that way. I will never go back to a sitting desk again.
I have an Aeron on at work, and it really hurts my sacrum.
oh good, maybe you can tell me where it is.
At the end of the spine. Pretty much at the top of the butt crack.
I had the Aeron at my last job. Used it for about three years and it killed the back of my legs. If you’ll recall I have no trouble with my legs reaching the ground.
My office has the Aeron chairs and I like them; I don’t seem to have any issues from sitting in them long periods of time.
My grandfather used to say: we’re not rich enough to buy cheap. It makes sense, it really does!
I bought an exercise ball chair and I really like it — took a little getting used to, but because you can’t slouch, my back hurts less.
My husband works from home and loves the chair that I bought for him last Christmas. It fits him (5’11″ 170 lbs) but may not fit you. Check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Lider-Office-Chair-White/dp/B001UQ6EP8
I hear you. Coming from a writing/PR background, I sat 40 hours a week at my previous jobs. At one job, I was able to pick out my own chair from Office Depot. I went with this one…or an earlier evolution of this chair. http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/301437/True-Innovations-Sport-Mesh-Mid-Back/
I was trying to be a good team player, so I selected a modestly priced chair, but I ended up hitting the jackpot. Most comfortable chair ever! When I switched jobs, I missed that chair more than life itself.
We have the Aeron -2 actually. One for me, one for my husband. We “inherited” them when my company moved me from an office to a home office. I love mine. You have to get the right size for your body though which is why we have two. They come in different sizes. No way I would pay full price for one. You can always try craigslist.
I second the exercise ball idea. I just read a study about people who stay seated for extended periods of time. Evidently having a back to your chair encourages bad posture and, in the end, back problems.
I use a couch for six hours of computer work a day which is totally stupid. :/
Don’t get the Aeron chair….we have them at my work, and I couldn’t wait to get a different chair. Not comfortable at all….
I really enjoy your writing. Chiming in here, because I work from home, too, and invested in this chair:
http://www.dwr.com/product/mirra-task-chair.do?sortby=ourPicks
after going to the store and trying all of them. I’m really happy with it. Caveat…it’ll take a long time if you order from this store, 6-8 weeks.
Thanks, Karyn. I’ll check it out!