While business success requires vision and strategy in the long run, there are also short tasks you need to do each day. Taking care of the latter as efficiently as possible means you can focus your energy on the former, but many people become distracted and uncomfortable during the workday, making tasks take longer than they should. There are plenty of productivity hacks to help with this, but in this article we explore the scientifically backed benefits of one of the lowest hanging pieces of productivity fruit: the ergonomic chair.
Comfort is Necessary for Performance
Physical discomfort is highly distracting, and it can be even more so if you let it progress into pain. When you are experiencing it, your brain is essentially dedicating much of its power to solving that issue rather than the important workplace problem that needs solving or the task you are trying to complete. This is all to say that comfort is not a luxury, but a necessity for anybody trying to optimise their performance.
An ergonomic chair is a chair that is specifically designed with comfort in mind. Its shape is intended to provide the right support for your body and reduce strain in your shoulders, neck, and back. They help keep discomfort at bay even when you are seated for extended periods of time. They also help prevent distracting long-term health issues like chronic back pain and spinal issues.
Increased Energy Levels and Focus
Your blood needs to circulate freely in order to keep vital organs like your brain topped up with nutrients and oxygen. When you have been sitting in an ordinary chair for a long time, it cannot do this, meaning that oxygen and other good things are delivered less frequently to important parts of the body. This can cause sluggishness and fatigue, which can make it very hard to focus on work.
Ergonomic chairs are designed to aid circulation, helping you retain your energy and focus for longer.
Creating a Professional Image
While it has been changing recently, the custom in most countries is to dress up for business meetings, both in-person and online. We do this to present the best version of ourselves to others, and to demonstrate positive attributes like attention to detail and professionalism. However, the clothes we wear are not the only things that others see about us. It is likely that many people will also see your workspace.
It is important to decorate your workspace in a way that looks professional and gives the right impression, and an ergonomic chair is an ideal way to do that. Like a suit, it can also help you look better as a person. This is because it ensures that you are sitting with the correct posture, rather than hunching over or slouching.
Conclusion
It is hard to believe that something as simple as upgrading your chair could actually have a large impact on your productivity, health, and professional image, yet it is true. This easy change gives you more energy to focus on the actual important tasks at hand, while also creating a much more comfortable working environment.
