Your Computer Chair

Your chair is probably the single most important component of your working environment. As a writer, you will spend as long stuck to your seat as you spend in bed, so it is worth investing some attention in the choice and care of both.

You should select and adjust your chair first as it will affect the keyboard and monitor position. Pull the chair away from the desk. Start with your chair at the highest setting, sit down and lower the seat until your thighs fit easily under the desk and your feet rest on the floor. You might need a footrest or stack of old phone books to rest your feet on. There should not be significant pressure on the back of your knees. The seat surface itself should be flat. Some padding is nice but not essential. If the seat is too soft, you might 'sink in' putting pressure on your knees and nerves.

Contrary to popular belief, good posture does not mean sitting upright. Sitting erect or leaning forward increases the strain on the lower back. This is fine for short term use but not recommended for prolonged periods. Leaning slightly back at an open angle is more relaxing, easing pressure on your lower back.

But here are some guidelines:

	You should be able to sit comfortably in the chair with as much of you in contact with the chair as possible. This allows the pressure to be spread.
	The part which you sit on should be just a little larger than you. If you overlap, add a cushion.
	The lumbar support should fit comfortably into the curve of your lower back, and your feet should be flat on the ground (use a footrest if necessary).
	Your legs should be able to rest on the floor or something solid without applying pressure to the back of your knees.
	Use a footrest if your feet cannot rest comfortably on the floor. A few old phone books are not a good substitute, as they are not easy to move out of the way.
	There is nothing wrong with wriggling about. Adjust your sitting posture and stretch from time to time.
	Your thighs should be roughly parallel with the floor. Some chairs have a recline adjustment which allow you to change the angle of the seat. For most people the seat should be horizontal. If it slopes back, you are resting on your back, and if tilted forward, you place more pressure on your legs.

There are 2 key components of a seat, the bit you sit on and the back (lumbar) support.

Both can be adjusted: the height of the seat and the position of the backrest. (Most office chairs have to be allowed to rise to their full height without you sitting on them).

A swivel facility is valuable. It makes it easy to enter and exit from your desk. Swivelling makes it easy to turn to face an adjacent work surface.

Most chairs have wheels but apart from the Christmas Party chariot race, the wheels are of little value. Cheaper chairs have slides and these work fine on most surfaces.

Your body mass, gender, work-space and 'old injuries' affect your sitting arrangements. There is no perfect position. What you are looking for is a relaxed writing environment.

Arm rests

Fixed arm rests should not normally be used while typing or using your mouse. Arm rests inhibit your movement and tempt you to adopt postures which are damaging in the long run. If you choose a chair fitted with arm rests, see if they can be swung out of the way when not in use or adjusted to suit your posture and way of working. Arm rests should only be used between typing sessions, when phoning or talking. For a serious writer, chairs with arm rests are probably best avoided unless they can be adjusted.

Non-Adjustable Chair

If you don't have an adjustable chair, consider buying one. It is a crucial element in your workspace.

Otherwise, think creatively:

	Use cushions to raise the height of the chair.
	If you are too high, rest your feet on a few phone books to bring your thighs parallel.
	An old pillow can make an excellent, makeshift backrest for lumbar support.

You don't sit still....

So it is pointless identifying a 'perfect' position. If you observe yourself wriggling about too much, it is either time to take a break or to adjust your seating arrangements.

WritersServices.com Factsheet - Health Hazards

Your Computer Chair