One of the perks of starting a home based business is that you get to design a home office. One room of your home should be dedicated to all of your work. Since you will be spending a lot of time in this room, the most important accessory is a good chair.

When working at a desk where you will be sitting for long periods of time, the first consideration is ergonomics. The science of ergonomics deals with stresses on the body in the workplace setting. To maintain a healthy body, safe postures must be observed to avoid unnecessary strain on muscle groups and joints which could lead to injury. The last thing anyone wants is for their new business to do them in. Companies have developed ergonomically correct office equipment and accessories to help you to protect yourself. Now that we know why it's important to choose a comfortable chair, let's consider a few things when shopping for one.

1. Find the right store. Lots of places sell chairs, but all stores are not created equal. Any old chair will not provide you with the support that you will need for long periods of time spent at the computer. Visit an office store such as Office Depot, Office Max, or Staples. These stores specialize in office furniture. Their selection of office chairs will be wider and more varied than a department store.

2. Consider your back. I don't know about you, but the first thing I notice after sitting for a long time in a chair is how much my back hurts when I get up. An ill-fitted chair produces too much pressure on the lumbar region of the spine causing a serious lower back ache. When choosing your chair, decide which is more comfortable-a one piece construction or an adjustable seat back chair. The chair should provide adequate support during all of the activities performed at the desk. An adjustable seat back allows you to raise or lower to support your back at the right spot for proper body alignment.

3. Arms or no arms? On most chairs the arms are fixed at a specific height. Leaning on armrests that are placed too high for you causes the shoulders to remain in a hunched position. This adds strain to the muscles of the neck and shoulders. Adjusting your chair to the correct height in relation to the height of the desk alleviates the need for arms on the chair. A keyboard rest supports the wrists and forearms without adding pressure to the above mentioned muscle groups. An alternative would be to purchase a chair with armrests that are adjustable.

4. Leather or microfiber? Leather looks great in an office, but how comfortable is it? A microfiber chair will probably keep your body cooler in the long run. Leather chairs are also more expensive.

A comfortable chair can make all the difference to your day. Choosing an appropriate chair in conjunction with ergonomic principles will keep your body healthy while you work.

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