Unconventional Ergonomic Office Chair

My wife came up with a great idea the other day… I rebuilt a new computer for our living area, which is really her computer. I thought that while I was at it, it would be nice to get a new office chair. Something ergonomic, comfortable, and since it’s in our living area; stylish.   Basically, ergonomic and stylish usually translate into “expensive.”

Before all this thinking about purchasing new furniture, she said it may be smart to use one of those exercise balls for a chair as they’re supposed to be good for posture, and possibly provide some “core” strengthening (at least more than sitting in a conventional chair provides).

It’s been a week, and we both like it. Holly says she doesn’t really sit up with “good” posture, and I have to agree. I’m a chronic sloucher and the ball doesn’t fix this except for when I consciously tell myself to sit up straight. But it’s comfortable sitting, and it’s more fun than a regular chair, if that makes sense.  This is not for 40+ hrs per week professional desk work.  It’s good for about an hour or so, and then you wish you could sit back and relax.

The ball cost $10 and came with its own pump. We bought the 65cm diameter version from Wal-Mart, which I inflated to about 25in diameter.  It’s “Gold’s Gym” brand, and it looks like this:

Gold's Gym Fitness Ball

I’m sure we’re not the first people to use a fitness ball as a chair, but it’s our discovery of the week. Those of you who sit at desks 40+ hours a week may want to give it a try.

My next desk/health fusion recipe will probably involve melding my Nordic Track with a tall desk. I read about this equities trader who was really fat, and since he stared at 6 monitors all day while he traded, he decided he should walk at the same time. Viola! The Workout Workstation was born.