Choosing your office desk that you will use for work or home computer use each day is an important part to keeping your body healthy and comfortable. A 40-hour per week full time desk job can have you seated at your desk an average of 2,080 hours every year. The wrong set-up for your workstation can cause eyestrain, neck and back pain, and carpel tunnel syndrome in your wrists and hands. Instead of choosing a desk and computer workstation based only on its appearance and attractiveness, use these tips to help you select one that will help your posture and overall body health.

Choose an Ergonomic Chair 

You first want to select your office chair before you choose your desk, as your chair should fit to the height requirements of your body. Then, you can fit your desk to your office chair, as both the chair and the desk need to be aligned to your height and body positioning.

Look for an ergonomic office chair that has an adjustable seat height, so you can rest your feet on the floor in front of you with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle. Sit in the chair and make sure the depth of your seat allows you to sit back against its backrest with approximately two to four inches between the back of your knee and the edge of the chair's seat.

Make sure your chair has armrests that are adjustable so you can raise or lower them for horizontal placement of your forearms while you type. The backrest to your chair should also be adjustable in height with a lumbar support. The lumbar support should fit the curve of your lower back to give your back proper support and help you avoid back pain while you sit at your desk.

Last, your backrest should be recline-able as you lean back in your chair. Experts have found that a chair that reclines to a 135 degree angle puts the least strain on your back. 

Select Your Desk

The desk height for your workstation can make all the difference in how you can sit at your desk to perform your daily tasks with minimal strain on your body. It is recommended to sit at your desk and rest your hands on the desk with your forearms against your torso as you would when typing on your keyboard. This test will check the alignment of your arms, and you should find that your forearms are able to rest comfortable on the desk in front of you with your elbows bent at a 90 degree angle. 

Make sure your desk has any drawers and filing cabinets you will need for storage of your everyday work items that are within reach of your sitting position. You should be able to easily reach them throughout your work day without straining your back or shoulders to reach. 

If you already have a desk that sits a little too tall, you can adjust to raise your office chair higher for you to comfortable fit within the desk. Then, add a footrest to correct any dangling of your feet while you sit at your workstation.

Adjust Your Monitor

Your monitor sitting upon your desk should be at the right height to prevent eyestrain and your having to lean forward to view it properly, which can cause back and neck strain. It is recommended to position your monitor one arm's length away from your face. When you sit at your desk, your eye level should be at a point two to three inches below the top of the monitor.

Use these tips to help you choose your office set-up for the best comfort and body health.