Four Newfangled Ways to Sit at Your PC

I revisit the topic of ergonomics a lot. Maybe it's because my back hurts constantly or that I just need the constant reminders to sit properly when I'm working. (Which is all the time.)

Best advice I've reported on so far: Lean back, don't sit up straight.

More good advice: Get a better chair.

But if those tips didn't work for you, you might consider these four ideas sifted out by Jon Bischke on Zaadz.com. Some of these are old ideas (I've seen that kneeling chair, sitting forlorn and unused, in many a home office), but a few of them are new. Lotus position, particularly, is interesting, and I find myself wedging myself cross-legged into an office chair from time to time as it really does seem to help the back. Unfortunately, Jon is right in that sitting this way for long generally means you'll need to sit on the floor and requires a desk at the appropriate height. Tricky.

Same caveats go for trying to stand on a (moving) treadmill and using your computer at the same time: You need a complicated desk rig to get this to work. But for time-crunched professionals who want to combine work and workout, this definitely beats typing one-handed while squeezing one of those hand-strengthening devices in the other fist.

I recently read a story (can't find it online, alas) that the next generation of office chairs will be easier to adjust and will automatically morph themselves to match your weight and body type. Sounds great, but with Aerons running $500 and up, I shudder to think how much these high-tech seats are going to cost us.