It wobbles. It creaks. It sinks every time you sit on it. Plus, it looks a little unsightly.
These are just a few of the signs that could suggest you need a new office chair.
We spend a huge amount of our working lives sitting at a desk, so it probably comes as no surprise that the type of office chair you use can make a big difference. A difference to your health and to your productivity.
A quality office chair should support you through each day, keep your posture as correct as it can be, and allow you to focus on your work with few distractions.
But every office chair has a lifespan. It might not be obvious exactly when you need a new one, but the signs will definitely be there!
If you feel like you need a replacement office chair, it doesn’t get any better than Slouch. Our home office chairs are rigorously tested, from the headrest right down to the casters, to ensure they can withstand every work day while offering the comfort you crave.
So let’s dig into the signs that your chair is a little past its use-by date.
You’re experiencing back pain
Back pain, as well as neck or shoulder pain, is a big red flag and a sure sign that you need a new office chair.
If you’re constantly moving around to try and relieve that pressure, it’s likely that the chair has lost the ergonomic support that it once had. Over time, sitting without the right support can lead to poor posture, slouching shoulders and even long-term pain.
This type of discomfort can chip away at your concentration, too, so instead of being fully absorbed by your work, you’re aware of the pain that’s always niggling.
A new chair that’s adjusted to suit you will provide more support and comfort, doing away with any extraneous aches.
The padding isn’t what it used to be
Office chairs are designed to provide cushioning where your body needs it most, but when the padding starts to sag, that comfort is gone.
Imagine trying to watch a film while sitting on an old sofa. After just a few minutes, you can clearly feel the wooden frame through the thin and lumpy cushions, and you’re having to adjust your position every few minutes. Now imagine trying to sit on this for an eight-hour workday.
Without the right cushioning for support, you’re forced into awkward positions that might mean your spine and hips are misaligned.
There’s no way to bring back the padding, or restore it to its former glory, so we’d recommend it’s time for a new office chair. Choose one that has a seat made from moulded foam for day-long comfort.
The adjustments don’t work
A well-designed office chair should be adaptable. You should be able to raise or lower the armrests, choose your seat depth, and finetune the height and tilt to suit your body.
But if these levers are stiff, broken or altogether unresponsive, then it’s time for a new chair.
Working in a chair that can’t be adjusted properly means that you’ll never find the right sitting position, which ultimately leads to strain on your wrists, shoulders and lower back. A chair that always sinks as you sit on it can also lead to poor posture, as you’re not at the optimal height for your arms to rest on the desk.
We’d even consider the caster wheels, too. Do they move freely as they should, or do they regularly get stuck?
All of these things can cause frustration, and mean you spend most of your work day getting annoyed with your chair than concentrating on your work. At this point, it’s time for a new one.
You’re feeling less and less productive
It’s easy to dismiss an old chair as ‘good enough’, or work on a dining chair because it feels ok. But the hidden reality is that discomfort is one of the biggest drains on productivity.
It’s difficult to concentrate when every twinge in your back makes your eye twitch, and every creak of the mechanism has you wondering whether the chair will actually hold. Over weeks and months, this distraction adds up and instead of working efficiently, you’re in a battle with your chair.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. With a quality office chair that’s been lovingly created by a team of engineers and designers, you’ll feel comfortable enough to give your full attention to your work. This means better results and less stress at the end of the day.
It looks obviously worn
An office chair isn’t simply there to offer support and comfort. It should look beautiful too, which is why we’ve designed our office chairs so they can do both.
A chair that has cracked leather, worn-out armrests and fraying fabric doesn’t look professional. It also doesn’t match the aesthetic of the rest of your home office.
When it begins to look obviously worn, it could be time for you to upgrade your office chair.
It’s making some suspicious noises
Remember when you could roam around the room on noiseless casters and swivel without a creak in sight? No?
If your chair has started groaning every time you lean back or clicking as you adjust the height, it’s usually a sign that the mechanisms are wearing out. Beyond being irritating, these noises are generally caused by worn parts or loose components. They show that the aspects of the chair that support your weight may not be doing their job as effectively, so it’s likely time for a change.
Why is it a good idea to upgrade your office chair?
When you upgrade your office chair, you’re opening up numerous possibilities. You can do your best work without distraction. You can be supported and comfortable for the entire work day. You can be proud of how your chair looks and feels.
At Slouch, every chair is carefully tested to ensure maximum comfort and durability. Our office chairs support your posture, move with you and look beautiful.
Don’t let your seat hold you back.
How often should you replace your office chair?
An office chair that’s well looked after should last around 10 years. However, cheap chairs made with poor-quality parts will certainly last less than this.
A chair’s lifespan may also depend on the material it’s made from. Fabric chairs could last seven to eight years, while leather may last a little longer at 10 years.
We’d recommend that you don’t go by age but by how the chair looks and feels.
Upgrading your chair is an investment in your wellbeing, your productivity and your daily comfort. With Slouch, you can be confident that you’re choosing a chair that’s been designed to support you properly, day after day.
