Are gaming chairs good for office work?

Because of the pandemic, millions of office workers from around the world ended up working from home. And we had to make do with what we had at home, including chairs.

Naturally, if you are stuck at home and your options for working seated are a dining table chair and a gaming chair, you might be wondering: “Is a gaming chair good for office work?”

Perhaps you are considering whether or not to purchase an actual office chair for your work hours.

Or maybe you think that you should get one of those fancy gaming chairs (that look like they came out from a race car) because they seem like the pinnacle of ergonomics and comfort.

Well, let me tell you that I have had my fair share of good and bad experiences when it comes to chairs used for office work. So perhaps I will be able to give you some helpful answers and useful advice.

Gaming chair vs office chair: which is better for office work?

Are gaming chairs comfortable for office work? The best and most precise answer I can give you is the following: it all depends on the model of the chair, not the type.

I have worked on office chairs that are great, and I have worked on office chairs that are terrible.

And, as I said earlier, a gaming chair can indeed be good for office work as long as it is comfortable. And in some cases, it could be better than a typical cheap office chair because of the adjustments that can be made.

Also, consider this, the human body can’t really make a distinction between gaming and typical office work. It’s all just sitting on a chair, doing computer input.

So it doesn’t really matter what type of chair you are sitting on for hours on end.

What matters is how you feel. If you are working on a typical office chair and you feel fine, then that’s great. But if you feel uncomfortable and you feel pain, then you should switch to a chair that better fits your needs.

Is a gaming chair good for working from home?

Can gaming chairs be used as office chairs? Of course! If for some reason you are working on a gaming chair, and you feel fine, then there is no need for you to switch to a designated office work chair.

Why spend the extra money and increase your carbon footprint just to get another chair when you already have one that feels fine? But do gaming chairs make good office chairs?

Well, sure they do, but usually, they are more expensive as well.

I suggest that you get a new chair only if you are feeling discomfort and pain with your current one.

Note: If you will be working from home from now on, make sure that your Internet speed is decent so that you can perform your duties as it is expected of you.

Differences between a gaming chair and an office chair

The first and most obvious difference can be noticed immediately in the design. Usually, gaming chairs look like what you’d expect to see as seats in a race car.

Also, you can expect to see a big brand logo on the back of such chairs. Bright contrasting colors can also be expected.

On the other hand, the typical office chairs are a bit more utilitarian in their looks. Darker colors prevail, mostly black, dark brown, or dark blue.

Gaming chairs usually have fixed headrests. The backrest is usually winged, and the seat is a bucket type. The edge of the seat is raised while the backrest provides a high degree of recline. Detachable pillows for extra lumbar and neck support are a common feature. The armrests can be adjusted in height and direction.

Office chairs often have an adjustable headrest. The backrest is wingless, while the seat is flat. The edge of the seat is waterfall-shaped.

The backrest recline is often limited (depending on the model). Support of the lumbar spine is usually fixed in cheaper chairs with limited adjustment options. The armrests are usually fixed, too. If you are considering purchasing an office chair, then here you can find out more about how long they usually last based on how expensive they are.

Should you get a gaming chair or an office chair?

You should consider how the design of the chair that you are getting fits your home or your office space. That is, if you care about the aesthetic aspect of things.

If you are not a gamer, I don’t see any particular reason why you’d opt for a gaming chair because there are office chair models that can provide the same level of adjustment to accommodate your specific needs and to allow you to comfortably do your office work seated.

If you are indeed a gamer and you need that psychological boost that comes from the slick designs of gaming equipment, then by all means, get a gaming chair.

They are designed to be comfortable and supportive so people can sit in them for prolonged periods of time, so I am sure that you will be able to do work on them as well.

In all cases, your first priority should be to get a chair that is comfortable and supports your lower back adequately. Then you can worry about how it fits your surroundings.

However, I wouldn’t recommend that you purchase a chair online before you get the chance to actually sit in it. Go visit a showroom and try a few chairs yourself before you make a purchase.

Pick a chair and just sit in it for a while and see how you feel after ten minutes or so.

According to a study by Canadian and British researchers, the best possible position to sit in so as to minimize the strain on the back is at a recline of 135 degrees. So consider getting a chair that allows you to achieve this desired angle.

Feeling pain? Don’t rely on your chair alone!

Sitting for hours on end every day is associated with lower back pain, back stiffness, shoulder and neck pain, and leg stiffness.

So consider adopting a mobility and strength routine that will fortify your body against the deteriorating effects of prolonged daily sitting.

Don’t get me wrong, having a comfortable chair that allows you to sit for long periods of time without pain is very important.

You should definitely seek a chair that fits your needs perfectly. But also take the time to strengthen your body and move.

After all, humans did not evolve to sit for too long. This kind of brings me to my next point.

Remember that sitting for too long is terrible for your health

Today we know that one of the ways office work is detrimental to our bodies is because of the long hours of sitting. There are many health risks associated with long sitting on a daily basis.

That is why I strongly urge you to adopt a strict sitting discipline. Make sure to stand up and take a brief walk whenever you can.

Also, make sure to get at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity on a daily basis to boost your heart health. Don’t skip cardio if you go to the gym.

Key takeaways

• A gaming chair can be issued for office work as long as it is comfortable.
• There is no need to purchase a designated office work chair if you have a perfectly comfortable gaming chair at home.
• The difference between game chairs and office chairs is in their design and functionality.
• If you are about to purchase a new chair for office work, opt for a model that can be adjusted to 135 degrees recline, as this setting has been scientifically proven to be optimal for back health.
• Remember that sitting for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis can be very detrimental to your health.
• Adopt a strict sitting discipline and make sure to stand up whenever you can during your workdays.
• Make sure to get at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity to promote heart health.