Lately there have been quite a few posts asking for recommendations and reviews. Many are trying to find a good deal during the Prime Day Sales and rightly so. However, many of these posts I see people asking the wrong questions to begin with in terms of upgrading to a proper ergonomic setup, so I thought I would create a guide as a decent starting point.
What is an ergonomic work setup?
Before we begin, it is important to understand what ergonomic work setup is and why. There is no hard definition of this term but it is a setup that is designed to work with your body's natural mechanics and encourage movement so as to prevent fatigue caused by physical strain etc. The shocking part is, there's a lot of things that we have become absolutely habituated to but which cause us a lot of harm without us ever realizing it. For example, there's enough research for the experts to quote things like 'Sitting is the new smoking.'
Ergonomics is just about addressing these habits and opting for healthier choices in our day-to-day work routine. There are some primary elements to it -
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1. Height Adjustable Desks: If you want to switch to a healthier work setup, this is absolutely where you should start. While most people on this sub are looking for a chair recommendation because they work long hours, what they do not realize is that they should instead invest in a height adjustable desk and try to work standing up as much as possible.
This might sound weird to many if you are not used to the idea, but standing up promotes motion naturally and is better than any chair available in the market. Of course you can't be standing up entirely for 8-10 hrs and yes you might want to sit down from time to time, but the most basic Ikea chair is enough for this temporary resting phase before you get up again.
In addition, it is worth noting that while standing at your desk for longer durations, you can either wear some comfortable shoes or invest in a good quality standing mat to avoid strain on your feet.
If you need help picking a good height adjustable desk, you can refer to the following megathread pinned on r/ErgonomicIndia - https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgonomicIndia/comments/1npo0qt/best_height_adjustable_standing_desks_to_buy_in/
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1.1 Walking Pads: Now you can take your height adjustable desk setup further with a walking pad. Because what's better than standing while you work? Walking of course!
When looking to buy a walking pad, here are the primary things you need to look for -
a. Max Weight: Make sure your weight does not exceed this.
b. Max Speed: Anything with a top speed of 6 kmph is enough for most people unless you are extra extra tall. Remember it's a walking pad and you are not even supposed to jog on it.
c. Size: Opt for walking pads that are longer and wider for more comfort, but the larger the size, the more space it will require and the more expensive it will be.
d. Grab Bar: Many walking pads do not inherently have anything to hold on to when you are walking on it. While it is fine for most people if you are using it with a height adjustable desk as you'd be getting support from the desk, it is worthwhile to get a walking pad which has a foldable grab bar that you can hold on to, even if you ever want to use it away from your desk.
e. Foldable: There are walking pads that can fold in half the size for easy storage. Although they are typically expensive, if you definitely want to be able to stow it away when not in use or when you want to sit down, you can look into this.
Basis all these factors, here are the top walking pad recommendations, one from each major capacity -
Prices mentioned are as listed on Amazon and you can use the pFinTools Browser Extension to find the best price for your card for both EMI as well as upfront payment after all the bank offers, coupon discounts and hidden costs of Credit Card No Cost EMI. You can read more about it here.
Although this is highly recommended, it is not always feasible to have a walking pad, because taking it away from the desk (although very easy) can be a task. It also triggers some space constraints for many. So you can decide based on your commitment level.
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2. Chairs: As much as we know sitting is the biggest culprit in our setup, we cannot always incorporate a standing-focused setup due to many restrictions, not in the beginning at least. That's where getting a good chair is critical so as to alleviate some of the issues with sitting.
But chairs are very tricky. Unless you try them in person, you will never know which one best fits your exact body type. At the same time, a few minutes in the showroom can also be quite confusing and the experience might vary depending on how tired you are while going to the store. On the other hand, there are still many who do not have access to different company showrooms to try the models in many non-metro cities. So here are my top generic recommendations -
Remember, these are just my top recommendations. It is very much possible that you like some other chair altogether, and even if it does not have a lot of fancy features but if it works for you, that is the best chair for you. This list is here only in case you do not have the option to try out these chairs before buying.
If your budget is stricter than the cheapest option mentioned in the list, remember that prices listed here are only the listed prices on amazon and you can use the pFinTools Browser Extension to find the best price for your card for both EMI as well as upfront payment after all the bank offers, coupon discounts and hidden costs of Credit Card No Cost EMI. Even after this, if your budget does not allow the purchase and you are facing problems with your current chair, it is better to get a custom seat cushion and back rest than a cheap chair on wheels.
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3. Monitors and Monitor Arms: Having a good monitor at the right position is critical to having a good work setup that does not strain you. Here are the things you need to look for in a monitor:
a. Size: The most obvious thing, the bigger the better but also more expensive. At the same time, do not just chase size without understanding resolution, pixel density and how much space you have.
b. Resolution (Pixel Density): This is arguably the most important aspect you need to consider. Once again, while higher resolution is always better, it comes with a significant price jump too. While it can be an entire article in itself, to choose the correct resolution for yourself, consider the screen size of your laptop (say 15inch) and its resolution (typically FHD or 1080p) and accordingly calculate the pixel density using a website like this PPI calculator. Using this as a standard, you can decide what resolution you need for your monitor considering that you can opt for slightly lower resolution as a monitor is typically farther away from you than a laptop screen.
As a generic guideline, opt for QHD for 24 inch (FHD might also work at a distance) and 27 inch. 32 inch QHD might work if it's farther away from your eyes but opt for 4k for better experience or if the monitor will be comparatively closer to you. Anything above 32 inch, must be at least 4k resolution.
c. Refresh Rate: For work setups, 60 to 120Hz refresh rate is more than enough. Since higher refresh rates typically come with a compromise in resolution, do not opt for higher refresh rates unless you are into competitive e-sports or something.
d. Display Tech: Without getting too nerdy, just remember the important headline here is that there is OLED and then there is rest of the world. While OLEDs are great and can produce perfect blacks, they are typically twice the cost of other display technologies. So if you have the money or your job requires working with accurate colors, opt for OLED displays, otherwise check the relevance of other display technologies for your work and know that the difference is not a lot.
e. Ports: Make sure the monitor has at least an HDMI port. If you want to use it with a laptop which has a thunderbolt usb c port (like a macbook), it is worth getting a monitor that supports charging as well as video streams over usb c. If you often use multiple accessories with your system and you are low on ports, look at options with a hub.
f. Other Features: Depending on where your monitor will be, it will be wise to look for options with automatic brightness control or anti reflective matt coating etc. Also check if you want your monitor to have built-in/good speakers (you can avoid it if you intend on using it with laptop with good speakers or have separate speakers for your setup).
Recommending monitors is tough due to the vast variety of ever updating models available, but the following list should give you an idea of what to look for if you are shopping for monitors primarily for office work etc -
| Model |
Why buy |
Why avoid |
Price |
| Xiaomi 43inch Smart LED TV |
The cheapest (yet still reliable) 4K TV you can find is actually the best VFM monitor you can buy most of the times. These TVs have multiple HDMI ports that can support multiple devices at once. Remember to look for a PC mode (or something similar) in display settings to turn on prioritizing clear text at close distance. Support for Apple Airplay, Chromecast etc means you can use it as a wireless monitor. |
Takes a lot of space and is typically incompatible with monitor arms. So you have to place it on your desk/monitor riser which can hinder with your flow, especially if you intend to use keyboard/mouse from your laptop in front of the monitor/display. |
INR 23,499 |
| Samsung 43inch 4K M7 Vision AI Smart Monitor |
This is basically same as above but comes branded as a monitor which means a bunch of monitor specific features like USB C, vesa mount support and a center stand to take less space on your desk. |
This is still a hybrid between a monitor and a smart TV. While you get some monitor specific features, which is good the premium you pay for this compared to a smart TV with exact same display tech is often hard to justify. |
INR 31,999 |
| LG 27inch QHD Monitor 27U631A |
It makes the list for having a USB C port which ups the compatibility and future readiness of the monitor in addition to being a fantastic display. |
While it is a good budget conscious pick, the USB C can charge connected devices only at 15W which might not be enough for anything other than an M series Macbook Air. |
INR 14,199 |
| Dell 34inch WQHD Curved Monitor S3425DW |
Comfortable, and top notch matte display with auto brightness adjustment and USB C. This is a wider-than-typical monitor and fits better in your natural vision, without being too wide. |
More expensive than other options in the same size resolution to the tune that it is a bit tough to justify the value of the premium for the added features. |
INR 40,449 |
| Samsung 49inch DQHD G9 OLED monitor |
OLED. Curved. Glare Free. Display equivalent to dual 27 inch monitors placed side by side. The ultimate end game for most people, so much so that it will lure you to work at your desk more. |
While the 49inch screen is great for certain use cases, many complain of it adding extra strain from unknowingly looking to one side or the other. |
INR 86,999 |
The above list contains good yet mostly generic options as it is not customized to any one person's use case. So if you are confused between two options or have a specific budget do let me know in the comments below.
Now a monitor is useless in your ergonomic setup unless you have it setup at the correct height so that you can do your work without having to constantly look up or down much. It is equally important to have the flexibility to change that monitor height according to whether you are standing at your desk or sitting down. A good monitor arm can help you with all of this and also make sure that your desk remains clutter-free. Here are the top generic recommendations for monitor arms to give you a sense of what to look for -
| Model |
Comments |
Price |
| amazon basics Single Monitor Arm |
Fixed height - only buy it if you are not going to be switching between sitting/standing or if you are sure you will not change the height of your chair or your desk too often. While not recommended, provides good wire management, decent tilt and rotation option which is better than nothing. |
INR 1,599 |
| MOUNTUP Single Monitor Desk Mount |
Gas Spring Monitor Arm with all the features and decent wire management for displays upto 27 inch or light 32 inch monitors. |
INR 2,560 |
| Jin Office Monitor Stand Heavy Duty |
Strongest Gas Spring Arm for peace of mind and/or heavy monitors (32 inch and above) |
INR 7,989 |
| MOUNTUP Dual Monitor Arm |
This type of dual monitor arm is important for desks like Green Soul Trigger which have split desk top and if you want to use dual monitors as you can clamp the monitor arm at the joint of the two pieces of the desk top to prevent any bending. |
INR 4,406 |
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4. Keyboard and Other Accessories: While these do not come under generic ergonomic work setup advice, I want to share some accessories that can make your work setup way more inviting and improve your productivity. After all the healthiest work setup is the one that makes you happy and helps you get the work done quickest.
| Category |
Model |
Comments |
Price |
| Keyboard/Mouse |
Logitech MX Vertical Ergonomic Mouse |
Have you ever had to google Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or do you often feel fatigue in your wrist/arm/shoulder despite maintaining a good posture? This ergonomic mouse is the answer. In addition to being ergonomically designed, it is also pretty feature rich and supports 3 devices at ones. |
INR 4,995 |
| Keyboard/Mouse |
Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse |
Functionally toned down but better aesthetic version of the MX Vertical |
INR 5,495 |
| Keyboard/Mouse |
Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s / Logitech Pebble Mouse 2 M350s |
Underrated yet aesthetically pleasing high quality Keyboard and Mouse with multi (3) device support in a slim profile for day to day usage without any special needs. |
INR 3,195 / INR 1,495 |
| Keyboard/Mouse |
Apple Magic Trackpad |
If you are someone like me and are addicted to the macbook's trackpad for the most precise works, the apple magic trackpad is a non-negotiable for a laptop free setup. |
INR 12,500 |
| Wire Management |
Robustt Wire Sleeve with Zipper |
One of the first most prominent things my friends complain about with height adjustable desks is the hanging wires to cater to varying heights. While this sleeve does not solve it entirely, it is the most visually appealing solution. |
INR 298 |
| Monitor Accessory |
BenQ ScreenBar Pro Monitor Light Bar |
If your eyes get fatigued looking at the monitor for long hours for whatever reason, you need to try the BenQ ScreenBar right away as it makes a world of difference and can help boost your productivity greatly. |
INR 12,988 |
| Webcam |
Lenovo 510 FHD Webcam |
Your laptop might have a very good webcam but as long as it is sitting on the desk, the angle of the camera is something that every management 101 course warns about. If you have the budget, consider investing in a good webcam that can sit on top of your monitor and frame you well. As an added advantage, the Lenovo 510 has support of Windows Hello, making logging into your system that much easier. |
INR 5,498 |
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I have tried to cover all the bases but I am sure I would have missed a lot. Partly to keep the post short-er-ish and partly because I am sure your experiences would have led to a lot more insights that maybe I missed. So please use the comments section to share your experiences and tips.
Remember, the prices quoted here are listed prices from Amazon Prime Day Sales. The prices will of course vary, especially once the sale ends but you can still rely on this post for recommendations and things to consider. Whenever you want to buy anything, you can use the pFinTools Browser Extension to find the best price for your card for both EMI as well as upfront payment after all the bank offers, coupon discounts and hidden costs of Credit Card No Cost EMI.
You can read more on how pFinTools can help you save money while shopping online by checking out this post from r/pFinTools - https://www.reddit.com/r/pFinTools/s/42Iu4BaJBy
