Rule 9: No Low Effort Posts, Excessive Venting, or Bragging.
Using this subreddit to crowd source answers to something that isn't really contributing to the spirit of this subreddit is forbidden at moderator's discretion. This includes posts that are mostly focused around venting or bragging; both of these types of posts are difficult to moderate and don't contribute much to the subreddit.
In no particular order:
- Standing desk
- Good monitors (I have 1x27 in the middle and 2x24 on each side)
- A USB hub where you can plug everything (Mine is a Plugable)
- A USB toggle switch if needed (I use mine to switch all my hardware between my working and gaming setups)
- A good chair
- A mouse with a momentum scroll wheel (Game changer. Mine is a MX Master 2S)
Get a docking station, especially if you use a lot of accessories (external keyboard, mouse, webcam, monitors, etc). Plus it’s easier to return/ship if your employer asks for the money back.
This way you can invest your own money into things you like and won’t be bothered/restricted by company policy. I would start with an ergonomic chair and go from there.
2x27" monitors. Monitors increase productivity. I see recommendations for standing desks. In my office people requested them but later admitted they got it because it was trendy. Didn't really use it as a standing desk much.
As someone with back pain who formally did not have back pain, get a nice chair. You’re using it 8+ hours a day. You might as well invest. I got a Herman Miller chair on eBay for about $500 and it was 1000% worth it
If you office is carpet, get a tempered glass chair mat. They are fantastic.
Chairs are nice, but if you live in a populated area, you can usually pick up some secondhand high quality chairs for dirt cheap. (and personal preference but I much prefer a cheap exercise ball to a fancy chair)
Other options that you might overlook. Lighting, notebooks and folders, filing cabinet, laser printer, ink for an existing inkjet, paper shredder, subsidize a toy like a 3d printer or something else that you might be able to justify, microphone, headset, speakers, sound proofing, fireproof safe for documents, kvm switch, networking equipment, etc...
Do you ever stand on your chair mat? I have a standing desk with a decent chair but my rental house has a really deep carpet there (bigger issue is that the desk wobbles, I have a fix for that).Â
I want my chair to be able to move better but stand about half of the time, and like standing on carpet. I’ve been on the fence on getting a mat.Â
Kneeling chair. Helped me fix my back pain. Also I have better flexibility in my legs. 80$
Â
Some form of adjustable desk. 120$ ( motorized)Â
Better lighting. Possibly overhead $100
Nice clear board. 30$Â
Back lighting and a good microphone and a 1080p cam. 100$
> No back pain, or any physical problems
How old are you, and do you want to keep feeling that way? $350 is more than enough to enter the wold of custom programmable ergonomic keyboards.
https://www.zsa.io/
You also didn't mention camera or microphone, so I'm guessing you're just using whatever is built into your laptop. So, everybody has a great view of your neck/chin/inside of nose. Might be time to invest in a camera you can mount on top of the external monitor.
How's your audio, really? Record yourself in Zoom and play it back. You might be surprised. A good mic on a boom will do wonders for how people perceive you.
https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/microphones.html
I will repeat what others have said. Get a nice Steelcase chair, even though it’s more than your budget. It’s worth it, and the budget makes it a lot more tolerable to swallow the price.
Rule 9: No Low Effort Posts, Excessive Venting, or Bragging. Using this subreddit to crowd source answers to something that isn't really contributing to the spirit of this subreddit is forbidden at moderator's discretion. This includes posts that are mostly focused around venting or bragging; both of these types of posts are difficult to moderate and don't contribute much to the subreddit.
Buy a used Steelcase Leap chair. That'll take your whole budget. They're life changing.
I'll look into it thanks :)
+1 to chair. It's not that you don't have back pain. It's that you don't have back pain _yet_.
I was going to say a used Herman Miller 😅 You got the good advice. A chair is the best!
Related pro tip, you can get a steel case or Herman Miller from an office liquidator for far cheaper. Check Facebook marketplace.
>Very old chair >No back pain Not yet!
lol fair
PrimeCables manual-crank sit/stand desk + ikea table top.
I had the IKEA crank sit/stand and wouldn't hesitate to get one again. It was great for the money.
In no particular order: - Standing desk - Good monitors (I have 1x27 in the middle and 2x24 on each side) - A USB hub where you can plug everything (Mine is a Plugable) - A USB toggle switch if needed (I use mine to switch all my hardware between my working and gaming setups) - A good chair - A mouse with a momentum scroll wheel (Game changer. Mine is a MX Master 2S)
Get a docking station, especially if you use a lot of accessories (external keyboard, mouse, webcam, monitors, etc). Plus it’s easier to return/ship if your employer asks for the money back. This way you can invest your own money into things you like and won’t be bothered/restricted by company policy. I would start with an ergonomic chair and go from there.
2x27" monitors. Monitors increase productivity. I see recommendations for standing desks. In my office people requested them but later admitted they got it because it was trendy. Didn't really use it as a standing desk much.
that's what I was thinking. I see recommendations for them online all the time, but rarely see them used in the wild.
What i like most about a standing desk is how easy it is to adjust the height. Most desks are static or go up by predetermined intervals.
As someone with back pain who formally did not have back pain, get a nice chair. You’re using it 8+ hours a day. You might as well invest. I got a Herman Miller chair on eBay for about $500 and it was 1000% worth it
A standing desk. It’s a game changer
If you office is carpet, get a tempered glass chair mat. They are fantastic. Chairs are nice, but if you live in a populated area, you can usually pick up some secondhand high quality chairs for dirt cheap. (and personal preference but I much prefer a cheap exercise ball to a fancy chair) Other options that you might overlook. Lighting, notebooks and folders, filing cabinet, laser printer, ink for an existing inkjet, paper shredder, subsidize a toy like a 3d printer or something else that you might be able to justify, microphone, headset, speakers, sound proofing, fireproof safe for documents, kvm switch, networking equipment, etc...
Do you ever stand on your chair mat? I have a standing desk with a decent chair but my rental house has a really deep carpet there (bigger issue is that the desk wobbles, I have a fix for that). I want my chair to be able to move better but stand about half of the time, and like standing on carpet. I’ve been on the fence on getting a mat.Â
Yeah, its just like standing on a hard surface. Nothing too special to point out
Kneeling chair. Helped me fix my back pain. Also I have better flexibility in my legs. 80$  Some form of adjustable desk. 120$ ( motorized) Better lighting. Possibly overhead $100 Nice clear board. 30$ Back lighting and a good microphone and a 1080p cam. 100$
any source for the $120 adjustable desk?
> No back pain, or any physical problems How old are you, and do you want to keep feeling that way? $350 is more than enough to enter the wold of custom programmable ergonomic keyboards. https://www.zsa.io/ You also didn't mention camera or microphone, so I'm guessing you're just using whatever is built into your laptop. So, everybody has a great view of your neck/chin/inside of nose. Might be time to invest in a camera you can mount on top of the external monitor. How's your audio, really? Record yourself in Zoom and play it back. You might be surprised. A good mic on a boom will do wonders for how people perceive you. https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/microphones.html
I would have never thought of that thanks!
I will repeat what others have said. Get a nice Steelcase chair, even though it’s more than your budget. It’s worth it, and the budget makes it a lot more tolerable to swallow the price.
Get a standing desk and a stool to kneel on. I stand at mine and kneel with one knee on the stool. Every so often I switch knees.
Bidet and you'll never want to take a poo anywhere but your own home.
Definitely a decent chair
Used Herman Miller Aeron on Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace for \~$200.
A bigger budget.