You've got to try a ball!

The image included with this post is of my office chair and my ball.

"Why a ball?" you ask. Read on...

Everyone is familiar with the trusty office chair. They come in many different styles, colors, and materials. Some can be adjusted in so many ways that you practically need an instruction manual to use it, while others just go up and down.

And then there's cost.

Ever hear of Herman Miller chairs? Top of the line, but it'll cost you a small fortune, which is why the $99 office store special is often the go to when it comes to office furniture.

My chair is in the low to mid range pricing. I paid about $350 if memory serves, and it's been a decent chair. Just over two years in, the base of the chair did crack, but the company sent me a free replacement part. So, overall, I've been very happy with it.

BUT . . .

When you sit for long periods of time like I do, a chair can become rather uncomfortable. Even when you do get up and take regular breaks from sitting. To be fair, I've never had a really expensive chair...unless the one I currently have fits that bill...so perhaps that's my problem?

Regardless, I've been searching for a good solution for a long time, and with that, I'd like to introduce you to the ball.

And if you're thinking "that looks oddly similar to one of those exercise balls" you'd be 100% correct! But let me just say that, if you sit at a desk for more than a couple hours per day, you've got to try a ball!

The first thing I noticed right away is that sitting on air is WAY more comfy than sitting on a cushion that inevitably compresses down to a hard, flat surface. So longer periods of sitting are much easier to endure.

Next is the 'bounce'. Let's face it, you're sitting on a big bouncy ball, and it's actually fun to just go with it sometimes and lightly bounce while you work...like I'm doing right now as I type this very post!

And finally, it's said that sitting on a ball is better for your back and posture. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but when it comes to comfort, I'm sold, and I highly recommend it.

"Is there a downside?" you ask.

So far, after weeks of using my new ball, the only downside I've noticed is the friction against my legs. I work out of a home office, and therefore wear shorts to work quite regularly. So my solution is simple: throw a blanket over the ball. Problem solved.

"Is a ball a good replacement for a chair?"

That's up to you. Personally, I like to mix it up. Sometimes I use the ball, sometimes I use the chair. You know, to keep life interesting.

But seriously, if you haven't already, you've got to try a ball!