12 genius products you need if you sit all day
Working from home doesn't have to be miserable.
Credit:
Gaiam//Eureka Ergonomic
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With the onset of the pandemic, the majority of us—basically, anyone who typically worked in an office—have been working from home for the last year (yes, it’s been that long). The one problem with working from home? Regardless of whether you work from a home office or your couch, you’re likely spending the larger part of your day sitting. And while this is okay for the time being, chances are (like me) you’re experiencing back pain, bad posture, and lack of movement.
But, since most of us will continue to sit for most of the day for the foreseeable future (and even when we return to the office), we might as well relieve some of these problems with the addition of a few handy products like a back cushion or an ergonomic office chair. Below are 12 top-rated products that will make sitting all day much more enjoyable (and comfortable) than it currently is.
1. An under-the-desk elliptical
Pedal away during Zoom meetings with zero noise.
If you find yourself going entire workdays without getting up from your desk, then an under the desk elliptical is the perfect way to implement a little more movement into your routine. With its accessibility and eight-resistance settings, it’s no wonder the Cubii Jr. maintains a 4.6-star rating from more than 8,500 reviewers. When we tested the mini elliptical, we found that it should not be used in lieu of exercise (our tester found that her average heart rate was 90 bpm while using it) but it could be a good way to get some additional movement in. It's also pretty much noiseless, so you won’t even notice yourself pedaling away while you sit through Zoom meetings.
Get the Cubii JR1 Seated Under Desk Elliptical from Amazon for $249
2. A back cushion for extra support
It's super comfortable and will help reduce pain in your back, legs, and hips.
With more than 12,000 Amazon reviews, this best-selling back support cushion is exactly what you’ll want to sit on during your long workday. Made of a comfortable memory foam material in an ergonomic design, this cushion is designed to provide optimal comfort while reducing pain in your back, legs, or hips. Our senior audience development manager has used it for years and swears by it. She says that she's seen a major difference in her back pain and loves that it's easy to remove and install, so she can bring it on long road trips, too.
Get the LoveHome Memory Foam Lumbar Support Back Cushion from Amazon for $26.99
3. A half-gallon water bottle to remind yourself to drink
Don't forget to stay hydrated.
Need a simple and effective way to remind yourself to drink while you’re sitting at your desk working? Enter this half-gallon water bottle with handy timestamps. Not only does it come in a wide array of gorgeous colors, but it's also a constant reminder on your desk to drink water, which will make you feel better despite sitting all day. At less than $25, more than 12,500 reviewers absolutely love how this bottle makes it easy to remember to drink water.
Get the Fidus Large Half Gallon Water Bottle from Amazon for $21.99
4. An air-purifier for ensuring top-notch air quality
Make sitting all day more manageable with this handy addition.
Let’s be honest: the air in your workspace at home is stuffy. An air purifier will not only help you breathe easier, but it can reduce allergens and other airborne particles in your space, too. As our favorite air purifier, the Winix 5500-2 aced our tests for removing particles from the air and it was easy to change the filters, too. It will make sitting all day more bearable since you won’t need to worry about constantly sneezing or coughing. It also has thoughtful additions like a sleep mode, a light sensor that automatically adjusts back-lighting, and a time.
Get the Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier with True HEPA from Amazon for $159.99
5. An ergonomic office chair for optimal comfort
Avoid back pain whenever possible.
Hate back pain? Us too, which is why it’s especially important to mitigate it while sitting all day. This ergonomic office chair is exactly what you need. It’s the perfect solution because, yes, you’ll be sitting comfortably, but it will also help adjust your posture and can reduce your back pain. More than 3,000 reviewers agree with one stating “it reduced their back and nerve pain drastically after just one use.”
Get the Duramont Ergonomic Adjustable Office Chair from Amazon for $289.99
6. An Apple Watch to encourage you to get up and move
The perfect way to ensure you stretch your legs throughout your workday.
Nowadays, many of us make the short, 10-foot commute from our bed to home office or desk. If you find yourself needing a reminder to get up and move throughout the day, try a smartwatch to ensure you get up every once and a while to stretch your legs. The Apple Watch Series 6 is the best smartwatch we've ever tested because of its great fitness tracking, advanced sensors, smooth, intuitive performance, and bright, always-on display.
Get the Apple Watch Series 6 from Amazon for $379.99
7. A deep kneading massager to relieve tension
This back massager helps relieve back, neck, and shoulder pain.
Investing in an incredible pain reliever—like one that makes sitting all day slightly more bearable—is crucial if you want to survive sitting at your desk for the entire day. Honestly, there is nothing worse than your back hurting after an already exhausting day of work and an at-home massager is one way to alleviate that pain. This one with three adjustable intensities, an optimal heating mode, and used for your back, neck, or shoulders, is adored by more than 10,000 reviewers.
Get the MaxKare Shiatsu Massager from Amazon for $39.99
8. A chair with a ball to sit on
Because comfortable sitting doesn't need to be in a typical desk chair.
An exercise ball? For work? Yes, it’s a thing and yes, it’s more comfortable and acceptable than you think while working from home. It boosts your energy with micro-movements, leads to higher levels of energy, and increases your productivity. More than 12,000 reviewers love how you can use it anywhere—like when you turn your living room into a makeshift conference room—and how it helps to ease discomfort from sitting all day. It's definitely a great and fun alternative to a traditional office chair.
Get the Gaiam Classic Balance Ball Chair from Amazon for $69.98
9. A footrest to relieve foot pressure
Relieve pressure, improve blood circulation, and sit comfortably with this footrest.
Even though we're sitting, our feet somehow start to hurt, too, which is where this intuitive footrest comes in. Aside from relieving pressure from your feet, it’ll also promote blood circulation, give you a comfortable place to prop your feet, and adjust to give you maximum comfort. Reviewers love its ergonomic design, adjustable angle, and how they can take this footrest from room to room with minimal effort. Plus, it’s also scratch-resistant so your floors won’t suffer at all—even if you constantly adjust it.
Get the Eureka Ergonomic Tilt Adjustable Footrest from Amazon for $29.99
10. A posture corrector to prevent you from slouching
Correct your posture while reducing pain.
Since we’re spending the entire day sitting (or, let’s be honest, slouching), having a posture corrector could be helpful. Having the proper posture can help prevent back, neck, and shoulder pain—all common complaints from those of us who work from home. Though it looks a bit odd, more than 60,000 reviewers love how this one is lightweight, discreet, and adjustable for their optimal comfort. You don't have to wear it all day either—just put it on for twenty minutes and you'll see a difference, according to the company.
Get the Truweo Posture Corrector from Amazon for $13.47
11. An adjustable laptop table
Seamlessly convert your desk into a standing one.
While there are standing desks out there, they are a big investment to buy, especially if you already have a desk. But a standing desk converter can be used atop your current desk to allow you to work while standing to help with back pain and potentially increase energy throughout the day. The Varidesk ProPlus 36 is the best standing desk converter we've ever tested and we found that it was easy to adjust and we're impressed by how much could fit on it.
Get the VariDesk Pro Plus 36 from Amazon for $395
12. A heating pad to relieve pain from muscle tension and stress
Say goodbye to pain from muscle tension and stress.
Aside from a massage, a heating pad can help soothe back pain. With its contoured shape that fits perfectly to your back, the Sunbeam heating pad stays in place and helps relieve pain from muscle tension. More than 4,000 reviewers love this one for its four different heat settings, machine washable pad, and two-hour auto shutoff feature, in case you fall asleep from feeling so relaxed. You can use it while you work or as a treat after a long day.
Get the SunBeam Heating Pad Back Wrap with Adjustable Strap from Amazon for $31.50