Dizzy Sitting Down at Desk: Causes and Tips to Help

Have you encountered a dizzy spell while sitting at your office desk when you felt lightheaded? If yes, you must know that you are not alone. People often feel dizzy sitting down at work, and this feeling can be due to multiple reasons.

Since dizzy spells, while sitting at the office can be a frustrating and disorienting experience, we understand that you must be eager to learn more about its causes and preventative measures.

You should be glad to know that we have discussed both of these parts in our blog today. We have first talked about the reasons why you feel lightheaded sitting down. As you read further, you will discover the best tips that you may use to prevent dizziness if you are getting dizzy sitting down in your office chair.

First, let's talk about the causes of dizzy spells at work!

Common Reasons Why You Feel Dizzy Sitting Down at Desk

You may feel dizzy or lightheaded at your desk for a variety of reasons. We have discussed the most common ones below to help you out. 

Focusing on Computer Screen for Prolonged Periods

When staring at a computer screen for long periods of time, the eyes are forced to focus on a fixed distance, which can cause eye strain, fatigue, and dry eyes. It eventually causes cybersickness, making you feel nauseous, lightheaded, and dizzy.

Prolonged computer use can also cause headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and back pain. These symptoms can also contribute to dizziness and lightheadedness. The glare on the screen, the brightness, and the contrast can all contribute to eye strain, and this can cause dizziness as well.

Working on Multiple Monitors

The use of multiple monitors is another common reason why you get dizzy sitting down at work. When you are constantly shifting between multiple monitors, you experience eye strain, fatigue, and dry eyes.

The eyes are forced to constantly shift focus between multiple monitors, which can put extra strain on the eyes and cause fatigue. This can contribute to symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness. 

Looking at Your Monitor from a Lesser Distance

In addition to the other reasons that we discussed above, poor management of ergonomics, such as viewing your monitor screen from a shorter distance, can cause dizziness. If you have not planned an ergonomic office setup and are not mindful of the correct posture for sitting at your work desk, you are most likely to feel dizzy sitting down at work.

Working under Flickering Lights

Another common reason for feeling dizzy sitting down is poor lighting or flickering lights in your workspace. If your workspace has fluorescent lights, it will have an inherent flicker rate that one cannot see, but it still affects your neurological activity. Such a visual burden can cause eye strain, headache, and even dizziness. 

Caffeine Overdose

Lastly, caffeine overdose can cause dizziness at work because it can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, leading to symptoms such as lightheadedness, headaches, and nausea. Additionally, caffeine can cause dehydration, which can also contribute to feelings of dizziness.

Too much caffeine can disrupt normal blood flow to the brain and cause confusion, nervousness, and difficulty concentrating. High levels of caffeine can also cause the blood vessels to constrict, which can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the brain, causing feelings of dizziness.

Tips to Avoid Feeling Dizzy Sitting Down at Work

Now, you know what makes you feel dizzy sitting down at work. So, how can you alleviate this feeling? Well, we have discussed a few tips below for your assistance. 

Adjust Lighting

We talked about how flickering lights or poor lighting can make you feel dizzy, so what you can do is work on your office lighting.

Natural light is the best form of light for our eyes and can help reduce feelings of dizziness. If possible, sit near a window or open a window to let in more natural light.

Another possible solution is to try different types of lighting and get a desk lamp. Having a separate light source for specific tasks, such as reading or writing, can help reduce eye strain and headaches. So, you may think of doing that as well.

Improve Your Posture at Your Monitor

Improving your monitor posture can help avoid feeling dizzy at work by reducing strain on the eyes and neck, which can contribute to headaches and discomfort. What you can do is invest in an electric desk and an ergonomic desk chair to take the first step towards improving ergonomics.

You can even take the help of the following tips to avoid feeling dizzy sitting down at your new workstation: 

• Position your monitor at eye level – Positioning your monitor at eye level can help reduce strain on the neck and eyes, which can contribute to headaches and discomfort. You can achieve this by adjusting the height of your chair or using a monitor stand.
• Keep a comfortable distance – Keeping a comfortable distance from your monitor can help reduce eye strain. A good rule of thumb is to position your monitor about arm's length away from your face. 
• Adjust monitor angles – Adjust the angles of your monitor to minimize glare and reflections, and ensure the monitor is not too bright or too dim. 
• Maintain good posture – Maintaining a good posture while sitting can help reduce strain on the neck and shoulders, which can contribute to headaches and discomfort. Make sure your chair is adjusted to a comfortable height, your back is supported, and your feet are flat on the floor.

Take Frequent Breaks

Lastly, taking frequent breaks can help you avoid the feeling of dizziness while sitting down at your work desk. You can use the following tips to take frequent breaks like a pro: 

• The 20-20-20 rule – Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away. Doing this can help reduce eye strain and refresh your vision. 
• Take a walk and stretch – Instead of just taking a break and sitting down, try taking a short walk to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. Doing this can help to increase blood flow and reduce feelings of dizziness. You may even think of trying some chair stretches in the meantime. 
• Change your position – During your breaks, try changing your position, such as standing up, walking, or stretching. Doing this can help reduce strain on your neck, back and eyes, which can contribute to headaches and discomfort.