New Year New Setup: What I Changed in January

I run a setup audit every January. I look at what I've been using for the past year, what bothers me, what I've been procrastinating on fixing, and what I should just accept is fine. January 2026 results:

What Changed

Chair. I had been using the HAG Capisco — a saddle-style ergonomic chair that I bought used in 2023 based on extensive research into alternative ergonomic designs. The research was compelling. The chair worked for approximately eight months. Then I developed a different kind of back issue that the saddle design was not addressing well.

I acknowledged, after considerable reluctance, that the research had been correct about the Capisco as a category but incorrect as applied to my specific back situation. I ordered the Herman Miller Aeron. The research phase for this decision lasted approximately six weeks and concluded with the same conclusion every piece of ergonomic research I'd read over four years had suggested: if you sit for 6+ hours daily and have consistent back issues, the Aeron addresses them.

The Aeron arrived in January. My back situation resolved within three weeks. I have notes from four years ago saying "probably should get the Aeron." The research had always known. The execution was delayed.

What Stayed

The Ergotron LX. Three years of daily use, zero issues. The FlexiSpot E5 standing desk. The LG monitor. The Logitech MX Master 3 mouse, which remains the most considered peripheral purchase I've made. The cable management is still correct and requires no updates.

What I'm Still Procrastinating On

The chair mat. There is a visible indent in the carpet where the chair sits. A chair mat would address this. I have been aware of this problem for 18 months. The chair mat research phase is ongoing.