Have you thought about how many hours you sit at your desk if you work in an office? It could be eight hours a day. That’s a lot of time if you figure out the maths over the course of a year. Sitting is not great for us for many reasons. We can impact our posture, we run the risk of being overweight and it can slow our metabolism. There are also associated risks linked to diabetes and cancer. So what is the alternative? Well, many companies and coworking spaces have now introduced standing desks. Let’s have a look at standing desk ergonomics and the benefits of standing at work.
What Is A Standing Desk?
In its simplest terms, a standing desk is adjustable to the right height for the user to be comfortable standing and working. They can be raised and lowered really at the touch of a button. This is great for switching between sitting and standing throughout the workday. Many of these desks are even used with treadmills or workout bikes so the user can walk or cycle whilst working. This might be a multitasking nightmare for many of us, but lots of people rave about the productivity that this gives them.
Standing Desk Ergonomics & Benefits
Reduce Back Pain
Firstly, one of the biggest problems with sitting at a desk all day can be back pain. It is estimated that 12 million work days are lost due to back issues every year. We don’t sit correctly at our desks, we hunch. Our chairs aren’t always set up properly for our specific needs. We don’t have the support that our bodies need and ultimately, our bodies aren’t designed for sitting at a desk for eight hours of the day. By standing we can eliminate a lot of these issues.
Lower Your Risk Of Weight Gain
Inactivity means you are not burning calories. This means that sitting at our desks can actually be a factor in weight gain. Avoiding edging into obesity is one of the standing desk ergonomics and benefits that we can enjoy. So many of us snack whilst at our desks, which isn’t good for your waistline or your teeth. Grazing throughout the day constantly attacks your teeth and gums which can lead to long term problems down the line. By cutting down the snacks, moving around a lot more by taking regular breaks and investing in a standing desk, you can help your health.
Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Thirdly, blood sugar levels can be impacted by constantly sitting. There have been studies done based on standing after lunchtime meals, versus sitting. For those three hours after the midday meal, there was found to be a reduction in the sugar spike for those who were standing. In order to avoid any complicated issues with diabetes, especially if thing runs in your family, standing desks could be a great advantage to you.
Boost Mood
It has been found that standing can actually boost your mood. This positive impact on wellbeing is only a good thing. It has been proven to lower stress and tiredness, along with boosting energy. When people have then returned to their seated desks, old moods have been found to return. Furthermore, if you want to put your wellness first and be happier at your workplace, a standing desk is the way to go.
Heighten Productivity
As briefly mentioned before, there have been links between standing desk ergonomics and productivity. Lots of people feel like standing will hinder their work, such as typing. However, there is evidence that it doesn’t actually impact it at all. This means that if you are boosting your mood and energy levels, with no impact on your skillset or ability to do your job, you are likely going to be overall more productive.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, there are many things to take from the list of standing desk ergonomics and benefits. Just as people have learned to work in a hybrid way, work from home or even work remotely from different countries all around the world, if we are used to sitting at a desk, standing could be the answer we are all looking for.
