Suffering from hunched shoulders, lower back pain, and neck pain is an inevitable outcome of sitting and staring at the screen for long hours. However, the changeable lifestyle and opting for having a healthy workplace made the traditional desk no longer the only choice. One of these options is the standing desk which makes a huge difference in our perception of the desk, and how we use and interact with it.
Quite simply, a standing desk is a desk that allows you to work while standing up comfortably. It is high enough to help you work in a standing-up position.
These types of desks are very common among most computer users. It is designed to improve your overall work performance and ensure achieving your daily goals without experiencing chronic pain during working hours. The standing desk gives you the freedom to move around easily, unlike the chair of the traditional desk that keeps your movement restricted and the mere thinking of getting up becomes extremely difficult. Plus, standing desks comes in different styles. It is also possible to be custom-built so it could contain adjustable parts that support the correct standing posture and wellbeing, and this will lead to a more productive and easier working life.
The most important benefits of using standing desk
Sitting daily for long hours tends to harm our bodies and cause serious health issues that can hinder our work productivity. Lots of office workers who develop illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease are those who commonly sit for too many hours each day. Here is a list of the most remarkable benefits that encourage you to hurry up and switch to a standing desk:
1-Higher level of productivity
Standing desks not only improve your physical health, but they can also help to improve mental wellbeing and consequently increase productivity. Research has shown that standing for just one hour can help to increase productivity and reduce fatigue. Once you get used to standing, you’ll find that you can work longer and more efficiently. Variations in posture also break up the monotony of sitting all day, which helps to keep your focus and motivation levels high. Unlike sitting down all day, spending more time standing up encourages you to move around more and makes it easier for you to transition between tasks. On the other hand, it is difficult for your body to stay in one position for too long because this can lead to stiffness, fatigue, and a decrease in productivity. Standing desks allow you to move around, stretch your legs and even change positions throughout the day. This helps to improve your performance, mood, and energy levels.
2-Better posture
Using a standing desk with proper ergonomics can help you have a good posture at work. Here are some points that you need to keep in mind while working:
- Your monitor should be at eye level, about 20 inches (50 cm) from your face, and at a 20-degree tilt.
- Your arms should bend at 100-degree angles at your sides.
- Your wrists should hover comfortably above the keyboard.
- You must shift your body weight between your legs and keep about 11 inches (30 cm) of space between your feet while standing.
These things can regain the straightness of your neck and shoulders and stretch your spine in order to restore proper standing posture.
3- Standing desk gives Less back pain
The first thing that comes to your mind right now is that back pain is caused by sitting for too long. That’s correct! But you should neither live nor accept this matter as part and parcel of work. If you have a comfortable chair designed with back and lumbar support and alternate with periods of standing, you will likely remedy your minor back pain. When you stand, your spine is in its natural position, which helps to decrease back pain. However, sitting for long periods can lead to misalignment of the spine, which can cause pain and fatigue. Standing desks help to correct this by reducing back pain and discomfort caused by prolonged sitting.
4- Standing desk gives more energy
Movement, no matter how simple such as standing, motivates vigour during the day which helps you stay awake and alert. When feeling sluggish or sleepy throughout your workday, adding a few periods of standing every now and then becomes a must because it will help you restore your energy and enthusiasm. Try to think and work while standing up, and you will find that your performance has become better. Standing and moving intermittently while working will increase the overall energy levels and prevents the mid-afternoon slump.
5-Lighter mood and sharper concentration
Standing up can boost your mood, improve your concentration and increase your productivity especially if you are one of those who spend a long time at work. Standing stimulates circulation, which sends more oxygen and nutrients to your brain. Sitting, on the other hand, inhibits circulation and starts negatively impacting your blood flow in a few minutes. Physical movement also encourages neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells), specifically in the regions of the brain associated with critical and analytical thinking. While 10 minutes of sitting can negatively impact your circulation, 10 minutes of standing is all it takes to increase focus. When you’re more focused, you’re able to work more efficiently and get more work done.
6- Faster consumption of Calories
Standing burns more calories than sitting, even if you stand still. Studies have shown that standing for one entire afternoon has the potential to burn more than 170 calories. That means over 1,000 extra calories are burned each week before even exercising or doing other activities. Burning more calories will help in its turn to mitigate diabetes and obesity with less struggle.
The other calorie-burning benefit of standing at work is the change in your mindset. You are more likely to keep your mind in “wellness mode” when you are standing up because you will walk around more often throughout the day.
7-Healthier circulation
Standing up helps us improve our leg muscles, balance, and core strength. It also prevents blood clots from forming in the legs. Blood may slow and pool in the legs when sitting for a long time (such as on a plane). In the worst-case scenario, this can lead to a blood clot. When we stand up, we move our legs and get the blood flowing throughout our bodies. Therefore, using a standing desk will help promote better circulation and allow you to move around more. This will improve the flow of oxygen to your muscles and brain. Contrarily, prolonged sitting can lead to poor blood circulation that can cause clotting in the veins.
After exploring all these benefits, you will never hesitate to switch to a standing-up working style. Choosing a suitable standing desk for your work is considered one of the smartest investments you can make in your personal life and career. You will sense the direct impact of these benefits on your physical and mental health, as well as your work. Standing desks will make you move easier, reduce pressure on the lower back, restore the right shape of your spine, and accelerate calorie burning. All this will lead to higher focus, better performance, and more productivity.