Transform Your Workspace – The Top Benefits of Standing Desks
Standing desks are riding the crest of a wave right now. Executives, creatives and assistants are all recognising the benefits of switching to height adjustable desks, thanks to the potential health and productivity benefits they bring to the office.
Understanding Standing Desks
Standing desks provide workplace flexibility, as they enable you to easily switch between sitting and standing as you go about your daily work.
While some standing desks are fixed, there are also height adjustable desks, which allow you to sit or stand when preferred. There are even portable standing desks, which give you complete flexibility when working at home or the office.
An adjustable standing desk gives you the freedom to choose whether to sit or stand while working at your computer, it alleviates the discomfort of sitting in the same position for many hours and also delivers a range of health and productivity benefits.
Let’s now consider the many reasons for switching to a standing desk…
What are the Health Benefits of Standing Desks?
Potential Reduction in the Risk of Obesity and Weight Gain
One of the main benefits of standing at your desk rather than sitting all day is that you burn more calories, which may stave off weight gain.
One study found “a significant increase in caloric expenditure” among participants who stood at desks, compared to those who sat. In fact, the average person can expect to burn around 90 calories per hour when standing at a desk - almost one third more than just sitting! For context, walking typically burns 210 calories per hour.
While using a standing desk alone isn’t enough to eliminate weight gain, if you stand for 3 or 4 hours over the course of your working day, you can expect to burn up to 360 calories per day - significant in the grand scheme of things.
Potentially Lower Risk of Heart Disease
One of the primary causes of cardiovascular (heart) disease is a sedentary lifestyle. Given that so many of us now work at our desks for at least 7 hours per day, it’s difficult to find the time to be active during working hours.
A study found that replacing sitting with standing can be used as an “adjunctive intervention” to decrease the burden of cardiovascular risk factors. This is because standing rather than sitting can result in small decreases in fasting blood glucose levels and body fat mass. It is harder to stand still than sit still!
So, again, while standing at your desk cannot rule out heart disease, it may contribute positively to reducing your risk of a cardiovascular problem.
Less Chance of Contracting Back Pain
Sitting in the same position for several hours tightens your back and neck muscles and is a common cause of back pain.
One study found that sit-stand desks may reduce lower back pain among office workers. Though the study couldn’t determine how much standing would be required to significantly reduce back pain, it did suggest that musculoskeletal discomfort, particularly that of the lower back, is likely to be reduced by standing for at least part of the day.
Improvement in Posture
Another potential benefit of standing desks is an improvement in posture. Many of us are guilty of slouching in our office chairs even if we try to remain sitting upright.
Forcing yourself to stand and adjust your desk to the optimal height can have a positive impact on your posture and may help to reduce back and neck pain.
Productivity and Focus
An intriguing study by Texas A&M University’s Health Science Centre School of Public Health, as reported in The Washington Post, found that of the 167 participants, those at a sit-stand desk sat for an average of 1.6 hours less than their counterparts at sit-only desks.
In just one month, the call centre workers at sit-stand desks reported a 23% increase in successful calls and in the second month, this figure increased to 53%. This is a clear indication that those working at a height adjustable desk increased their productivity during the study.
Generally, working at a standing desk boosts your energy levels and can help to keep you focused and engaged. Being sedentary, staring at your screen lowers metabolism, impacting your overall output and productivity suffers as a result.
Versatility and Adaptability
Aside from the health and productivity benefits, height adjustable desks provide versatility and adaptability that normal desks do not.
If you work in a big office with many different departments, some workers may benefit from working at standing desks, while others may be better suited to sitting.
For instance, sales teams, lecturers and presenters are well suited to a standing desk, given that many deliver their best pitches with gesticulations and movement. Similarly, graphic designers, who thrive on creativity, may benefit from working at a standing desk, with the same being true of writers, social media executives and other creatives. Movement stimulates the mind so rather than stymieing productivity, embrace it with adjustable height office desks and watch your employees fulfil their potential.
Making the Transition to Standing Desks
Transitioning to a standing desk is a breeze. Many adjustable height desks actually take up less space than standard desks, so they easily fit into most workspaces.
We recommend a slow transition to a standing desk. Start by standing for a 20–30 minute interval and then sit down for the remainder of the hour. Keep repeating this and pay attention to how your body is reacting. Increase the minutes standing as you are able.
Also, when you adjust the height of your desk, the top of your screen should be in line with your eye level. Also, the screen should be about an arm’s length away from your face. Ensure that you are not looking down at your screen - this can cause neck pain.
Conclusion: Why Switch to a Standing Desk
As you can see, there are so many potential benefits to switching to a standing desk. Standing for at least some of your working day can potentially have numerous health benefits and may even boost your productivity. So, why wait?
Browse our range of standing desks here. If you have any queries about which desk is best for you, contact Ergolink at (08) 9240 7066, visit our showroom or contact us online.