Having to sit behind the same desk for hours daily is frustrating. The office has become a second home for many employees, and things have reached a point where a quick break to make some coffee or grabs some water is an opportunity to stretch a bit; it feels like pure bliss. Your desk setup might avail the comforts you desire, but what substitutes the need to get up and move about? What are the health risks associated with sitting behind the desk for hours on end every day? Have you considered working when standing up, and what are the benefits of doing this as your desk?
We know all too well the woes you face every day when working for hours seated behind your office desk. That is why we come up with this guide to helping you switch to a standing desk and discover its benefits that could make a significant difference to work productivity and health.
Stand-Up Desk Benefits
First, we should address the issue of doubt that you might regarding the standing desk and if it is the better choice than sitting. The reasons for working while seated for long periods are many, but a lot of them are bad for your health. Excessive sitting can lead to issues like diabetes, obesity, and other health problems.
A standing desk offers notable benefits that help ensure you stay on your feet while helping avoid potential health issues associated with sitting for long periods. Some of the unique benefits include:
1). Burn More Calories
With a standing desk, you can avoid the potential weight gain linked with being seated. Studies show that you burn more calories when standing than seated, meaning you will have more control of your bodyweight if you worked while standing for the better part of the day.
2). Feel More Energetic
Slumping is a common thing when we are at our desks, and it often makes us feel unable to working any more and wishing we were in bed resting. Standing at the office desk will help to keep you from slouching back while making you feel more energetic.
3). Become More Productive
You will utilize some of the larger body muscles when you work standing at your desk. Doing this also naturally increases the flow of blood to the brain. The increased blood flow makes you feel better and more focused, thus improving your concentration and subsequently, productivity.
4). Reduced Risk Of Health Problems
The British Journal of Sports Medicine did a study that suggested that people sit for long hours have twice the risk of developing type-2 diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease. Therefore, you can balance the amount of time you spend at your desk but working seated for shorter periods that standing and you will lower the likelihood of health complications.
However, there are no guarantees that you will realize the benefits of standing at your office desk immediately after making the transition. Nevertheless, research supports the facts on record regarding how sitting for long periods can harm your health.
5). Good For Your Back?
If you have chronic back pain, you can find some reprieve or an end to the problem by working at a standing desk. But is it the solution to your back pain? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that standing desks help the risk of neck and upper back pain by nearly 54%.
The pain you experience in your back is linked to sitting for long periods, especially with poor posture. The pressures and stress exerted on the back muscles while sitting are notable, more co when the spine in curled in a “C” position. The spine should be in an “S” position, which is a posture that you can regain when standing as you work.
Nevertheless, you should seek and follow the advice of an experienced health professional on how to alleviate back pain.
Are Standing Desks Better?
To answer the question, things are not that straightforward. We can say that it boils down to personal preference. Some people opt to spend a better part of their day working while standing while others find that it offers little help. The best thing to do if you want to discover if the standing desk is for you is to give it a try. You can start with a stand-sit disk that will let you switch between the two postures as you work. Make sure that you invest in a comfortable pair of shoes before you try your new desk, the last thing you want is sore feet! Visit the Orthotic Shop for a full range of supportive shoes.
You also might benefit from going for a stroll during your lunch break or hit the gym for a few minutes to stretch your muscles. Such activities will get your blood flowing, increase the delivery of oxygen to your brain and other organs, thus help you become clear-headed when you get back to your desk. Also, consider taking regular breaks so that you can take your mind off work and your eyes off the screen.
