A desk is a must-have in every modern office, including the ones at home. Standing up can help you focus better and work more efficiently. Nowadays, for people like office workers and IT specialists who sit for more than eight hours a day at work or home, there’s a special desk available. This desk can be easily adjusted to different heights, allowing you to work either sitting or standing up. Why is this useful?
When you stand, your body uses more muscles than when you sit. For instance, in a seated position, your back and leg muscles are more relaxed, which can lead to slouching. It’s tough for many people to keep a straight posture while sitting, especially if their upper body muscles are weak. Standing up helps straighten your back almost on its own. Sometimes, you might even want to lean back slightly. This is why an adjustable work or gaming desk is helpful, as you can set it to the height that’s right for you.
Another benefit of these desks is that they help you burn more calories, especially using your leg muscles. These desks aren’t meant to make you lose a lot of weight, but they do help you use up more energy. Plus, your stomach muscles stay slightly engaged, helping you look slimmer and more toned. To share the health benefits in clear terms:
●In the first few weeks of using adjustable desks, lower back and spine pain can drop by a third because the spine isn’t as stressed.
●A week or two later, neck and upper back pain can be reduced by half for the same reasons.
●Your heart and blood vessels work better, and you’re less likely to get heart disease.
●The way your reproductive system works can also improve.
●You’re less likely to become obese. Over a year, you could burn 20,000 calories, which is like running six marathons. Also, standing for two hours is similar to a half-hour jog.
●Kidney problems happen about 30% less often.
●If you switch between sitting and standing every 30 or 40 minutes, your blood sugar could be about 11% lower on average.
●You might handle stress better because standing more boosts cortisol and testosterone levels.
●Lastly, changing positions from sitting to standing can make employees less irritable by easing the stress on their butt muscles, which helps reduce stress overall.
Why Does Productivity Increase with Standing Desk Use?
When a person stands while working, their spine stays straight, and the blood vessels in their neck aren’t compressed. This significantly improves blood flow to the brain cells. As a result, decision-making speed, concentration, and attentiveness improve, and organization increases. Plus, as mentioned earlier, when your body muscles are toned, and nothing hurts, it contributes to a good mood — and everyone knows how important that is for high productivity. Additionally, there’s a psychological factor. When you’re standing, unlike sitting (especially slouching), you’re less likely to slack off. Overall, this can lead to a productivity increase of about 30%.
How should you alternate between sitting and standing? Some experts recommend a 2:1 ratio, meaning 60-70% of the time sitting and 30-40% standing. For example, sit for 40-45 minutes and stand for 20-25 minutes. Others say you should change your position every 40-45 minutes. In any case, they agree that sitting periods should not exceed 45 minutes, after which it’s advisable to stand at your workstation. And you should stand for at least 15 minutes, or longer if you prefer, as long as your legs don’t hurt. Too much of a good thing can also be bad.
Overview of Adjustable Standing Desks
Standing desks, or adjustable desks, appear like regular office, computer, or school desks but feature two motors and telescopic legs for height adjustment. These desks can be adjusted via an electric (the most convenient), mechanical, or pneumatic mechanism. Adjusting the desk’s height is as simple as pressing a button, with the desktop smoothly rising to 45 cm in just 20 seconds. The system operates quietly, with noise levels not exceeding 40 dB (like the rustling of leaves in a light breeze). For convenience, up to four height settings can be saved in the control unit’s memory.
The desks are sturdy and stable, available with load capacities ranging from 60 kg to 200 kg. The desktops come in straight or corner shapes, wide enough to spread out necessary documents. They are available in various colors, shapes, and sizes. Accessories include stands for laptops and PCs (for the CPU, monitor, and keyboard), cable connections, optionally plugs, charging units (wired or wireless), surge protectors, cable management systems, etc. It is also recommended to use a massaging foot mat, although this may require working barefoot. For those uncomfortable with this in an office setting, massaging insoles are an alternative.
