The human body was not designed to be inactive for hours on end. A sedentary lifestyle involving prolonged sitting periods may lead to various health problems that include obesity, heart disease, and chronic back pain. Studies have shown that a sitting position damages a person’s posture and slows down the metabolic rate and muscle activity during that period. This is why there has been a recent surge in demand for standing desks.
These desks are also popularly known as stand-up desks, sit-stand desks or height-adjustable desks. As the name suggests, these desks are built for use while standing. That means, having one such desk at the workplace, you would be standing throughout the day as you use your desk. However, many modern versions of stand-up desks come with adjustable height features allowing you to alternate between sitting and standing. Now you may groan at the thought of standing all day, but just by using this sort of desk, you can help keep yourself healthy.
Benefits of standing desks
Boost your mood, focus and productivity
Standing while working makes you feel healthier, keeps you in a better mood, keeps you focused, and improves your productivity. Over that, people using sit-stand desks for work report less stress and fatigue than those who remain seated the entire workday.
Burns calories
When you are in a standing posture, you burn more calories than sitting. This is quite obvious! Though the difference between calories burned during sitting and standing is not huge, it still proves helpful in reducing the risk of weight gain and obesity.
Give you an energy burst.
There’s no denying that active moments can help you stay awake and alert throughout the day. When feeling sluggish, most people stand up and walk a few steps; this boosts their energy levels and makes them feel more engaged. Imagine how much increased vigour and energy you would feel when using the sit-stand desk.
Improves posture
To enjoy all of the above-mentioned benefits, you must stand correctly. Standing intermittently during your working dau helps strengthen your core, ankle, leg and foot muscles, but only when done right! What’s the need of buying a stand-up desk if you are going to end up slouching.
Reduces back pain
Switching from a sit to a standing desk is a great way to combat the pain associated with sitting for hours. Yes, you read it right! Working on a standing desk can dramatically reduce your back, neck and shoulder pain. This is why more and more people are going for these sit-stand desks.
Keeps circulation going
When sitting for long hours, blood slows down and pool in your legs; in worst cases, it may lead to a blood clot. In contrast, you move your legs and keep the blood flowing throughout your body when you stand up.
Things to consider when buying standing desks
If you are a laptop user, look for portable laptop standing desks that elevate the screen and has height and tilt adjustments features. On the contrary, if you use a desktop computer, look for a secure platform for your mouse and keyboard. Using a separate ergonomic keyboard and mouse platform can be a good idea to promote a proper standing posture. The last piece of advice for you is to avoid choosing a fixed-height desk, though they are cheaper. Not everybody is of the same height; the desk you buy should be functional for individuals of different sizes. Therefore, choosing a fixed height and saving a few bucks will not be a sensible move.