Sitting for 8-9 hours per day at work seems unharmful, but little did we know that prolonged sitting causes so much harm to our health.
Naturally, our bodies are at their prime when moving. This is the reason we stretch and exercise regularly. But when working in the office or at home, we dedicate most of our time sitting. According to research, long hours of sitting do not only affect the posture but also increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart-related diseases. An ergonomic chair and a supportive office table can help ease the pain prolonged sitting causes the body. Still, even with the presence of ergonomic office furniture, standing up from time to time is essential.
What is a Standing Desk
Standing desks are not new to the office world. In fact, they have been available on the market for some time, but they are gaining popularity, especially now that the world is embracing work-from-home setups. Generally, standing desks are adjustable for both sitting and standing. While sitting the whole day burns fewer calories and strains the body, the combination of sitting and standing during work helps improve the condition of your body and your productivity.
Importance of an Ergonomic Standing Desk
Aside from an ergonomic chair, having an adjustable ergonomic standing desk can help you modify your work space based on your needs and work requirements. Regular office tables can sometimes be too high or too low for your needs, making you adjust your sitting position just to fit the desk's height. This compromises your health and comfort. When seated for a long time at an unconducive office desk, you are more prone to developing poor posture even after sitting. Regularly slouching to reach the computer screen or sitting on a too-low chair can strain or stiffen your muscles.
An adjustable standing desk can provide you with the appropriate height and help you spend less time sitting. The combination of sitting and standing during work can help improve blood circulation and stimulate focus as you break up the monotony of sitting the whole day.
Standing lowers the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and heart diseases
Some people compensate for long hours of sitting by exercising after their shift, but others make idleness a habit because of frequent sitting. This lack of motion significantly affects the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack. Another thing is, even if you exercise for thirty minutes to an hour every day, the amount of effort you put into exercising might not be enough if you constantly sit the whole day. Efficient movement throughout the day is crucial to keeping high-density lipoproteins in your body to reduce your cholesterol level and avoid cardio-vascular diseases. So if the nature of your work revolves around sitting the whole day, modify your habits by setting some time to stand while doing your tasks. To achieve this, a standing desk that can both support you while sitting and standing is needed.
Standing desks help reduce back pain and promote healthy muscles
Constant back pain is common among office workers who sit the whole time. When you are sitting, your muscle activity, especially in your lower body, is almost non-existent. On the other hand, the pressure exerted on your shoulders, spine, and lower back increases. The lack of activity in your lower body can cause bone degeneration and the weakening of your muscles. Movements and changes in your position, such as stretching, getting up to get water, or picking up some files, help relax your neck and back muscles. To keep your muscles and bones healthy, always do a combination of standing and sitting during work.
Standing desks help you keep mentally alert
Standing to work helps improve your focus and increases your energy and alertness, just like when you exercise. The use of standing desks helps improve blood circulation, meaning oxygen is being pumped to the brain, boosting brain activity. Small movements done when standing, like changing the position of your feet, help your brain be more alert and busy but still focused. This enables you to come up with higher-quality decisions.
Standing desks help boost your energy and mood, thus, making you productive
When you sit the whole day, your energy level decreases, and your stress level increases. Standing and moving helps your brain be more engaged, removing your focus on stress factors and keeping your attention on what needs to be done. Studies suggest that employees who stand to work are more productive than those who sit the whole day.
Standing desks are versatile
Standing might be very beneficial for your health and productivity, but standing the whole day is also not a good idea. Adjustable standing desks are versatile enough for both sitting and standing. This is particularly helpful to balance motion and inactivity while working.
Standing desks give your home office a modern look
Ergonomic office tables are not only beneficial for your health and well-being but are also beneficial for your home office's design and safety. Standing desks, because of their two-legged structure, look more lightweight and innovative. They give you more space to move and add storage underneath. Because of their tall configuration, standing desks are safer with electronics, as they usually come with cable support. High-end standing desks are automatic and easy to adjust.
How to incorporate standing into my daily work routine
When using a standing office desk in your home, make sure to adjust the height based on your needs. Set it up at the right height to maintain an upright posture. You should keep a 90-degree angle between your upper and lower arms.
It takes time to get used to using a standing desk, especially if you spend most of your time sitting. But when the habit of balancing sitting and standing while at work is established, you will see a notable improvement in your focus, productivity, health, and overall wellness.
What’s more stressful at work is sometimes not the task itself but the environment you are in when doing the task. To improve your work from home experience, start developing healthy habits and keep your home office conducive for work.
Read further: Your Ultimate Guide to Working from Home: Tips, Tricks, Home Office Design
Looking for ergonomic office furniture? Check out our extensive collection of high-quality office furniture available online in Singapore.