No matter how comfortable your office chair is, spending the entire day in it isn’t good for your health.
In accordance with a Mayoclinic article, prolonged sitting causes health issues like obesity, excessive blood sugar, and unfavourable cholesterol levels.
Does that imply that we should stand all day? No, that is not enjoyable, extremely painful, and causes excruciating leg discomfort.
Standing desks have recently gained popularity as a result of the widespread acceptance of work-from-home arrangements as a solution to this problem.
In this article, we will speak on:
- How standing desks work
- Standing desk usage guide
- Ergonomic workspace setup
- Boost focus and Energy through lighting and sound
Chapter 1: How Standing Desks work
Let’s first make absolutely sure we grasp what standing desks are, why they exist, and why any of this even counts before we get into the technical details.
What are Standing Desks?
In essence, a standing desk, often known as a stand-up desk, is a desk that enables you to stand up at ease while working.
Because it enables users to work well while standing up, it is well-liked by many current computer users and experts in the technology sector.
According to Wikipedia sources, here’s an interesting fact that might be of interest to you: The modern standing computer desk was created by Modbury resident Max Banfield.
Benefits of Standings Desks
- Health Benefits: According to a study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, standing at a desk for three hours burns an additional 24 calories or approximately the same as a carrot. Other health benefits include lower blood sugar and reduced risk of heart disease
- Benefits for Productivity: In a study of call center workers, those with standing desks were daily 45 percent more productive than those who sat down during their shift. This was done by the National Library of Medicine.
Other benefits include an increase improve workers’ mood and energy levels as well as reduced back pains.
Types of Standing Desks
Now that we are on the same page as to what standing desks are, and their benefits let’s look at how they work which depends on the type of standing desk you use.
- Fixed height standing desk: Unlike a typical, non-adjustable desk, a fixed height standing desk is designed to be used while standing all the time.
A fixed standing desk does not lower to a seated height for adults standing at it, unlike more complex options. For greater comfort, this is typically tailored to fit a specific height of a person.
- Sit-To-Stand Desks: These essentially consist of miniature desks that rest on top of your regular sat desk and raise when you need to stand.
Imagine a dinner plate with legs that you could use to enjoy dinner while watching television. Laptops, keyboards, and displays can be put on Sit-To-Stand Desks, which are compact tables that can be attached to regular desks.
- Standing Desks with Adjustable Height: These workstations have the same appearance as a regular desk, but they can be raised or lowered to any desired height. These are full desks that include push-button controls to raise and lower the desktop using electric motors.
These are the most useful kind of standing desks since they may be used in any position—seated, standing, or any combination of the two.
Chapter 2: Standing desk usage guide
Yep, there are also rules in place here. There are right and bad ways to stand when utilizing a standing desk, just like there are good and wrong ways to sit while working.
Stay with me till the finish if you have read this far. From the outside, using a standing desk may appear to be a no-brainer: You stand. You put in a day’s work, and the circle continues. Well think again; here are a few tips to ensure you use them effectively.
- Modify your work area: Your shoulders and neck may suffer as a result of a poor setup. Your arms should be at a 90° angle or slightly less when typing or using a mouse so that you can move your arms easily and prevent wrist pain.
Confirm that your screen is at eye level while still keeping it away from your face. Preferably, if you extend your hand out from where you are working, the screen should just barely brush your fingertips.
Final thoughts on setup, to make it simple to sit down when your feet grow tired, keep a chair close by. When you have a habit of sitting, attempting to work all day in a standing position might be upsetting to your body and cause leg or back pain.
- Maintain good posture: To prevent back pain and exhaustion brought on by constricted blood vessels, maintain appropriate posture.
The best way to stand at a standing desk is with your toes pointed forward and your feet firmly planted. Keep your shoulders loose and your neck upright.
To prevent knee hyperextension or locked joints, keep your knees slightly bent while standing. Resist leaning on the desk as a final piece of advice because doing so will cause your back and neck to curve.
- Take Breaks and exercises: Standing still for long periods is also thought to negatively affect your leg muscles, tendons, and other connective tissue, and may even cause varicose veins.
So this is where breaks and exercises come in. Regular stretching is an easy way to increase your energy, and lessen the stiffness in your body.
It is advised that for every 1 to 2 hours you sit in your office, 1 hour should be spent standing. Try to alternate between sitting and standing every 30 to 60 minutes.
If you have the money, investing in an anti-fatigue mat would be a plus. These mats are said to prevent standing fatigue by encouraging modest leg muscle motions.
Chapter 3: Ergonomic workspace setup
According to this definition of “ergonomics,” it is the study of or design for comfort and productivity in the workplace.
Many people transition to standing desks for their health, but they might not be aware of how ergonomics affects their satisfaction at work or at home. Here’s how to organize your workstation so that it best supports and suits you:
- Desk Height and Position: You should take into account elements like proximity to the door, the direction of the windows, and the placement of any additional office furniture to determine the most ergonomic setting.
Your ideal standing desk height should be so that your elbows are close to your body and the keyboard is at or slightly below hip level, where the hands are at elbow height.
The tabletop ought to be exactly at or just below elbow height as a result. A desk with a separate keyboard tray may make this easier to complete.
- Chair and Mats: The greatest office chairs support your back’s natural S-curve; badly constructed chairs make you feel more like you’re leaning against a hard wall like you’re sitting on a log.
For greater comfort, this will go fantastically with the anti-fatigue mat we already suggested. Your elbows and knees should both be at a 90-degree angle thanks to the chair.
Even the most basic, unpadded chair can be made into something you can sit on pleasantly for a few hours if you don’t want to spend the money on a new office chair right now.
- Work set up and gadgets: Position your monitor so that your arm’s length is approximately 2 to 3 inches below the top of the screen and at eye height.
Imposture caused by continuously looking down at your phone is a problem so I suggest you acquire Bluetooth AirPods or earphones for simple call handling. For ease and comfort, while working, a smooth-operating mouse with a comfortable grip is a must-have, as is an external keyboard.
Chapter 4: Boost focus and Energy through lighting and sound
Good lighting and the appropriate music are essential to creating the optimum work environment since they have a significant impact on your ability to stay focused throughout the day.
Recent research have started to shed light on whether light and music might improve cognitive function and workplace productivity.
In a 2016 Totaljobs poll, 79 percent of participants reported that listening to music while working increases their productivity.
As for lighting, Poor lighting at work can cause eye strain, fatigue, and headaches, but on the flip side, excessive lighting can cause tension and headaches.
So a place that is well lighted, allows you to see clearly, and is free of harsh light should be part of your ideal workspace.
I also advise having adequate ventilation so that your desk is exposed to natural light because it benefits your skin.
It’s not surprising to see the majority of individuals listening to music as they work because good music raises mood and productivity.
In terms of sound, avoid busy public spaces if at all possible, and keep the volume of your music and discussions low to reduce interruptions.
Be careful not to play anything through your headphones too loudly or you could undo the noise-canceling effects of using them.
We have traveled a long and incredibly insightful road together, and I’m sure you gained a lot of value from it.
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