Why a standing desk can improve your health
Ask any office worker what they enjoy they least about their work and they're likely to tell you it's the long hours of sitting at their desk. I should know. With a corporate career spanning almost two decades, I have had my fair share of sitting at a desk.
Yet our bodies are not designed for spending long time in the sitting position. And our time on a chair only increases as we move from a desk to a dining table and then to a sofa.
Any extended sitting — such as at a desk, behind a wheel or in front of a screen — can be harmful. Research shows that sitting for long periods can definitely your posture. You might want to make a change by simply standing rather than sitting when you have the chance.
The case for standing desks
As working from home becomes a normalised approach to working for office workers it seems that we spend even more time in front of screens and at a desk. With the lack of commuting at least a couple of times a week and the earlier start of logging on to your work, the effects on your body can quickly become obvious.
Added to that, the lack of expensive office adjustable chairs and even the walks to the kitchen for water and coffee (or tea and a catch up with colleagues) and you quickly start accumulating red flags that can only mean trouble for your body.
Many employers offer employees the opportunity to upgrade their desk to a standing one. This is because a number of benefits have been linked to the use of a standing desk. Also referred to as adjustable standing desks, stand-up desks or sit-stand desks) these innovative products allow you to working normally at a computer while standing.
Standing Desks Appear to Reduce Back Pain.
Studies have shown that breaking up your normal routine with intermittent standing bouts can significantly reduce the risk of back pain.
Standing desks lower your risk of weight gain
Did you know that you standing an additional three hours a day over the course of a year (which can easily be done while in the office) can burn up to 30,000 extra calories. This equates to eight pounds of fat and is equivalent of running about ten marathons.
Standing can help improve posture
Because we use more muscles to stand for an hour compared to sitting then by doing so we are strengthening our core, leg, ankle and foot muscles. But that's as long as we don't slouch!
Standing could improve your mood
Sitting has been linked to both an increased risk in depression and anxiety. On the flip side, standing has been attributed to increased levels of mood and energy.
Conclusion
Incorporating standing into your daily routine may take time to get used to, so if you are struggling with this, incrementally increase the time you stand instead of opting for a multi-hour session from the get-go.
