We have heard a lot about Sitting being the New Smoking. In fact, we think it’s worse than smoking! The average American sits for 13 hours a day and if you add the hours of sleep to that, it’s about 21 hours of being nothing but ‘Sedentary’!
According to a statement published by World Health Organization – Sitting for extended periods of time can severely increase your chances of a heart attack. Physical inactivity puts you at risk of developing coronary heart disease and /or obesity.
Having said that, simply buying a standing desk will not get you to stand a few times a day. You need to motivate yourself beyond just owning a height-adjustable standing desk. In our experience of using standing desks at our workplace and from our customers using standing desks, the most important factor in getting the most out of it is understanding the benefits of standing desks.
1. Makes You More Productive
According to a new research published by the British Medical Journal, 43% of individuals who swapped their regular desk for a height-adjustable standing desk reported that their performance had improved after a year.
While it’s great standing for a few hours each day as it helps improve concentration and productivity, we wouldn’t advice you to stand all day before an exam hoping you’d get smarter or learn faster.
2. Helps Burn Calories
Standing at your desk encourages blood circulation in your body, thus helping you burn more calories as compared to sitting down. According to a study published by the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, researchers found that standing burned 0.15kcal per minute more than sitting.
3. Improves Energy Levels and Mood
People have reported that they experience less stress and fatigue when they stand a few hours each day at their desk. According to a study by the National Institute of Health, standing a few hours everyday help improves energy levels thus leading to a much more productive and happier day at work.
4. Controls Blood Sugar Levels
Some studies have shown that after eating, blood sugar returns to normal faster in people who spend more time standing than sitting. This explains why sitting after a meal for an extended period of time is linked to a greater risk of type 2 Diabetes.
5. Improves Collaboration and Team Work
Do you work at an office with a standing discussion table instead of a big conference table with people sitting? If not, then it’s time to invest in a standing discussion table. As mentioned above standing helps improve productivity, energy levels and mood, imagine then how productive a group discussion would be under such circumstances. Standing while working helps improve collaboration and encourages creativity.
Standing desk manufacturers have started to create twin standing desks, standing conference tables, etc., to promote an open and collaborative work atmosphere. Studies have found that when a team strategizes together while standing, it can ignite creativity and vision thus leading to the overall success of a business.
6. Reduces the Risk of Cancer
While there are several causes for cancer, a handful of studies indicate that cutting down on the time spent sitting is good for your health. Researchers estimate that up to 49,00 cases of breast cancer and 43,000 cases of colon cancer are tied to lack of physical activity.
At Progressive Desk we believe that to really get the most out of your standing desk it is important to add a few movements while standing.
7. Boosts Your Metabolism
Standing at your desk helps boost your body’s metabolic rate thus improving Digestion. Hence, it’s best advised to stand at your desk after your meal, your stomach will thank you for it!
8. Helps Reduce Back Pain
A study conducted by Stanford University on back pain, revealed that workers who used sit-stand workstations instead of regular desks were more likely to report a pain-free day. The study found that participants who used the sit-stand workstation reported having reduced lower back pain over 3 months of using the height-adjustable standing desks.
9. Improves Posture
If you want to improve your body posture, investing in a standing desk can surely help with that. It’s important to set up your desk and monitor height correctly. You can read more about how to set your monitor height here.
10. Reduces Fatigue
According to a study published by the British Medical Journal, employees who worked at their standing desks we more engaged and less tired as compared to those who sat during most of their workday. Not only did these workers report less fatigue but they also lowered their sitting time significantly after realizing its long term benefits.
