Standing at work is now becoming one of the most natural hobbies and forms of exercise. This is because of the rise of the sit-stand desk in the industry. It sounded like the desk of the future because of the hype generated in the market. Everyone looked forward to the arrival of the sit-stand desk as a lot of health and productivity benefits were promised. And true to the hype, the standing desk delivers.
The Growing Trends of Using Standing Desks
One of the main advantages of standing is that it increases bone density, which is an indicator of ideal bone strength. Don’t want to have frail bones in the future? Start standing more now. How do you work in more standing in your routines? Easy. With the rise of the standing desk, standing becomes a way of life.
When the standing desk was introduced, it was quite a novelty because of its features and health benefits. Workers from offices and homes are embracing it. It seems a lot of us want to escape the sedentary lifestyle.
While standing desks initially become common among adults, it also has become more accessible as well to children. In some schools, this is also being used because of the health benefits it can provide and the productivity it can bring. It can also help improve the mood of workers using the standing desk.
For a while, we’ve known that sitting for long stretches every day increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions. So how do we address this sedentary lifestyle? We need to promote a more active work lifestyle.
Not an Immediate Transition
Switching to standing does not happen overnight. It can be done slowly but consistently. The key is you should initially concentrate on a slow start to utilize your new standing desk or the habit of standing while working.
By doing so, you will quickly find yourself that standing increases more and more. You will eventually find yourself feeling a new surge of motivation over your workday, and your productivity levels will be higher than before.
One of the critical attributes of standing is that it increases brain power as well as blood circulation. It gives a sense of revitalization and, in turn, makes you more attentive to your daily duties. By merely standing will improve your motivation, morale, general mood, and outlook.
Standing at Work Helps your Brain to Function More Effectively
Standing requires more effort, but it helps the brain manage more variables such as balancing your body weight, controlling muscle contraction, and contributing to cognitive stress. Standing at work, according to experts, can increase cognitive performance.
Standing at Work Helps Improve Metabolism
Standing in intervals boosts metabolic metrics like calorie burning and blood circulation. It is not significantly a replacement for exercise, but it can aid in calorie burning. Standing has shown significant improvements in memory and other metabolic functions. When we are more engaged with sitting, our metabolism tends to become slower, leading to acquiring various health conditions.
Standing Can Double Your Productivity
In the digital age where we are today, we spend more time sitting due to the nature of jobs nowadays. According to some studies, the average human being spends around 6 hours sitting, which can have a negative impact on our productivity levels.
While you may replace your current desk with a sit-stand desk, it may not be easy because our body is used to sitting for an extended period. However, since we can become the more active and sharper focus when standing, our productivity level can increase.
Challenge Yourself to Be More Productive
Success is not possible without struggles. There can be some things that may hinder the opportunity to become more productive. Stress, deadlines, sickness, confusion in task delegation can be some of those things. We may think that since we are used to sitting already, it can be more comfortable working while on your chair and seated. However, studies have found that sitting can make us prone to more adverse health conditions.
It’s time to be aware of how we work and what tools we are using in doing our job. It can be challenging at first, but it’s all worth the effort. Try to leave your comfort zone. And of course, make your health a top priority.
Standing While Working Is Healthier Than Sitting
No matter what we desire and the mental preparation that we do for getting things done, health and overall wellness should be on top of our goals. Again, sitting for prolonged periods has its health dangers, but very few people are aware of this.
That is why people must be well-rounded with this information. We all should know that switching between sitting and standing can be one of the most effective ways to be healthy.
Being not physically fit is a great enemy for productivity, and the more that you become unfit, the less you will feel like working. Others also associate heart diseases to those who sit for more than 3 hours a day watching TV since they become more susceptible to developing these diseases. People with a sitting job have also been observed to have twice the cardiovascular disease as people with a standing desk.
How to Be More Productive While Standing at Work
We have already identified a lot of factors as to how critically important standing while working is. Now we need to realize how we can do such things like standing at work to maximize our productivity.
Here are some tips on how we can maximize standing while working.
#1 Take a break
Make sure you do not exhaust yourself by working for prolonged periods. A 10-20 minutes break can go a long way to enhance your productivity. Ensure that you segment your work into various periods and take a break by an hour or so.
#2 Alternate sitting and standing
Standing for a long time also has adverse effects as it increases your chance of having back pain. Make sure you alternate sitting and standing once in a while. If you need to get a lot of work done for a particular day and work for a specific day, make sure that you rest your brain for a few minutes. If possible, set a timer to be reminded when it’s time to stand and when it's time to sit. This is an excellent way to train your brain and body with constant movement.
#3 Brainstorm while you stand up
In a meeting, especially if you are conducting it, you should stand in during brainstorming. Use a whiteboard or flipchart instead of a pen and paper. Trying to move a little bit is better than no movement at all. Organizing a walking meeting is also a good idea, and setting it outside the office will make everyone thrilled. It will set the mood and productivity in sharing pleasant thoughts.
#4 Take the call, walk and talk
When you take a phone call, especially from the mobile phone, we should take a stroll. Some might think that this is not a good idea as this will distract people in the office, so try to go to locations where people aren’t working nearby. It will be a healthier alternative rather than staying seated the whole time you are at work.
Conclusion
The tips mentioned above are just some great ways to help you become healthier and more active at work. Standing at work can bring various benefits, so make sure you do it correctly and with consistency. Try using ergonomic products such as desks, chairs, keyboards, mice, etc. to achieve a more organized and stress-free work environment.
Today, with so many of us sitting most of the time at our desks staring away at our screens, ferociously typing at your keyboard and frantically moving our mouse, we tend to forget about ourselves, our comfort, and most of all, our physical and emotional health.
Desk jobs require us to sit down during most office hours, and unfortunately, few companies are willing to invest in ergonomic furniture to better the health and comfort of employees. If you find yourself sitting most of the time while working, it would be worth considering the changes we have suggested in this article.
If you are one of the lucky ones currently working from home, especially with the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is worth considering an office upgrade when it comes to your desk, chair, mouse, and keyboard.
By investing in ergonomic furniture, you are ensuring your future health, and as far as we are concerned, it might be the best investment you could make to prevent chronic diseases in the future.
