3 Signs You Should Invest in A Standing Desk

A standing desk or a standing desk converter is the current trend of workstation because of the increasing health benefits it brings and because it revolutionizes the sedentary lifestyle. A sit-stand desk allows the user to adjust the height of the desk according to their task at hand in an easy, accessible manner.

A 2011 study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that when workers are well-equipped with sit-stand workstations, prolonged sitting is reduced, and mood states improve. In their 2013 annual meeting, the American Medical Association adopted a policy recognizing the potential risks of prolonged sitting and encouraging employers, employees, and others to make available alternatives to sitting, such as sit-stand desks. If you are hesitant to buy a standing desk or a standing desk converter, consider the following signs that you might need to get one soon!

1. YOU ARE GAINING WEIGHT

1 out of 3 people is suffering from obesity. People suffering from obesity tend to sit for 2.5 hours per day more than people that are within their ideal weight. Between 1980 and 2000, there has not been a change in the exercise rate, however, there has been an 8% increase in sitting time. Therefore, alarmingly, obesity has doubled.

American Cancer Society conducted a study on the effects of standing and sitting at work and found that women and men who stood a quarter of their time, will have 35% and 32% chance respectively of reducing the likelihood of obesity in terms of body fat percentage. Moreover, women and men who stood for half a day decreased their chances by 47% and 59% respectively.

2. YOU FEEL LETHARGIC AT WORK

I know the feeling that by 3 pm you want to get out of the office, your co-workers are getting irritable, there is a decrease in quality work submitted and you lose the energy to work properly and efficiently. Moving muscles pump fresh blood and oxygen through the brain and trigger the release of all sorts of brain-and-mood enhancing chemicals. When people are exposed to having a sedentary lifestyle for a long time everything slows, including brain function.

When you stand, your energy increases, your lower body muscles get toned, and your stance and postures get improved and corrected. You also become more alert, productive, and qualified. A study shows that when using a standing desk that creates movement, 88% of people are more energized, 86% are more comfortable. 72% are healthier, and 79% are more focused.

3. YOU FREQUENTLY COMPLAIN OF NECK, SHOULDER, AND BACK PAIN

If most of your work is at a desk, then craning your neck forward towards a keyboard while typing is something that happens often. Slumping forward dangerously extends shoulders and muscles as well. Most workers practice bad posture which strains the cervical vertebrae and leads to permanent imbalances. A recent study reports that back and neck pain affects 8 out of 10 people at some point in their lives, and sitting for long periods of time does not help to improve their physical health.

Workers who have used standing desk were 78% more likely to report a pain-free day than those who used regular workstations, according to a Stanford University study about back pain. It pays to be healthy and happy while doing the best at work. When you now consider purchasing a standing desk, make sure it is sturdy, adjustable, and easy to move.