4 Benefits of Using a Standing Desk
In a traditional office environment, employees sit for about eight hours per day. If you add in the time outside the workplace where people sit on the couch to relax, during meal times, at social engagements – the amount of time spent sitting encompasses the majority of people’s day.
Standing desks have become the “new wave” of modern work environments. We often hear about entrepreneurs or tech startups using standing desks because they are too busy to take a seat. The truth is, standing desks are more than just a popular trend; they are a possible solution to increasing wellness in the workplace and productivity for your employees.
Standing improves your overall health. A recent case study researched the health affects between workers who stood for a period of 185 minutes and workers who sat for a period of 185 minutes. The study showed over 170 additional calories burned when the workers were standing, therefore amounting to almost an additional 1,000 calories burned per week and attributing to weight loss.
Other case studies showed results of lowered glucose levels and a lowered risk of heart disease, just by standing and incorporating movement during a person’s work day. Research from these studies showed that prolonged sedentary time can increase a person’s risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Taking the time to walk around the workplace or alternating between sitting and standing at your desk can drastically lower these health risks.
At CommonGrounds, you can adjust your desk to the height of your choosing. Our sit-stand desks at CommonGrounds are adjustable, meaning that whether you want to sit, stand, are tall, or are short – you can choose the desk height that works for you. Gone are the days of your feet not touching the ground because you are too short or not having enough room because your legs are too long. You can select the perfect height of your desk while sitting down (in our ergonomic chairs of course), then adjust it later if a coworker slides up a chair, and then adjust again after you’ve decided you want to work standing up for the day. The options are endless!
Standing desks have proven to improve mood and energy levels. As Elle Woods (shoutout to all the Legally Blonde fans) once said, “exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy!” When we are sedentary and stuck in the same position all day, it does nothing to boost our mood. Instead it slows down our whole system, attributing to feelings of depression and fatigue. Standing up during your workday gets your blood flowing, stimulating feelings of focus, energy and relaxation so that you can do your very best work.
Standing, instead of sitting, can produce increased levels of productivity. It’s a misconception that standing while working can be distracting. Many people believe the idea that they won’t be able to focus on their work, because they’ll be constantly thinking “I just want to sit down.”
This theory was put to test during a study at Texas A&M University where two groups of employees in a call center were studied over the course of 6 months – one group used sit-stand desks and the other group worked sitting down. The employees with the the sit-stand desks were found to be 46% more productive with their completion of successful calls.
When you’re sitting down, you are more likely to be distracted by back pain or the height of your chair. When you are in a standing position, your body is properly aligned and less pressure is put on your back and neck. In fact, by taking that pressure off of your body some employees have found that their body pain improved just by standing.
That being said, if you do fall into the category of someone who prefers to sit during the workday, consider raising your sit-stand desk and try working in the standing position for a few minutes. It never hurts to try something new or be open minded to a solution that could lead to career growth. With a sit-stand desk you can find a balance that works for you, it’s one of the many reasons CommonGrounds is a place you can work your way (both sitting and standing).
