Sitting can kill you. And I’m not being overly dramatic here. People who sit for more than 7 hours a day have an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and early death. Unfortunately, this is the case for most office workers. So, the question is, how can we combat the effects of sitting if we’re tied to a desk for the majority of our day?
Well, obviously by standing up more often which isn’t always possible as it requires you to lay aside the task at hand. However, with a standing desk you’ll be able to ditch your chair and still remain entirely focused on your work. Here are some great reasons you should try the desk standing trend.
Better Posture
If you work at an office, you’re no stranger to tight shoulders and back pain. This is just another side-effect of sitting and not using your back enough. When you sit, you let the chair hold the weight of your upper body, which results in slouching and rolling of the spine which are the main causes of back pain. So, when switching to a height-adjustable desk standing engages your back muscles and strengthens your core. As a result, stronger core and back muscles help support the natural curvature of the spine and prevent slouching.
Improved Health
A 12 month trial on the effects of standing desks involving 220 office workers in Victoria found that reduced sitting time by an hour a day results in lower blood glucose and fat levels. These findings show that standing desks can be crucial for preventing obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As a result, this simple change in the workplace can be a cost-effective and innovative way to help improve the health of Australian office workers.
Increased Productivity
Besides being associated with improved health, standing desks can also have a positive influence on workers’ productivity. A study showed that employees using standing desks are more engaged at work and experience less daily anxiety and job-related fatigue than their chair-bound peers. Combine that with the reduced need to take sick leave due to back pain and other health problems caused by sitting, it’s easy to understand how standing desks can help improve the productivity of the company.
Burn More Calories
Weight gain is directly caused by burning fewer calories than you take in. The fact that the average office worker has fast food for lunch and remains seated for most of the day means that weight gain is a common problem. While exercising is the best way to burn more calories, standing more can also be beneficial when you don’t have the time to hit the gym or go for a run after work.
