Are you feeling sore and tight after a long day at the office, no matter how cozy the chair at your desk is? Though a stressful job may be the biggest culprit, one factor that most office workers are only now starting to consider is the amount of time spent sitting while at work.A decade after James Levin’s groundbreaking study on workplace movement introduced the standing desk, the option to work on your feet in an office environment is now a common phenomenon. And with good reason — sitting for prolonged periods of time increases the risk of cancer, obesity, low mood, and even premature death. Thankfully, the list of benefits of alternating between standing and sitting while you work is just as long.Here are three reasons why you may want to consider using a standing desk for yourself.
1. Weight Management
All of us know that getting regular exercise is part of a healthy weight management plan, but most of us assume that the workout we tack onto our eight-hour day at the office is the main factor in our success. However, Levin’s study showed that consistent minor physical activity such as standing up to stretch or go to the bathroom resulted in most subjects sitting 2.25 hours less than their peers, and therefore prevented them from some weight gain their peers experienced. When you choose to work at a standing desk for part of the day, not only are you reducing the length of the time you’re sitting, but you’re also increasing your opportunities for movement. Once we are in motion, we are likely to keep moving and consider taking a stretch or going to the kitchen for a glass of water.
2. Improved Mood, Productivity and Posture
Though standing might at first be distracting, in the long run, consistent moderate activity has shown to increase productivity by way of improving mood and energy level. A good portion of this can be accounted for by the fact that sitting for prolonged periods of time is one of the main causes of back pain, which leaves us creaky and grumpy. Being sedentary almost always results in poor posture, as we tend to check out of our bodies and lose ourselves in the task at hand. Poor posture then creates eye strain, which in turn leads to muscle tension and back pain. It’s a vicious cycle. Switching to a standing desk requires us to become aware and tune into our bodies, even if just for the 30-second transition from sitting to standing. That is enough to remind us to find a healthier, more sustainable posture.
3. Reduce Serious Health Issues
The most notable benefit of using a standing desk is that of improving your long-term health. Many studies have shown that prolonged sitting is linked to various forms of cancer, including breast, colon, and lung cancer. Others have shown a similar correlation between the amount of prolonged sitting one does and his or her life expectancy. Researchers have said that in order to get the most benefit from their findings, it’s best to incorporate a variety of minor but consistent forms of activity into your day-to-day life. Because of this, you may want to consider investing in a floating desk, which can alternate throughout the day between a sitting or standing desk. At The Back Store, we offer the Humanscale Float Desk, which makes the transition between standing and sitting effortless and silent. It will help you get up from your seat throughout the day more easily, promoting increased mood and better health.
Are you feeling sore and tight after a long day at the office, no matter how cozy the chair at your desk is? Though a stressful job may be the biggest culprit, one factor that most office workers are only now starting to consider is the amount of time spent sitting while at work.
A decade after James Levin’s groundbreaking study on workplace movement introduced the standing desk, the option to work on your feet in an office environment is now a common phenomenon. And with good reason — sitting for prolonged periods of time increases the risk of cancer, obesity, low mood, and even premature death. Thankfully, the list of benefits of alternating between standing and sitting while you work is just as long.
Here are three reasons why you may want to consider using a standing desk for yourself.