The benefits of a standing desk have been outlined numerous times on our website, but we tend to discuss them in the context of a regular working day at the office. However, as PC gamers know, workers aren’t the only people who need to choose the right desk for the job.
Standing desks and PC gaming go hand and hand when it comes to having a gamer's dream setup. People can spend hours on end sitting at a traditional style desk playing video games and not even think twice about their health. It isn't until after they finish playing, that they notice problems associated with long gaming sessions.
In this article, we will educate on healthy gaming techniques, explain the benefits to gaming with a standing desk, and mention some features that can take your gaming setup to another level!
Healthy Gaming
Although standing is excellent, sitting is still good to do. It is essential to find that right balance of how much you stand versus how much you sit throughout the day. For a more competitive style game, standing up might give you that edge you are seeking. However, on a more casual style game where strategy is necessary, one might feel the need to lower down the desk and position it to that perfect height to maximise your comfort.
The most important part at the end of the day is your health. Are you gaming healthy? Do you have back pain that doesn't go away? Your current office set up might be the reason for all your pain. One solution is to stand up.
There are countless health benefits that a standing desk can provide you — reducing back pain being one of them. According to CDC research, participants who used standing workstations experienced a 54% reduction in back and neck pain. Using a stand-up desk can also help you improve your posture by allowing you to stand up straight, activate your core muscles, and maintain good spine alignment.
Other healthy gaming techniques to reduce physical strain include:
- Setting Time Limits: Establishing designated gaming periods helps prevent excessive screen time, which can otherwise lead to physical strain and fatigue.
- Taking Screen Breaks: To reduce eye strain and fatigue, take regular breaks from looking at your screen. The 20, 20, 20 rule suggests taking a break of at least 20 seconds, every 20 minutes and to look at least 20 feet away from you.
- Maintain Proper Posture: Sit in a chair that supports the natural curve of your spine, keep your feet flat on the floor, and position the screen at eye level.
- Exercise: Simple exercises, such as going for a short walk, can help prevent conditions associated with sitting for prolonged periods of time.
- Stay Hydrated: It's easy to get engrossed in gaming and forget to drink water! Keep water nearby and take regular breaks to stay hydrated.
Benefits to Gaming with a Standing Desk
Standing desks have been around for a while and are usually marketed to increase productivity by standing on your feet, but what about gaming? Will you get the same boost of attention and awareness as you do from your traditional style desk? How does this contrast to sitting? It's one thing to be standing while holding a controller, but what about a keyboard and mouse? These are all questions a gamer might have before purchasing a standing desk.
With a standing desk, you can adjust the height to exactly where you want it, so you can you can have your elbows at the right angle to game comfortably. This is incredibly important, as otherwise you might have your wrists over angled or in a position where you don't feel natural — affecting your gaming performance and joint health.
A standing desk will also make you more engaged and energetic to the game. Although making a drastic change in how you play a game will take time to adjust, standing offers proven physical benefits, such as reducing weight gain, increasing energy levels, improving mood, and boosting your overall productivity levels, which should lead to healthier and happier gamers.
Let's look at some of the benefits of standing desks for gamers in more detail.
1. Increased Focus
When it comes to first-person shooters, fighting games, and other genres requiring a mix of instinctive and calculated quick reactions to what is happening on-screen, staying focused is vital. In fast-paced games, a fraction of a second can be the difference between a win, loss, or draw.
Body language plays a massive role in focus. Standing up with your back straight is a vital part of staying focused, while slouching back in your chair can and does have the opposite effect. So, when you are in the thick of it and can’t afford to become distracted from what is in front of you, switch to a standing position and stay engaged.
And the science supports this. When standing, blood circulation improves, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the brain. The presence of increased oxygen stimulates brain activity and can improve alertness, clarity, concentration and focus. In one study, standing for one hour during the workday increased productivity for 66% of workers, while 71% felt more focused and 87% reported feeling more energised.
2. Increased Endurance
There is no getting away from the fact that long gaming sessions are more accessible than other hobbies. However, staying in a seated position can harm your back, resulting in aches, pains, and general discomfort, which might extend past your gaming session – especially with bad posture.
Taking standing breaks to straighten out your spine and correct your posture can benefit spine health and protect your endurance. Suppose you often feel the effects of extended periods of sitting in your gaming chair. In that case, standing desks will help you to take breaks while still playing and ultimately minimise discomfort.
3. Increased Energy Levels
We’ve all been there. A new game comes out, you and your friends agree to do an all-nighter in celebration. Suddenly when it reaches 1am, 2am, maybe 3am - it doesn’t start to seem like such a good idea. People begin to get sloppy, and the chatting is cut to a minimum. Coffee and energy drinks can only take you so far.
Believe it or not, adopting a sit stand approach can actually boost your energy levels. It’s a sort of trick, whereby your body feels it is being asked to do more, that it isn’t a time for relaxation and will need to find the energy from somewhere. If you often find yourself sluggish during late-night sessions, try using a standing desk in your setup.
It is thought that just 10 minutes of movement is all it takes to increase mental focus, with 37% of employees reporting high levels of energy in the middle of the day when incorporating small and frequent movements.
4. Full Customisation
For many PC gamers, how their desk looks is almost as important as how powerful their computer is. After all, LED strips and RGB lighting aren’t going to make your games run any smoother, but the majority of games can’t game without them!
At Ergo, our incredible range of adjustable standing desks are all extremely customisable. Not only do they generally have a minimalist aesthetic, but you can customise your tabletop and frame with an incredible number of different finishes. Once the desk is assembled, what you do is entirely up to you – treat it like a blank canvas.
5. Improved Posture
Using a standing desk can help promote better posture compared to sitting for extended periods. Maintaining good posture is important for overall spinal health and can reduce the risk of developing musculoskeletal issues, such as lower back pain and neck and shoulder complaints - which are otherwise common in gamers!
Remember to keep your elbows close to your body, and form a 90-degree angle while using the keyboard and mouse. You should avoid excessive reaching or stretching, and consider using a wrist rest pad for added comfort and to reduce the risk of strain or repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). An ergonomic mouse and keyboard can help with this.
6. Reduced Risk of Health Issues
Standing while gaming can help reduce the amount of time spent in a sedentary position. Prolonged sitting has been associated with various health concerns, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. A standing desk allows gamers to incorporate more movement into their gaming sessions, which can help reduce the chances of developing these health conditions.
Standing Desk Accessories
Once you have a standing desk, you must add some accessories to reap the full benefits. For instance, add some monitor arms where your screen is away from the surface. Monitor arms will allow empty desk space, giving you that extra room you've always desired. Want to hide some of the cords? Purchasing a cable tray can make your wires a little more visually appealing and more organised. If you've gone this far, a CPU holder doesn't hurt. That way when your desk rises the cords and CPU will move up with it. Ensuring no wires gets stretched or pulled. A cable spine can also help with this.
Conclusion
When it comes to gaming, making sure you have the best setup to achieve the best results is essential. A standing desk is a long term investment in your health and yourself. A fan favourite Fortnite streamer named "Tfue" gets the most out of his standing desk by setting a perfect height when plays Fortnite. If you are a hardcore gamer and looking for an edge on the competition or keeping yourself energised for more extended periods, an Ergo Desk might be just what you need!
You can shift positions with a push of a button which means you aren’t stuck in same spot, and can find a balance that works for you and use it to your advantage.
If you have any questions about our standing desks or a specific product, Contact Us or drop us an email at info@ergodesks.co.uk and our team and we will be happy to help you find a solution.
Check out our collection of standing desks, available for next working day delivery if ordered by 3pm. Our desks come with a 7 year warranty, 30 day risk free return, as well as access to a UK-based customer service team to answer any questions that you might have.
Date Published: August 16, 2023
Last Updated: November 20, 2023
