Did you know that the average employee spends approx 5 hours and 41 minutes per day sitting at their desk, and up to 90,000 hours in their lifetime? Scary, right?
Given the significant amount of time spent at a desk, whether it be in a corporate office or spare room at home, investing in quality office furniture that’s designed to improve our health, well-being and posture is well worth it.
One piece of office furniture that is taking the working world by storm are standing desks, also known as sit-stand desks. These are desks that can be modified to accommodate both standing and seated positions, giving you the flexibility to transition between the two throughout the day.
Do Standing Desks Help With Posture?
Standing desks also encourage better spinal alignment, as users are likely to maintain a neutral spine position while standing, helping to distribute weight evenly and reducing the risk of back, shoulder, and neck discomfort resulting from prolonged sitting.
As well as posture, standing desks help to reduce back pain, burn calories while working, improve wrist position and improve blood circulation. Learn more about the health benefits of using a standing desk here.
But that’s not all. Standing desks are also proven to improve mental factors such as creativity, focus and productivity. But how? Well, being on your feet and moving around naturally increases blood flow around the body, including blood flow to the brain, which improves how we feel and the way we work.
Looking for the perfect standing desk for your office? Check out our collection of standing desks, available for next working day delivery if ordered by 3pm.
Bad Habits to Avoid When Using a Standing Desk
There are plenty of benefits of using a standing desk, especially, as we’ve discussed, for your posture. That said, there are also some common bad habits that you should avoid when working at a standing desk for long periods.
These bad habits include:
1. Standing up for Too Long
While, of course, standing desks are designed so that you can stand up while working, you must avoid standing for too long.
Too much of anything is a bad thing, which is why the key to getting the most out of your standing desk is to alternate between sitting and standing positions.
Standing for too long can cause strain on your knees and ankles as well as make you feel fatigued.
If you do however prefer to stand for long periods, our anti-fatigue matis designed to support and relieve pressure on the feet, legs and spine.
This brings us nicely to our second point…
2. Not Using Fatigue Mats if Needed
It’s only natural to get tired feet and achy joints if you’re standing in one position for an extended period. This is where fatigue mats come in handy.
Fatigue mats, also known as anti-fatigue mats, are cushioned mats specially designed to provide comfort and support to individuals who stand for long periods, such as those who use standing desks.
Anti-fatigue standing desk mats work to support and relieve pressure on the feet, legs and spine for any user spending prolonged periods of time on their feet, and are proven to aid the increase of blood circulation. They can also encourage better posture and help to reduce back pain.
Shop our quality range of ergonomic anti-fatigue standing desk mats here.
3. Having Your Desk at the Wrong Height
While there are several benefits of using an adjustable standing desk, if the desk is set at the incorrect height, you can quickly become very uncomfortable and even risk injury!
There are several steps to follow when setting the ideal desk height:
- Stand up straight, relax your shoulders and ensure your neck is balanced and aligned with your torso.
- Bend your arms so that your elbows are at around 90 degrees.
- Your desk should be placed at elbow height so that your hands can easily reach your keyboard and your mouse without bending your wrists.
- Ensure that the top of the screen is at eye level, or just below (this will avoid neck strain). You may want to consider an adjustable dual or single monitor arm for more precision.
4. Bad Posture
Posture is incredibly important in everything we do, and this is especially the case when using a standing desk efficiently.
While you might not think it, standing incorrectly or with poor posture can lessen the amount of time you’re able to comfortably stand for, and can even cause back and neck-based problems and injuries.
Good posture should also be apparent when sitting down and having the right office chair is a huge contributor to this. A high-quality chair can make a world of difference when it comes to the quality of your working life, so ensure that your choice of seating allows you the proper support and plenty of comfort to boot.
Check out our wide range of ergonomic office chairs here, including our popular Influence Stylish Ergonomic Mesh Chair.
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There we have it! We trust that this article has effectively demonstrated the value of standing desks as an excellent tool for enhancing your posture while working at a desk.
That said, it’s important to note that a standing desk may not be suitable for everyone, especially those who have certain medical conditions, injuries or physical limitations. If you do suffer with any medical condition, it's always recommended to consult with a doctor or physical therapist before making any major changes to your work setup.
Need help choosing the perfect standing desk for your workplace or home office? Get in contact with our expert team with any queries and check out our extensive range of standing desks here.
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.
Otherwise, our standing desk blog provides more useful tips on using a standing desk for a more balanced lifestyle. Feel free to contact us with any questions, with the handy live chat feature on our site, or via email at info@ergodesks.co.uk.
