Does your work demand you to sit in front of your computer for eight hours or even longer? Are you aware that sitting for long periods can increase your risk of some diseases?
While some people may think it is less tiring to sit all day, standing from time to time is more beneficial and can help you feel less tired after a day’s work.
Sitting all day is a common problem in most offices. Some companies provide their staff with the best standing desk in Australia to resolve this issue and help office workers stay focused and healthy.
What is a Standing Desk?
A standing desk, also called a sit-stand desk or stand-up desk, allows you to work even while in an upright position. There are different versions of a standing desk. The current ones are designed so that users can adjust them to their preferred height.
They can increase or decrease the table height until they find a comfortable position. It allows users to sit and stand while they work alternately.
But are standing desks good for you? Studies have shown the adverse effects of sitting all day, and breaking from that definitely has positive effects on your body.
Negative Effects of Sitting For Long Periods
To give you an idea of how sedentary time affects your health, here are some of its negative impacts on your body.
• Obesity
• Abnormal cholesterol levels
• Excess body fats around the waist
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Stress
• Back pain
• Poor Concentration
If your family has a history of diabetes and heart problems, sitting all day increases your risk of developing them. To prevent that from happening, you need to break free from sitting. One way to do that is with the help of a standing desk.
Here are some of the benefits of using a standing desk for your overall health.
1. Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
Inactivity, which we can also link to sitting all day, may be bad news for your heart. A study conducted around bus drivers and conductors showed that conductors who stood almost all day had a lower risk of death related to heart disease than their companion drivers who are seated for long periods. This proves that moving and spending some time on your feet is good for your heart.
2. Reduces Blood Sugar Spikes
Prolonged sitting can contribute to developing diabetes. Our body must digest the food properly, especially after eating, such as after lunch. Standing while working after breaks can help reduce blood sugar spikes, particularly those who already have diabetes.
3. Boosts Productivity
When you feel drained at work, you sometimes often want to go somewhere to take a walk or have a short break to help you regain focus. Moving can help stimulate blood flow, thus resulting in better brain function and concentration.
Just by standing, your body is moving already, and blood circulates better all through your body, making you more productive and reduce brain fog.
4. Reduces Back and Neck Pain
Have you been complaining about your neck and back pain recently? This may be due to prolonged sitting. If your work requires you to sit for 8 hours or more, you are likely to develop chronic neck and back pain.
Studies had shown that those who used sit-stand desks for a couple of weeks had reported having reduced back pain compared to those who continued sitting all day at work.
5. Promotes Better Posture
Sitting for too long may contribute to poor posture, especially when you’ve been too engrossed with your work that you didn’t even notice you’re already slumped on your chair.
If you try to break from the sitting position and stand for a couple of minutes while working, this can help strengthen your spine and allow you to open your chest and breathe deeper. Standing can also help you stretch out your back and arms.
6. Can Help Increase Energy Levels and Improve Mood
When you are tired, you tend to feel less energetic, and you seem to be in a bad mood most of the time. Breaking from sedentary time can be beneficial for your overall well-being, especially on your mood.
A study reported that participants who used standing desks felt less tired and had more energy than those who stayed seated for the whole working hours. The findings have also linked prolonged sitting to increase the risk of anxiety and depression.
7. Can Reduce Unwanted Fats Around the Waist and Thighs
It is no secret that moving around can help burn more calories and fats than sitting all day. Most people who spend too much time being inactive are more prone to accumulate unwanted fats around their thighs and waist.
While standing desk does not significantly help in burning calories, it can still aid in reducing fats than sitting all day long. This is particularly true after breaks, and it is better to stand after a meal to digest the food better and prevent storing fats on your thighs and waist.
So, are standing desks good for you? Stand-up desks had proven to be beneficial not only physically but also mentally. The use of the standing desk is becoming more and more popular among companies as they notice the improvement among their office workers.
Some of the changes they’ve noticed are increased productivity, fewer absences related to sickness, and an improved working environment.
A standing desk is not only suitable for corporate offices but also for your home office. Stand-up desks come in different styles and designs. So, there is something that you can find that will fit your home office. Some people even place their standing desks above their treadmill so they can exercise while working.
When buying a standing desk, go for something that can be adjusted easily and has several height settings so you can find the right elevation for you when you stand.
Some standing desks can be placed on top of your current desk if you already have an existing desk. No matter what style or design you choose, you can benefit a lot from a standing desk.
She enjoys assessing and reviewing home office furniture such as standing desks, ergonomic chairs and lighting accessories. As such, she created Healthy Land to share her thoughts and insights. Danielle only recommends items she deems beneficial to the users as she understands how important ergonomics is, especially to remote workers.
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Are Standing Desks Good For You?
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