Make a mental count.
How many times have you heard someone saying that sitting too much is bad for your body, or how often have you come across news articles touting the same thing?
Most of us recognise that sitting for long periods of time poses certain health risks, but we might not have delved into these risks in detail.
While it remains a problem for most office workers and even those who work from home, there are alternatives that you can consider, like a modern standing table.
Stay with us till the end as we explore the side effects of sitting for far too long, and how a standing table can help to improve your health!
What Is a Standing Desk?
As its name implies, a standing desk simply refers to a table that enables you to stand comfortably as you work.
Many standing desks available today are usually adjustable to suit individual height requirements. This also means that you get to choose and alternate between sitting and standing.
It’s important to strike a balance because both sitting and standing for longer than recommended aren’t ideal for your body.
Are Standing Tables Better?
Before we dive into the exact health benefits of standing desks, let’s take a look at the negative side effects associated with sitting for too long.
They include:
- Obesity
- Raised blood pressure
- Excess body fat
- High blood sugar
- High cholesterol levels
Rather than say that standing is better than sitting, we say that striking a good amount of both is healthy. Standing tables may be better because they primarily help to regulate the time spent sitting and standing while giving you added flexibility in between.
How a Standing Desk Benefits You
1. Reduces the Chances of Weight Gain and Obesity
If you’ve noticed yourself packing on the pounds after long hours at work, you’re not alone.
A majority of people gain weight after they begin working, and a substantial figure cites this to sitting for extended periods of time. Most sedentary people spend the highest proportion of their time doing so sitting at work.
When you use a standing desk, you can adjust the height settings. It also reduces the time spent sitting.
2. May Decrease the Risk of Back and Shoulder Pain
Research shows that sitting can lead to musculoskeletal pain. This means pain in your back, neck, shoulder, knee and hip.
A standing desk can help you improve your posture and remove pressure from your neck and lower back. However, it’s important to note that it’s not a cure for more severe problems like scoliosis.
In addition, it can reduce achiness and blood clots occurring in your legs. when you sit for many hours at a time, it causes blood flow to your legs to slow down. This can lead to the development of blood clots.
When you stand, it causes the leg veins to constrict and drives blood upwards in the direction of your heart.
3. May Increase Productivity to Get More Work Done
No mood, no problem.
Standing has been shown to boost an employee’s mood and energy levels. It also has the potential to relieve stress and tiredness.
This means that standing may even raise productivity levels and improve daily tasks.
How Long Should You Stand at a Standing Desk?
Remember that regardless of whether you’re standing at a standing desk or sitting at your old desk, you need to regulate your time spent doing either action.
If you’re just starting on your standing desk journey, ease into it slowly and gradually. Avoid making a complete shift from sitting to standing all day. Doing this may lead to various side effects like leg pains.
Alternate between sitting and standing and try to spend one hour standing for every one to two hours that you spend sitting. Switch every half an hour to one hour.
With this ergonomic solution’s convenient timer function available across the different models, you’ll always remember to do so.