Are Standing Desks a Good Idea for Offices?

W ith time, people have switched over to more of a sedentary lifestyle. In which, they spend most of their time doing little to no physical exercise. This translates to people sitting around when they’re working, and also sitting around when they’re enjoying leisure time. 

This is exactly why it’s time to ask: are standing desks a good idea for offices that believe in the health and wellness of their employees?

Studies have shown that the average American adult spends about 6 and a half hours in a day just sitting. Sitting down for more than a quarter of a day can have detrimental impacts on our health. It is important to switch up your routine on the regular and stand around for a while.

Disadvantages to Sitting for Long periods

Scientists have been studying the change in our physical lifestyle for quite a while and have concluded that the change to the sedentary lifestyle is doing us no favors. Sitting down for long periods increases the risk for long-term conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more.

When you sit for long periods, your body realizes that your muscles and bones are not being worked adequately so slowly but surely, they start to debilitate. Due to sitting around all day, you are more likely to fall into a calorie surplus, as your spent energy will likely exceed the calorie intake on an average day. Due to this, you are more prone to gaining weight. 

On another note, sitting around all day can cause deterioration in your mood and mental state. It has been proven that being physically active, for even short periods, releases endorphins in your brain, which causes you to feel happier and be less prone to depression. However, with the average person spending a large chunk of their day with minimal physical activity, it is no surprise that rates for mental health are sky-rocketing.

The Solution to a Common Problem

It is not possible to quit your job to focus on your physical well-being. You need to incorporate the solution to the problem while you’re at work: this is where standing desks come in. As the name suggests, it enables the user to stand while they’re doing their usual office tasks such as writing up emails, making notes, or filing documents. 

Standing desks may sound uncomfortable at first, but they’re quite versatile. Unlike their conventional counterparts, you can stand, lean, stretch while you’re working. 

The Benefits of a Standing Desk

As discussed above, one of the arguments against conventional desks is that they can make you prone to weight gain. However, standing desks burn a lot of calories, just because you’re doing the same tasks while standing. This increases the calories in energy spent, and hence reduces the chances of gaining weight.

Standing Desks also have anecdotal evidence that the users reported lesser back pain after consistent use of standing desks for a few weeks. One of the common complaints about office people is the prevalence of backaches and back problems. Hence, if you are suffering from the same issue, it might be worthwhile to switch to standing desks for a change.

Standing desks can also improve productivity. It might seem strange or unusual at first, but it makes perfect sense. As discussed, standing desks improve one’s mood due to physical activity, as compared to slouching over a computer screen. A positive change in your mood can help you become faster and more efficient at your job. This will cause a smoother day at work, and keep you and your boss happy. 

Standing desks can also lengthen your lifespan. Although the natural lifespan of humans has increased due to advancements in healthcare and technology, the switch to a sedentary lifestyle can still hurt it. Due to the numerous diseases and conditions which a passive lifestyle can have on humans, it can be stated with confidence that standing desks can be a better alternative to sitting desks.

Some people consider standing desks to be a fad, as just a passing trend. However, the countless benefits beg to differ. If you’re facing common concerns like backaches, a loss of energy, and weight gain, it might be worth it to switch to standing desks.

You only get one body for the rest of your life, and things only last if you take care of them! After this read, you are now aware of the answer to the question: Are standing desks a good idea for offices? Yes, they are. But make sure your employees are on board when making the call!