Are Standing Desk Worth It ?

Feel like you’ve been sitting for too long? Reap the benefits of standing with just the touch of a button. Been on your feet all day and want to take a load off while you send a few emails? With the ability to adjust standing desks to different heights, most often either manually or mechanically, changing positions and avoiding prolonged sitting has never been easier. Some sit-stand desks are equipped with motors that will have you comfortably seated in no time.

And that doesn’t even take into account the type of chair you’re using! Office chairs that are poorly designed, uncomfortable, and not right for you and your working style will create even more problems. The pain and discomfort that comes from sitting in the wrong chair will cause you to contort your body, slouch, and sit in a way that might give you temporary relief, but that will also have long-term consequences.

With a sit-stand desk, as soon as you start to feel that first twinge of back pain, instead of sliding further down your chair and causing more damage to your body, you can easily transition to a standing position. (An ergonomic chair, especially one that’s painstakingly designed for maximum support and comfort  doesn’t hurt either.) One of the best things about our desks is that they can put you more in tune with your body. Gone are the days when you have to ignore what your body is telling you. At the first sign of a crick in your neck or a pain in your back, you can easily adjust your desk to a standing position. Changing positions throughout the day is also a great way to keep your mind focused. Your body will thank you!

It might not seem like it, but standing is a form of physical activity. During periods of prolonged sitting, you’re not expending a lot of energy, meaning you’re not burning many calories at all. This in turn contributes to the risk of issues like weight gain and eventually obesity. But research has shown that an afternoon of standing burns significantly more calories than one spent sitting. The sedentary lifestyle associated with sitting all day can lead to major health issues including musculoskeletal dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, mental health disorsders, shorter life expectancy and type II diabetes. Of course, standing can’t fully replace the benefits of exercise, but why not take a half-hour walk during your lunch hour? You’ll come back ready to spend the afternoon getting the most out of your standing desk.

Not going on a walk after your lunch can actually have negative consequences as well. Although it’s particularly important for those with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, everyone should try to avoid a blood sugar spike after a meal. And standing desks are a possible solution. Studies have demonstrated that standing after eating prevents those spikes that can have such damaging effects.

Your professional life also stands to benefit. A study of young workers found that they adapted quickly to working while standing, despite the impression that activities like computer work would be more challenging with a standing desk. In other words, using a standing desk results in work that’s just as good, but without a lot of the strain and pressure that reduces office workers’ quality of life.

All of our desks come with an installation guide and can be set up in less than an hour, even without any experience installing adjustable desks. We do recommend making it a two-person job, for safety’s sake, since the components are heavy. While the instructions vary slightly depending on the model, they’re all straightforward and easy to follow.