Posted on August 27, 2021

Are Standing Desks Good For You?

Are standing desks better for you? Learn how you benefit from one and why sitting all day can take a toll on your body. Read on.

The average office worker spends almost half of their day at their commercial office desk. It’s common knowledge that this kind of sedentary lifestyle is linked with a myriad of diseases, including metabolic and heart problems, obesity, and more.

Additionally, if you’re not using your muscles and bones––especially those of your lower body––for long periods of time each day, they’re bound to weaken, resulting in aches and pains. That’s where standing desks come in. Read on to find out if standing desks are actually good for you.

What are Standing Desks?

Standing desks, sometimes coming in the form of a sit stand desk, are desks that are high enough to allow you to work on your computer while standing up. Although this basic standing workstation idea is the same in all standing desks, there are many different types of desks available nowadays.

Fixed Height

As the name suggests, fixed height standing desks are designed with a fixed height. They allow the user to place a computer screen or any other device on a desk at eye-level or near eye-level. And if you need additional storage, you can use that extra space underneath for some low open shelves as well.

Adjustable Height

If you’re wondering “how tall should a desk be,” the answer is unique to each individual. And, a height adjustable desk allows you to customize the height of the desk according to your personal requirements. In this category, you can find both manual adjustment desks, with levers or cranks to pull the table up or down, as well as power adjustment desks that allow you to bring the desk higher or lower with the push of a button.

Sit or Stand

Some desks are a hybrid, allowing you to switch between a sit stand workstation as needed. These desks allow you to enjoy the best of both worlds!

Find the perfect workspaces at the height your team needs. Shop Desks!

Advantages of a Standing Desk

Reduces Back Pain

It’s no secret that prolonged periods of sitting can lead to back pain, especially in your lower back and tailbone area. Bad posture while sitting almost always results in unnecessary stress on your muscles and back, resulting in pain.

However, standing desks have the opposite effect on your body. Standing desks can not only reduce already existing back pain, but may also lower the risks of causing new back pain.

Lowers Risks of Obesity and Weight Gain

According to research, standing for one hour leads burns off 88 calories. Meanwhile, sitting for long periods of time is linked with obesity and adverse effects on important metabolic processes. So, if you’re burning off more calories than you consume, you can halt or slow any weight gain. If you are wondering what to look for in an office chair to minimize the negative impacts of sitting, consider getting an ergonomic chair. For more details, visit our blog post called “What Is an Ergonomic Chair?”

Lowers Risks of Heart Disease

A sedentary lifestyle is directly linked with increased risks of heart disease, measuring up to 147%. This is because prolonged sitting slows down all the processes in your body. However, standing up for the same amount of time, or even half the time, lowers your risks of heart disease if done consistently.

Positively Affects Blood Sugar Levels

According to research on office workers, standing for 3 hours after lunch reduces sugar levels in the blood by 43%, whereas, sitting for the same time period after a meal only increases blood sugar levels. Another study shows that alternating between standing and sitting every 30 minutes during office hours lowers blood sugar spikes to an average of 11%.

Improves Mood

Standing desks are shown to have a positive health benefit not just on the body, but also on the mood. Not only are they linked with an improvement in mood, users also find they face less fatigue and stress throughout the workday. It’s a beautiful mystery but standing desks appear to make you happier, stronger, and less stressed!

Increases Energy & Productivity

With all the positive affects of standing on the body and mind, it’s bound to boost your energy throughout the day, too. According to one study, 87% of standing desk users reported increased energy as compared to before. Meanwhile, returning to their sitting desks reversed those energy changes. With an increase in energy, productivity levels also see a rise.

Keeping in mind all of these benefits to using a standing desk, it’s time for you to take a stand––see what we did there?––and invest in one.

At Juniper Office Solutions, you will find a variety of standing desks available, including the popular sit or stand type, as well as fixed height standing desks. You can also browse our adjustable height standing desk options, such as the stylish live edge standing desk, and choose whatever fits your needs best. If you’re looking for something that suits a crowd, we also offer pods of 3 or 6 connected standing desks, to allow for group activities in the office with a sit or stand design.

Regardless of the type of standing desk you choose, it’s important to remember that there could also be some cons. No solution is perfect. Standing desks can contribute to things like foot and leg pain, or trouble completing certain tasks like drawing. We highly recommend employing more of a 50/50 approach, and switch between standing and sitting after fixed time periods throughout your day to pace yourself and get the best of both worlds.

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