Traditional office environments fail to take into account the effects of sitting at a desk for too long.
Sitting for 8 or 9 hours per day isn't natural. As humans, we're meant to be up and moving around, at least periodically. Granted, it's hard to do this when you need to get work done.
Stiff backs and joints have been a problem for office workers for a long time, but now we've got a solution: standing desks. In this post, we're going to tell you why you should consider standing desks for your office and ask the question, are standing desks better for productivity?
If you've got employees complaining about sitting for too long, it might be time to make the switch.
Health Benefits of Standing Desks
A standing desk is exactly what it sounds like; a desk that you stand at and adjust to your height. They're a relatively new phenomenon in the office world, but they're quickly gaining traction due to the various health benefits. Here they are:
- They lower the risk of weight gain. Standing at your desk can cause you to burn up to 1,000 extra calories per week than if you're sitting during that time.
- They also lower blood sugar levels. Every time you sit and do work after a meal, you're increasing your blood sugar and thus your risk for type 2 diabetes.
- Standing desks help with chronic back pain. Sitting for that many hours per day is unnatural and the problems often manifest in your back. Sit-stand desks allow you to get up and move around at will, which decreases back pain significantly.
- Sitting all day will also decrease your energy levels, leading to a certain degree of lethargy at work. An overwhelming number of people report an increase in energy throughout the day while using standing desks.
Are Standing Desks Better for Productivity?
With a decrease in pain and illness and an increase in energy levels, employees are almost certain to be more productive with standing desks. When you think about it on a logistical level, standing desks allow for more free movement throughout the office.
One common concern about standing desks is that they make typing more difficult, but once an employee gets used to standing while they type, the benefits are plenty. One huge benefit is the increase in interaction between employees. When everyone's sitting all day, it becomes more of a hassle to get up and go talk to someone across the room.
This is the result of the physical pain and lethargy that a sitting desk creates. When you're already standing, your energy levels are higher, you're more engaged, and it's easier to simply walk over to someone in another part of the office. This attitude will trickle into all other physical tasks around the office as well.
Make the Switch
So, are standing desks better? There's only one way to find out if they're right for your office and that's to make the switch. At Uncaged Ergonomics, we've got an extensive line of standing desks, so you can select the ones that make the most sense for your office environment.
Visit our site today to choose your standing desks and visit our blog to read more about the many benefits of standing desks for your workplace.