Do you work in an office setting where you have to sit most of the day? Maybe you are so caught up in your work you don’t notice that you’ve been sitting in the same position staring at your computer for three hours. What are you supposed to do?
Many businesses are taking steps to make healthier company cultures for their employees by installing workstations with active seating.
With ergonomic standing desk stools and active chairs, office workers have better focus and more energy. These types of seating arrangements are for comfort and flexibility when standing.
Read more to find out how standing desks and balance stools can help you feel better and be more productive at work.
What Is an Active Chair?
Active chairs let you move while you work. They allow you to rock back and forth or wobble while you sit.
This increases your concentration because you have to balance on the stool. They also give you an outlet for releasing nervous energy when working on a stressful project.
Active chairs encourage movement whether you sit at a regular desk or a standing desk. This lets you be active throughout your workday, which decreases many of the health risks associated with sitting for a long time or standing for long periods.
When you use an active chair, you can move forward, backward, side-to-side, rotate and wobble. A balance stool for a standing desk gives you a core workout while you’re working, which is an investment for a healthy lifestyle.
You’ll actually feel the burn in your hips and core as you balance on the stool.
Types of Active Chairs
Several types of active chairs are available for office workstations and classrooms. The following ergonomic stools help you sit while being active. They also free your back from staying in the same position all day.
These are a few of the best standing desk stools for putting you in a great frame of mind and helping you concentrate more at your job.
Wobble Chair
This provides healthy, active seating that lets you wobble, rock, tilt and lean to burn off calories. You can use it as a leaning stool for standing desk allowing you to rest is you’ve been standing too long.
Balance Stool
Balancing on this stool forces you to hold your back straight. If you start to slouch, you can lose your balance. By keeping your feet flat on the floor, you can keep in constant motion as you balance the stool.
Leaning Stool
This is the best stool for standing desk use. It keeps your posture straight and takes the strain off your legs and joints. Using a leaning stool takes the pressure off your spine and keeps your feet at a comfortable angle as you lean on the seat.
Perch Stool
These are lightweight and easy to carry. Even if your workplace doesn’t provide active seating, you can carry this stool to work.
It’s also convenient if you go to sporting events and spend hours watching your kids’ games. Just take the load off your feet and perch on the stool. Many coaches use perch stools as they sit on the sidelines.
These active chairs and leaning stools are easy to move around your office or classroom because of their compact size. They’re adjustable and attractive while providing active seating for a healthier workplace environment.
Health Benefits of a Balance Stool, Active Chair and Standing Desk Stool
If you sit too long at your desk, you’re at risk of heart disease, obesity, poor posture, circulatory problems and even death from deep vein blood clots. The way to keep yourself safe from these health problems is to stand more and use active chairs at work.
Here is a list of health benefits when you use balance stools instead of sitting:
- Burn more calories
- Encourages muscle use
- Increases blood circulation
- Lowers blood sugar
- Decreases risk of heart disease
- Reduces lower back pain
- Improves focus
- Improves mood
- Improves posture
- Boosts energy
- Increases productivity
Having healthy, upbeat employees is worth the switch to active seating in your workplace. You'll discover they're more productive, energetic and positive.
How to Use Balance Stools
If you’re used to sitting at your desk in an office chair, you might be wondering how to use a balance stool. Once you get used to it, you'll never go back to a regular chair again.
Here are a few tips on getting the most out of your balance stool:
Using a balance or perch stool is like leaning against your counter. Your feet and body make an A-shape. This makes it stable so you don’t have to worry about tipping over.
Unlike sitting in a chair, you don’t put your full weight on the stool but just perch yourself on it. It stands at an angle rather than straight up.
Some balance stools come with a balancing ball at the bottom, while others mount on a base. The wobble stool also has a padded seat. Even with a seat, you still just perch on the edge, not in the center.
When you’re leaning on the stool correctly, you’ll feel your abdominal muscles holding you up, and your back will be straight. Because of this, you might want to use your active seating a little bit each day, gradually building up the time you use it.
You can adjust the height of most balance stools to accommodate your standing desk, regular desk or even your kitchen counter.
Considerations When Choosing Active Seating
When choosing which standing desk stool is right for you, think about the following questions before making your decision.
- Do you have to assemble it?
- Does the seat have enough cushioning for you?
- How much weight does it hold?
- Will it take up much space?
- Is the height adjustable?
- What kind of floor surface works best?
- Is it heavy?
Which design works for your lifestyle?
If you learn the answers to these questions, you’ll have the facts you need about choosing the best standing desk stool for you.
Contact us for more information on the best standing desk stool for your active workplace, classroom or home.