From regular 9 to 5 to work-from-home – this transition has been daunting for a lot of us. That said, many also adopted innovative ways to keep the creative juices and the energy to work going. Result – a standing desk!
Sitting truly has become “the new smoking” given that many of us average around 9-11 hours a day sitting at a desk. Multiply it by the number of days we work in a year and you will realise how much of this time is sedentary.
Thankfully, standing desks are adept, not only at transforming the office environment but can also help you spice things up in your WFH set-up. Not to forget that standing desks can lower the risk of weight gain, help you lose weight, lower blood sugar levels, lower the risk of heart disease, reduce back pain, and help improve mood and energy levels.
While they have been around for eras, with altering technology and work pattern, and office workplace ergonomics, they have become the most trending piece of furniture. Let’s look into a few points that you must consider before selecting an ideal standing desk for you.
- Need for A Standing Desk
If you sit at the desk all day and your goal is to move often throughout the day while changing positions frequently, standing desk is for you. An adjustable standing workstation can become a great tool for improved work comfort, performance, and overall health and well-being.
- Standing Desk or Sit-Stand Desk?
Before indulging in one, calculate the number of hours you spend sitting that can be easily moved toward a standing desk. If you balance between travel and work from a desk, it is ideal to go for a sit-stand desk. On the contrary, if most of your time is spent sitting in one form or the other, go for a standing desk, however, also invest in a comfortable chair for rare occasions.
A lot of sit-stand desks units these days are designed to support both traditional sitting and standing work. A few are also designed exclusively for standing or “perching.” Look for one that suits your needs.
- Height, Depth and Width of The Standing Desk
The best solution is to invest in a desk unit that adjusts all the way from sitting to standing as they offer flexibility and support for healthy and productive work. With so many options available in the market, it is easy to select one that accommodates you. Also, consider the thickness of the desk surface, the height of the keyboard surface sitting atop the desk, the thickness of floor mats, shoe height, or anything else that may affect these heights.
At the same time, do not overlook the depth and width of the desk as anything less than comfortable will force the monitor closer to you which may impact visual performance and strain the eyes.
- Footrest
If the selected height adjustment accommodates comfortable seating and standing work heights, you do not need a footrest. However, if you are a shorter person, a footrest may be appropriate as it helps in alternating the weight of one foot or the other on a footrest to reduce standing fatigue.
- The Adjustment Mechanism
Standing desks usually come with three mechanisms: electric, crank, and pneumatic, to adjust the height. Of these, electric or pneumatic is the most acclaimed one since they are easier to operate.
- Space Requirement
Since a stand-up desk is both taller and broader, it necessitates more space. Therefore, ensure that you take note of the space you want to keep it in, to allow you ample space to move and stretch. Furthermore, if you take the measurements while wearing shoes, make sure it is the pair that you usually wear while working to help you obtain the best standing desk that alters to the appropriate height.
- Weight Holding Capacity
Weight holding capacity of any furniture and especially a standing desk is a serious factor to consider. A lighter desk might not be able to hold all the electronics you intend to use at one go along with the body weight.
Opting for a standing desk can significantly reduce the ill effects of a sedentary lifestyle leading to amplified energy, fewer back glitches, calorie burn, and lesser risk of circulatory disease, etc. However, an important point to note here is that standing all day can be just as harmful as sitting all day. It is therefore ideal to change postures intermittently, perching at a stool height counter, and moving often from sitting to standing.
Standing Desk Buying Guide FAQs
- What are the most important points to consider before buying a standing desk?
The three most important points to look into before buying a standing desk are,
- The height and depth of the desk
- Adjustment mechanism
- Weight holding capacity
- Will a standing desk help me with my back pain due to strenuous work hours?
A standing desk gives ample reason to stretch while working and keep changing positions which means you get to nurture your back and get rid of back pain.