Benefits of a Standing Desk

We've all been there before.

Every now and then, you feel like you're burnt out or tired of your job. It's repetitive. You're staring at the same screen for 8, 10, 12 hours a day.

Your back hurts a lot. And you look bad physically because you lead a rather sedentary life, doing less exercise than you would like.

We're not saying we think about this every day, or every hour, but we've all had work days like this from time to time. It's normal.

Nowadays there are countless options to improve your workspace, where you spend a good part of the day.

One of these options is a standing desk : height-adjustable desks that allow you to alternate between working sitting and standing.

Why would you want to alternate between sitting and standing for work? The answer is simple: these posture changes will help you in two ways: on the one hand, it will help you improve your health. And on the other, it will help you improve your productivity.

Improve your health with a standing desk

We could start listing here countless academic studies that support this idea, but we will try to explain it in a simpler way.

Many of today's office jobs require people to spend too much time sitting in front of their computers, which has negative consequences for their health.

On the one hand, this pushes you towards a sedentary lifestyle, in which your body spends most of the day sitting, with little movement and little exercise, which is usually a vicious circle (since the less you move and the less exercise you do, the more effort it takes to move).

On the other hand, by staying in the same position for a long time, you tend to "load" certain areas of your body, such as the back (especially the lumbar region, or the upper trapezius area) and other joints such as the knees, hips, or wrists.

A Tablakala lifting desk won't change your health completely, but it can easily allow you to change your posture (alternate between working while sitting and working while standing). This will help you to be a little less sedentary in your daily life, to unconsciously exercise your muscles, and to make frequent posture changes to improve circulation and reduce back and joint pain.

Smart desk to improve your productivity

On the other hand, scientific studies have also shown that making frequent posture changes during work (for example, alternating between working sitting and standing) increases mental focus and productivity.

If you stop to think about it, it's normal.

Sometimes you realize that you are tired, physically or mentally, from the work you are doing at the moment. Little by little and without being aware, you start to "lie down" in your chair and your mind begins to block and flow less.

In these cases, a change of posture can help. If you find yourself blocked or tired at a given moment, try moving around, taking a few minutes walk around your office, or if you have a motorized adjustable desk frame , change your posture to work standing up.

This change in dynamics can help you unblock the situation and start with renewed ideas.

Also: this is not a magic formula, nor will it make you a highly productive person overnight, but if you incorporate posture changes (alternating between working sitting and standing) into your work habits, you are very likely to be more productive in your day-to-day life.

In short, using a height-adjustable table can help you:

1. Increase your energy level: Working at a standing desk encourages the mobility needed to improve circulation and oxygenate the brain, which increases energy level and concentration.
2. Improve your mood: People who sit for more than 6 hours a day show more signs of stress than those who don't. Alternating between working standing and sitting improves your mood and reduces fatigue and tension.
3. Improves joint and muscle movement: The muscle and joint movement to move from a sitting to a standing position helps your health, to counteract the sedentary work routine.
4. Boost your productivity: Working at a standing desk has been shown to increase productivity at work.
5. It helps you burn calories: working standing up burns 12% more calories than sitting down, which helps you burn more calories daily and therefore improve your physical condition.
6. Develop greater mental focus: Movement while working encourages concentration and creativity, improving critical reasoning and attention.
7. Reduces the risk of disease: A sedentary lifestyle carries health risks. Alternating between standing and sitting is linked to lower rates of heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. It is also highly recommended for improving back pain and discomfort.
8. Cut back on caffeine: Standing regularly is a more natural way to stay alert at work than coffee and energy drinks.

And here we are:

3 Tips if it's your first experience with a Standing Desk

1. Start slowly

If you work sitting down, your body is not used to working standing up.

To avoid it being too hard and discouraging at first, start with short periods of standing for 10-15 minutes (set an alarm!) and standing 2-3 times a day.

With practice, you will gradually be able to increase to standing sessions of 30-45 minutes without any problem, and several times a day.

2. Find your ergonomic posture and memorize your heights

Once you have set up your desk, find your ergonomic working position, one in which you do not strain any part of your body.

A good start is usually a position with your elbows at 90º and naturally supported on the table, without straining your back or arms, but each person should find their ideal position.

Once you have it, it memorizes your sitting and standing heights at your desk so you can change positions with just one click.

3. Start your work sessions standing up

For example, we recommend leaving your desk in an elevated position the night before, and starting your workday with a standing session.

You can also leave her standing when you take a break to eat (or go to the bathroom), so that when you return you can start a standing session and change the dynamic.

Final Tip: Try combining the Standing Desk with the Pomodoro technique : 25-minute concentrated work sessions, separated by 5 minutes of rest.