Ask yourself, how many hours a day do you spend sitting? How many hours a day do you spend standing. If you work a corporate job, it’s more likely that you sit for long hours ranging from 6-8 hours all in all. Although sitting down keeps the body relaxed, it actually could take a toll on you in the form of lower back pain and bad posture.
If you do field work on a regular basis, how many hours do you spend standing? Even though standing is believed to shed more calories than sitting, people can easily get tired. Legs will get wobbly and the back will ache. Standing for too long is also not good for the body.
So, which is better, standing or sitting? How do we balance both?
Standing vs. Sitting
To solve the problem of sitting for too long at work, innovators have created standing desks. These are ergonomically designed desk accessories that allow you to sit and stand while working. Standing desks are to be placed on your regular desk so there’s no need to toss away what you have and buy another one. There are many variations of standings desks right now — a regular standing desks, a sit-stand convertible desk, electric standing desks, and many more.
Are standing desks worth it?
Before anyone could answer this, people look at the root issue here which is the good and bad effects of sitting and standing. Sitting down for long hours is believed to be quite harmful for the body as it has a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, etc. On the other hand, standing for too long could also be harmful as it gives back ache, impeded blood flow and stasis in the veins in the lower limbs which causes varicose veins.
Several studies related to sitting and standing were made before, and in terms of burning calories, standing wins. It is said that the muscle activity from standing helps in reducing the risk for strokes and heart attacks.
However, that doesn’t mean that we should just stand. If you’ve ever heard of the saying “ too much of anything is bad,” then you’d know that too much standing is also not an option. It can result in blood pooling in your legs, increased pressure in the veins and increased oxidative stress. All of which contributes to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.
With all that said, the solution to this is to find balance. Try to have equal amounts of time for sitting and standing. It’s a matter of breaking up sitting by standing and vice versa.
This is where standing desks come in.
History of Standing Desks
We may think that standing desks were just invented the past few recent years, but in reality, they dated back all the way to Leonardo da Vinci in the 1400s. Of course, standing desks that time were not used for a computer, da Vinci used a standing desk while working on some of his famous works like the Mona Lisa. He also day dreamed of parachutes flying machines and armoured cars while working behind his stand desk, it is said that it helped his creative juices flow freely instead of sitting.
Leonardo da Vinci was one of the first famous people to use a standing desk, next was Thomas Jefferson. He was one of the first respected individuals to have used a standing desk in America. Despite his hectic schedule as a Founding Father writing the Declaration of Independence and serving as the 3rd President of the United States, he spared some time to order a height adjustable desk from a famous Williamsburg cabinetmaker. He requested that his standing desk be made with six peg legs to increase stability, with a flat lined writing surface so he could also utilise it for reading or drawing.
The standing desk also made its first appearance in one of the world's oldest colleges, the University of Cambridge which was founded in 1209. Standing desks were being used in the library back 1626 as a tool where writers can write while standing up, which is also effective for quick thinking. Because of these advantages, the use of standing desks continued to progress throughout the century. Charles Dickens even had one in his office, saying it alleviated the creative process and helped him pen timeless classics like Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and A Tale of Two Cities.
As the years passed by, the use of standing desks rose to fame for its creative benefits. In the 1900s, the acclaimed standing desks remained a trademark of great world influencers like Winston Churchill, and he was often spotted writing on his stand desk. Then Ernest Hemingway's DIY standing desk was slowly recognised, which was a stand up work place made from a bookcase near his bed.
Sitting Disease
With such a phenomenal history of great minds, it’s too bad none of them thought of inventing standing desks sooner. In 2010, doctors and researchers around the world discovered the risks of sitting for too long. The risks include diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and even cancer. This threat was then called the "sitting disease", and almost 70% of people spend 6 or more hours a day sitting.
Thankfully, standing desks were finally recognised by a lot, especially to people whose work requires them to be on their pc at all times.
Stand Up Desks
Stand up desks, also known as standing desks, are desks designed for an individual to work while standing up. As soon as the market picked up on this, many more innovators created different kinds of standing desk, with additional features that make working a much better experience. There are portable standing desks, minimalistic standing desks, sit-stand desk converters, and even electric standing desks.
Standing desks are created for a few reasons:
- To break up long hours of sitting
- To continue working while standing up
- To help with health issues like relieve lower back pain, reduce risk of several illnesses like diabetes and heart diseases
- To create a better working experience
Like the sitting vs. standing issue, there has also been some kind of online discussion of whether a standing desk is worth it or not. Let’s take a look at the benefits and you be the judge.
Benefits of a Standing Desk
- Improves blood circulation
Standing allows your blood to flow easily throughout the body, especially to the lower extremities. You may not notice it but it feels better, just see for yourself!
- Reduce back pain
Having the option to stand while working, standing desks can actually help in reducing back pain. You can already take a break from sitting without having to stop what you’re doing. This is very helpful and convenient when you have a deadline to catch but your body is already very painful.
- Allows you to work while standing up
Before the existence of standing desks, it’s impossible to get things done while standing up. We have to slouch to see our monitors, we have to use our hands as a support for our notebooks when writing, or look down at what we are doing on the desk which hurts the neck. Now, it’s easier and much more comfortable for an individual to continue working while standing up.
- Improves Mood
Since a standing desk is created to create a better working experience through convenience and comfort, you then feel better working. Because of this, it doesn’t drain you until you’re exhausted — it optimizes your energy and keeps you in a good mood.
- Boosts Productivity
When you’re comfortable and in a good mood, you’re more likely to get things done. You become more productive and accomplish the things in your to do list better and faster.
- Makes your workspace look better
You have to admit, it really looks good on your workspace. Standing desks look fancy and you look professional. When you have a client, you will look credible and hardworking — yay for a good impression!
Qualities of a Good Standing Desk
With all the different brands offering a standing desk, it’s important to know what makes a good standing. This will guide you in knowing what exactly you want, and help you get the most suitable kind of standing desk for you. No need to get overwhelmed and confused!
- It’s stable.
Good standing desks should be able to carry your monitor/s, an additional laptop, your ipad or tablet, and other gadgets and work related things. - It has cable management features.
In order to uphold the visual of your workstation, the cable management feature is important to keep messy wires out of sight. Unorganized cables may cause them to tangle with each other and will give off an impression that you are not a tidy person. Keep cables in place for neat and professional looking standing desks. - It’s stylish.
Speaking of visual appearance, how it looks play an important role in having aesthetically pleasing standing desks. There are desks that are made out of wood, laminate, and other materials but it really depends on a person’s preference. - It’s easy to assemble.
People today don’t really have the patience to sit down and figure out for a long time how things work. Good standing desks should be easy to use so as not to frustrate you as a customer and give up on the product. - It moves seamlessly and quietly.
Adjusting the desk and moving it around should go smoothly and quietly. Unnecessary noise can cause distraction and break focus while hard to use mechanisms can be frustrating. - It’s durable.
Most standing desks are pricey, so it is only right that it lasts for a long time. You should be able to get the most out of your money so a good standing desk is durable enough to serve you for years. -
It’s adjustable/customizable.
You should have a say in how your desk looks and works. There are brands that offer additional frames or layers so you can customize your desk as much as you want. Some brands also offer different colors or styles that you can choose from.
- It has good height range.
A good standing desk must be able to have the minimum and maximum height range to be able to accommodate a wide range of human heights. - It has additional features that are useful.
Additional features include built in USB ports and power outlets. Some even have additional storage to keep pens and notepads and other useful things for work.
Where can you get a standing desk?
There are many standing desks in the market right. Different brands have different key features to cater to the different needs that person might have. You just have to know what you prioritize: is it the function, convenience or portability. One reliable brand is from Jestik Horizon, a company that’s focused on providing high-quality computer-related products and solutions. Aside from standing desks, you can find monitor mounts, work chairs and many more.
Jestik standing desks are secure, comfortable, spacious, and adjustable to reach your level of preference. You can work comfortably, have an ample amount of space for your personal computer, a laptop, your pens, notebooks and other papers. Aside from that, you can also get a 30-day money back guarantee and a VIP warranty. Shop with ease only at Jestik Horizon!
So back to the question: which is better, standing or sitting? How do we balance both? The answer is neither because we should balance both activities, and we do this with the help of standing desks. Having one and knowing how to use it properly will really change the way you work. You will have lesser body aches and even a better work performance. Say goodbye to lower back pains, bad posture, and slouching. And say hello to working while standing up. What are you waiting for, get a standing desk now!
