- Dec 30, 2020
- 3 min read

Why you should consider a sit-stand desk

If you are considering in purchasing a sit-stand desking and are not quite sure if that applies for you, we have put down together a few benefits that can help you make up your mind.. #hallningtips

Research shows that many adults also children spend at least 7 hours a day of sitting down, and this number keeps rising to 10 hours or more as we get older. A desk-based work is one of the biggest contributors to this, and with the recent increase in people working from home, people are spending even longer hours sitting down, going straight from the bed, sofas to the desk in a matter of seconds.

Take a few minutes to think about how many hours do you actually spent sitting over the last 24 hours, it is probably more than you care to admit.

There is a simple way to change this bad behaviour. One way is by using a sit-stand desk in your workspace. A sit-stand desk or an adjustable desk (also known as a stand-up desk) is a workstation that allows us to alternate between sitting and standing while we work, elevating and lowering the desktop to allow us to work from different heights, different postures and different working variations

But what are the benefits of this way of working actually? And why does it matter how long do we sit anyway? Let’s take a look.

It can prolong your life

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a sedentary lifestyle as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. A whole range of illnesses and disorders are actually caused by spending too long of sitting down.

By implementing sit-stand desking, and varying from sitting to standing regularly throughout the day, you can receive many health benefits, that includes;

Reduced risk of obesity
Reduced risk of some types of cancer
Lower long-term mortality risk
Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes

It can boost your productivity

In contrary to what you may think, standing while working may actually improve your performance and productivity. While it may also takes time to be getting used to it, there is no evidence to suggest that your work rate takes a hit when on your feet, and the added benefits towards your wellbeing can help foster creativity, which may also help you work better. A recent study highlighted exactly this.

There are studies that show standing sometimes improves performance when compared to sitting, for tasks such as sending emails or even making phone calls.

It reduces the chance of back pain

One of the biggest causes of back pain is sedentary behaviour, especially when we sat at a desk for a long period of hours without any postural changes. Back pain is also one of the biggest causes of time off work, costing the US economy alone $88 billion annually. Converting to a sit-stand desk is a great way to tackle this issue.

When you invest in sit-stand desking, you are much more likely to move and change posture frequently.

Going too far the other way is can also have negative consequences. A 2018 study by Straker found that any longer than 40 minutes of continuous standing causes musculoskeletal discomfiture, suggesting that standing for too long also causes back pain.

The most important thing is that you keep your body moving, and sit-stand desks give you this opportunity, relieving any pressures on the back.

It can improve your personal wellbeing

Research has found that using stand-up desks or adjustable table, it can gives out a positive effect on your general wellbeing. Users in various studies have expressed feelings such as; less stressed, more energetic and full of vigour when compared to those who remained seated throughout the entire day.

These results correlate with wider research on the effects of sitting on mental health, which links sedentary behaviour with depression and anxiety.