Sitting for hours on end is the norm in many workplaces today. On average, we spend 13 hours a day sitting down. If you add in the time spent sleeping,…
about 70% of our day is spent being relatively inactive. However, our bodies and minds are not meant to be this sedentary. Being relatively motionless for extended periods of time is linked to health issues such as the earlier onset of cardiovascular diseases, back pains, and other lifestyle-related diseases. Because the workforce is becoming more health-conscious, standing desks are becoming increasingly popular.
Two studies published recently by Texas A&M and the British Medical Journal show that the benefits of standing while working go beyond improving health. Standing desks may improve productivity as well. These studies were conducted on dozens of employees divided into two groups. Both studies concluded that employees that worked standing up (or at sit-stand desks) showed remarkable improvement in productivity months into the study. Here are five benefits that using a standing desk can bring you:
Reduced Back Pain
Increased Concentration and Productivity
Starting work again after a heavy lunch can be challenging. Because our body is in the process of digestion, we often feel more groggy and sleepy while staring at our screen and going about our routine. However, you won’t become as sluggish when you are standing because your body is more active. In a one-week study, participants who were asked to use standing desks reported less fatigue and stress than colleagues who worked all day sitting down. Another study conducted on 60 workers reported no significant difference in typing error rates or speed. When we stand, we keep the body more active even after a heavy lunch without any negative impacts on computer-related tasks. These facts combined lead to improved productivity.
The Kensington® SmartFit® Sit/Stand Workstation can seamlessly help you adjust your position between sitting down and standing up with a quick-release mechanism. The articulating arm enables you to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor and the position of the keyboard for your comfort. The pneumatic lift can help carry a total load of up to 22.5lbs easily.
Boosted Creativity
The most optimal conditions for creativity are opportunities to collaborate, a stress-free environment, and when creators are more alert. A study conducted in the business school at Washington University of St Louis found a higher level of engagement and less incidence of territoriality for the control group of workers who used standing desks. This indicates that creative collaboration is easier when teams use standing desks instead of working in a “sedentary workspace” setting. Combined with other benefits of working in a standing position, such as more heightened alertness and reduced stress, switching to a standing working position can help boost your creativity.
The Kensington Dual Monitor Smart Fit Sit/Stand Workstation provides you with a setup that can enable you and your team to create a collaborative environment. Aside from the traditional benefits of sit/stand desks, the fully articulating arm in this model can help you move your entire workstation laterally. That way, everybody on your team can swivel their workstation to view each other’s work. Moreover, each individual employee can also enjoy the benefits of adjusting to a working position that is most comfortable for them.
Reduced Stress Levels
The most optimal conditions for creativity are opportunities to collaborate, a stress-free environment, and when creators are more alert. A study conducted in the business school at Washington University of St Louis found a higher level of engagement and less incidence of territoriality for the control group of workers who used standing desks. This indicates that creative collaboration is easier when teams use standing desks instead of working in a “sedentary workspace” setting. Combined with other benefits of working in a standing position, such as more heightened alertness and reduced stress, switching to a standing working position can help boost your creativity.
The Kensington Dual Monitor Smart Fit Sit/Stand Workstation provides you with a setup that can enable you and your team to create a collaborative environment. Aside from the traditional benefits of sit/stand desks, the fully articulating arm in this model can help you move your entire workstation laterally. That way, everybody on your team can swivel their workstation to view each other’s work. Moreover, each individual employee can also enjoy the benefits of adjusting to a working position that is most comfortable for them.
Reduced Stress Levels
Stress interferes, at least moderately, with our daily lives. One way to prevent stress is to engage in physical activity. Physical activity improves alertness and concentration, reduces fatigue, and enhances overall cognitive function. Sitting all day at work won’t help, especially if you can’t find the time to exercise. Consequently, having additional time spent standing up at work can help reduce stress because you will be more likely to make small, consistent movements. You can shake off some of the fatigue and strain this way instead of spending all day sedentary. Additional features that accommodate the subtle differences in preferences in typing positions and working styles among workers can help.
The 3M Black Precision Standing Desk – SD60B has all the advantages a standing desk can bring. You can adjust the height smoothly between sitting and standing positions by as much as 20″ with the help of a gas-assist system. It also has a keyboard adjustment function to help you find the most comfortable typing position, whether standing or sitting. The primary surface is large enough to accommodate two 24″ monitors and can carry up to 35lbs. That means, even if you work with multiple apps on different screens, this desk allows you to work in the way you are accustomed to either sitting down or standing up.
Increased Comfort
Among the suggestions made by the study conducted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in the UK is that sit-stand desks that users can adjust through the workday are better than fixed sitting or standing desks. Standing all day for work is not always advisable because it has associated strain, such as neck and back pain in different spots. To maximize the advantages of a standing desk, the workstation should allow for a quick transition from sitting to standing positions.
The SmartFit™ System is a scientifically-backed system that enables users to measure, adjust, and fit the workspace that will best work for them. The Kensington® SmartFit® Sit/Stand Desk has features that combine to provide optimal productivity support for the user. It has a space-saving footprint to ensure that your workflow isn’t affected when you change your working position from sitting down to standing up. Its pneumatic lift with a tension adjustment system provides a solid and stable lift anytime you need it. The SmartFit® Sit/Stand Desk also has beveled edges to ensure limited contact stress.
Final Thoughts
Multiple studies have proven the benefits of using adjustable desks to boost productivity. Working in a standing position brings several physiological and psychological benefits to the user. However, working in a standing position all day is not advisable either. What workers need is the flexibility to switch working positions throughout the day. Versatile solutions are required to enable employees to adjust from a sitting to a standing position while maximizing their workspace. The products offered by TBS Business Solutions are ideal for harnessing the benefits of standing desks to ensure that users are more productive and avoid the health issues that come with sedentary work. Aside from standing desks and sit/stand workstations, TBS Business Solutions also offers high-quality office supplies, safety supplies, janitorial supplies, electrical hardware, and construction supplies that are an ideal fit for today’s stringent demands.