Sit/Stand Desks: Worth All The Fuss?

As we head into a new decade, a lot of companies are hearing a new buzzword from their employees, especially in startup environment. “When are we getting sit/stand desks?” may have been a query that came up in the latest staff meeting, or is something you may have been approached by from HR, passing on the sentiment of the team. So what is a sit/stand desk and why are they so popular? Let’s delve a little deeper into the topic, looking at some of the health benefits of using a desk like this, while outlining where you can begin your hunt for one, should you wish to get your hands on one this year. 

What is a Sit/Stand Desk?

As the name suggests, a sit/stand desk effectively allows the user to alternate between sitting and standing by raising and lowering the desk platform during the course of the day. By alternating from the sitting to the standing position, you not only avoid sitting for eight hours (plus) each day, but you allow your muscles to work during the course of the day as well. Your body position changes, which helps in many health aspects, and also ensures that you don’t get stuck in one place and posture from the start of the day, all the way to close of business. 

Health Benefits From Using a Sit/Stand Desk

As you can imagine, there is a lot of research suggesting that extensive time sitting is bad for our health. Not only is it restrictive on the blood flow between your body, but there can be a long term detrimental effect on your posture too. A 2016 study also found that productivity levels increase with sit/stand desks; call center employees were 50% more productive than their sitting colleagues working at the same time. This has spurred on startup businesses to invest in the desks, especially when it comes to growing sales teams and environments where employees are encouraged to use any desk within the office space. 

How Many Hours a Day You Should Be Standing

As we’ve discussed, sitting behind a desk all day can be bad for your health, with experts encouraging all workers to contemplate standing at their workstations for 15 minutes (25%) of each hour as a general rule. Some research suggests that up to 50% of our time at work should be spent standing, rather than sitting. This can be hard to implement if you don’t have the correct desk. Even if just starting with small increments and building up your stamina over time, sit/stand desks can get you into a better work routine and help you to remain more productive during the course of the week. 

Finding The Right Desk That Works For You

…or your team, in fact, shouldn’t be a difficult process. Ixaxa Office Furniture, which operates in the greater Gauteng region, is a good place to start if you’d like a wide range of choices in terms of style, practicality and ergonomics. Don’t compromise your health by buying sub-par pieces of furniture that may end up having a negative effect on your health in the long run. Chat to one of their experts about your needs, and ask them to have a look at their latest catalogue, which should give you a sense of what you can expect to pay. Good luck on your search for a new desk and possibly, some other furniture that will be good for your overall wellbeing too.