The popularity of the Sit/Stand Desk has been on the rise the past couple of years, so today we take a look at these telescopic tables and answer the pressing questions: Why are they so popular? Is it just a fad? Does the more expensive Sit/Stand desk pay out in productivity? And, ultimately, is it time to call Choice Office Installation to install an upgrade in your furniture?
Sitting and standing both have their ergonomic advantages and drawbacks. Sitting, for example, can place stress on your spine, and will increase risk of several dangerous health conditions over a prolonged period of time. Whereas standing for extended periods can cause soreness in the feet and legs, and can cause pain and discomfort if used with poor posture, locked knee joints, or uneven footwear such as high heels.
Part of the advantage of Sit/Stand Desks is that they’re adjustable, allowing you to choose the orientation that works best for you, and transition between them as required. After the office furniture installation is done for Sit/Stand Desks, test it out and see.
It turns out that not only is the Sit/Stand Desk ergonomically sound, it might also save you and your employees from having to take prolonged medical leaves: A number of studies have found that sitting for prolonged periods of time can be extremely detrimental to your health, significantly raising your risk of a number of serious medical conditions, including heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.
While some critics are claiming that the Sit/Stand Desk doesn’t guarantee that you won’t be effected by these risks (as it doesn’t force employees to stand at regular intervals), it does provide you and your employees with the means to form the healthy habit.
Studies have shown that standing at your desk increases productivity in several ways. For instance, your body is more alert when standing; while your muscles are engaged, your brain is less likely to enter ‘relaxation mode’ than if you’re in repose in a cushy office chair.
Standing also allows you to more easily shift and fidget, working out your restless energy without having to deviate from your workspace.
Finally, when you’re standing, you’re less likely to get sidetracked. Similar to the ‘relaxation mode’ reflex, reports have found that we’re less likely to allow ourselves to get sidetracked for extended periods if we’re standing upright.
Sit/Stand Desks might not be for everyone. They can complicate certain office layouts, they can be a little costly, and if employees don’t use them, the expense is a redundancy.
That being said, a number of great thinkers are known to have improved their focus by working while standing: Leonardo Da Vinci, Charles Dickens, and Ernest Hemingway all worked on their masterpieces from behind stand-up desks. Couple this reputation with the fact that, if used properly, a Sit/Stand Desk can improve productivity, solve certain pain-related issues, and even stave off some pretty serious health issues, you can’t argue that they’re at least worth some consideration.
One thing we can say with certainty: Whatever style of desk you decide to use, give us a call for your office furniture installation needs. We’ll disassemble and store the old for you, and install the new in a quick, efficient, and effective manner.