It’s great that we are more conscious about our health than ever before. And while we all know exercise is good for our health less of us are aware that sitting around at work all day is so bad for us. The average British office worker spends 35-40 hours a week sitting at their desk, not including sitting down to commute and time spent sitting for leisure.

The NHS recommends “walking to a co-worker’s desk” instead of using emails, or placing your laptop on a box to work standing. The American Medical Association stated that work settings should offer employees alternatives to sitting all day.

As with everything in life you need balance. Sitting all day is bad but standing all day also isn’t great for your body so you need to mix up your daily routine. Check out some of the key benefits below.


Break the routine
Sitting down for too long is harmful. However, if you work in an office, you will no doubt be sitting down at certain times of the day as who wants to be the only person standing up at a meeting or in the canteen! The idea of setting yourself the goal of getting up for breaks every hour sounds straightforward but we’ve all been there when work is so intense, and you don’t even realise you haven’t moved for hours. So, we need to break that streak of sitting down, while still working. With a standing desk, you can seamlessly switch between sitting and standing during the workday without taking constant breaks.


Good for your health
Standing for part of the day is actively good for your health. When you think about it, it makes sense – sitting down expends far less energy than standing, so your body burns less calories sitting. Standing for three hours a day has the health benefits of running 10 marathons a year! Just remember to mix up your routine so you’re not just sitting or standing and don’t forget to move.


Flexibility
Having a fixed standing desk might work if you have space for a separate seated desk but most of us don’t have the luxury of spare space so having a standing desk that can quickly adjust to both sitting and standing heights is a good option. This allows you to create a balance between the two throughout that fits your lifestyle.


Boosts productivity and focus
As well as the health benefits of sit-stand desks, there can also be significant workplace improvements. Studies have shown that sit-stand desks can reduce tiredness and increase productivity by 46%. From personal experience, we find standing up for Zoom calls makes us feel more alert and focused which stops us getting the yawns after 20 mins!

References:
NHS - Why sitting too much is bad for us
Independant - Standing desks boost work performance
Daily Mail - Standing for three hours a day has 'the same health benefits as 10 marathons a year'