6 Benefits Of A Standing Desk

It’s not new for desk workers that sitting for too long can hurt their health. Besides the back pain that is extremely common, you may also suffer from neck and shoulder pain. However, over time, people who sit a lot every day have an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and early death.

The good news is that you have an alternative – a standing desk.

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What Is A Standing Desk?

Simply put, a standing desk is just a desk that allows you to stand up comfortably while working. While the first versions were a desk that couldn’t b adjusted, this is no longer the reality for most. In fact, most standing desks are adjustable which means you can easily change their height and alternate between sitting and standing.

6 Benefits Of A Standing Desk

#1: It Lowers The Risk Of Weight Gain And Obesity:

There’s no question that weight gain is a problem many desk workers face. After all, sitting the entire day without moving is ideal to gain weight.

As you probably already know, if you burn more calories, you take in results in weight loss. While exercising out of the office is always an option to consider, many people lack the time. 

On the other hand, when you are using a standing desk, an equal amount of time spent standing has been shown to burn over 170 additional calories. That’s almost 1000 extra calories burned each week from simply standing at your desk each afternoon.

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#2: It May Lower Blood Sugar Levels:

Overall speaking, the more your blood sugar levels increase after meals, the worse it is for your health. 

According to a recent small study of 10 office workers, standing for 180 minutes after lunch reduced the blood sugar spike by 43% compared to sitting for the same amount of time.

It’s important to notice that both groups took the same amount of steps, indicating that the smaller spike was due to standing rather than additional physical movements around the office.

Discover the 5 ways to fight fatigue while using a standing desk.

#3: It May Lower The Risk Of Heart Disease:

Many studies have already been conducted showing the relationship between standing desks and the decrease in the risk of heart disease. 

Sitting can be so harmful that even an hour of intense exercise may not make up for the negative effects of an entire day spent sitting.

#4: It Appears To Reduce Back Pain:

As we already mentioned above, one of the most common complaints of office workers who sit all day. So, to determine if standing desks could improve this, several studies have been done on employees with long-term back pain which have been very positive in the results achieved. 

#5: It Helps Improve Mood And Energy Levels:

Standing desks appear to have a positive influence on overall well-being.

In one 7-week study, participants using standing desks reported less stress and fatigue than those who remained seated the entire workday. But more than this, almost 90% of those using standing desks reported increased vigor and energy throughout the day. Upon returning to their old desks, overall moods reverted to their original levels.

Check out 6 tips to use a standing desk the right way.

#6: It May Boost Productivity:

One of the most common concerns related to the use of a standing desk is related to daily tasks such as typing. 

While standing each afternoon may take some getting used to, standing desks appear to have no significant impact on typical work tasks.

Considering that standing improves mood and energy as well, using a standing desk is more likely to boost productivity rather than hinder it.