5 Reasons Why You Should Take a Stand Against Sitting at Work
Hey you – yes you, sitting crouched over the screen as you read this. Feeling that strong familiar strain in your neck and back as you try and wiggle around in your chair to find some sense of comfort. If you’re lucky, you have an ergonomic chair; reducing that pain and making it easier to sink into the comfort of your chair. However, could you be doing more for your health at work? Introducing standing instead of sitting at work, something that has now been made easy by the sit stand desk.
In a study done by the CDC, it was found the average amount of time spent sitting on an average weekday is 6 hours and 36 minutes, and I think that’s being generous. If someone works an 8 hours a day desk job, commutes to work, sits down for dinner, watches a TV program – it would add up to even more – and that’s not even including sleeping. With only so many hours in a day, this inactivity can and will take a toll on your body if you don’t decide to take a stand against sitting. Here’s why getting a sit stand desk could be the best investment for your health.
Our Sit Stand Desk by Humanscale, completely height adjustable
1. It’s not running a marathon, but calories will be burned! (and it adds up too!)
According to LiveStrong, “the simple act of standing instead of sitting may help you burn 20 to 50 more calories per hour”. While this number may seem few, in the overall picture it can burn up to 200 calories if you stand for 4 hours, meaning up to 1,000 extra calories burned a week. While again, this is no marathon – it is a difference, one that can aid in losing weight when it adds up over the year. 75% of the participants even reported feeling healthier just standing while working for 3-4 hours a day.
2. Back Pain be gone! (who knew it was this easy??)
Do you suffer from back pain? After a long day does your spine ache to the point that a good stretch won’t fix it? The standing desk is most likely the solution for you (and not to mention those chiropractor bills). After just 2 weeks using the standing desk, it was found in the “Take A Stand Project” by the CDC that subjects reported neck and back pain reduced by 54%. Additionally, 87% of participants felt more comfortable. Not to mention, your posture will automatically increase without having to hunch over a screen all day, meaning relief for your neck and back.
Our ergonomic Octave Chair which pairs perfectly with a sit stand desk
3.Your productivity will skyrocket
Feeling lazy at work? It is human nature to associate standing with activity and sitting with inactivity. In the study, participants reported feeling 71% more focused after standing for just 3 hours in a workday. In the study it was also reported that 66% of the participants felt more productive throughout the work day when they used their standing desks. That is, when we sit we think of relaxation and when we stand we have more of an urge to get things done, including our work.
4. Standing Desks can melt away your stress
Stress is one of the worst things for you. It affects your health, mind and happiness in negative ways. There are many ways to relieve stress, but few are as simple as standing up. Out of the participants in the experiment, 33% felt less stressed when using the sit-stand desk. Reduce your stress today by investing in a height adjustable desk.
5. Feeling down about your job? This could change things around.. Introducing endorphins!
Our Humanscale Height Adjustable Desk paired with our Ergonomic Octave Chair
An article from Forbes about a study done in the UK claims unhappy employees outnumber happy ones two to one. Why not be that one or be the change in switching those numbers? Out of the participants, 62% of people reported feeling happier from using their standing desk at work. Standing releases the happy hormone of endorphins, making your day better.
All in all, standing at work has been proven to support a healthy, happy, less stressful and overall more enjoyable work day. Put yourself first and take a stand against sitting today!
