Whether you already have a standing desk or are thinking about getting one, there are lots of reasons to invest in one. From an immediate productivity boost to long-term health benefits, you can do so much by simply pushing aside your office chair and standing while working. But that’s not what we want to talk about here.
Even though the concept of a standing desk is really simple, you can actually do many things wrong when you stand. As a result, you could be missing important benefits or even causing harm to your health. In order to avoid this, here are some of the things you may be doing wrong and how you can fix them.
You Stand Too Much
Just like sitting for hours, standing too much isn’t good for your health either. According to the data published by the Department of Design and Environment Analysis, if you are only switching sitting to standing, you’re not helping your body. You just become prone to different risk factors.
For example, standing too much can lead to lower back pain and boost your risk for varicose veins, carotid arteries, vein thrombosis, and other health problems. Since standing compresses the spine and forces the heart to work against gravity, your blood can’t flow up properly.
That’s why you need to take the time and learn how to use your new desk properly. Like any other habit, it requires practice and routine to safely transition into standing at the desk. Don’t change your routine completely; instead, do your transition in increments and with moderation. This way, your body will build up to the full amount of time you need to be standing.
Moreover, even if you feel like you can stand all day long, sitting and walking should be a part of your routine. What you need is to make sure your body is active and your muscles keep moving during the day. You can stand for a while and then sit for a while. Then walk around the room. Chat with your colleagues or read a newspaper. And that’s why adjustable 2-in-1 desks are so great: with just one button, you can crank your workplace from a sitting to a standing module and back again. It gives you the flexibility to maintain a healthy balance every day.
Standing Incorrectly
Switching to a standing desk isn’t enough; you need to learn how to stand properly if you want to decrease back and neck pain. One thing is certain, if you get a non-adjustable standing desk and it is too low, you will be hunching over it just as if you’re sitting in an uncomfortable office chair.
Besides, if you have a laptop without a separate screen and you look down frequently, you might experience neck and back pain. Basically, there are two solutions for this problem. The easiest one is to buy an adjustable desk and choose the right height.
Another thing you can do is to make sure you have the right equipment to position your items where they should be. For example, you can get a monitor support to keep your screen at the right level or invest in a quality anti-fatigue mat to keep your feet and neck from hurting. And make sure you’re not hunching over your standing desk.
Standing to Fix All Problems
Before you buy a standing desk, you should know one thing, although, it can significantly improve your quality of life, it can’t resolve all your problems. For example, it can help you burn more calories, but if you add regular exercise away from work, you will burn even more calories. A standing desk can help you become more productive and creative. However, it can’t find a good job for you. At the end of the day, it is only a standing desk that helps you incorporate healthy habits into your life.
Spending Big Money
Now this may be odd to read, but we want to be clear; everything you read above may sound like you need the most expensive model that is available because other models can’t deliver. However, that is not true. You don’t need to buy extra accessories, wireless gadgets, and other things simply because we mentioned them. All those standing mats, quality shoes, etc. – if you just started using your standing desk or are thinking of buying one, you don’t need anything fancy. It’s all up to you. There are budget-friendly standing desk models that deliver amazing results! What we are mentioning is just our tips and advice on how to make your standing desk experience more pleasant, everything else depends on your unique requirements.
When you buy a standing desk, you can be creative and add or remove equipment or accessories when you want. Just remember, most importantly is to use proper posture and maintain a good balance between standing, sitting, and walking.