So there’s a big thing at the moment about stand up desks and there has been for a while. Some people love them, some people loath them… but most of us have been sold on the idea that standing to work is better for us than sitting. Or is it?
Standing for long periods poses risks to our health just as sitting for long periods does. Yes, the risks are different, but they are still there.
You see our body was made to move. Made to move a lot. In many of different ways. All the time.
Whether you’re standing in one spot or sitting in what spot for 6-8 hours a day it doesn’t really matter, you’re still sedentary. The key to a healthy desk, or at least one that doesn’t leave you with aches and pains once you leave the office, is one at which you can move.
Now I don’t expect you to be doing 100 squats every hour at your desk, conga-ing in and out of the desks or racing your colleagues to 50 burpees (though if you do please send me a video clip ;)), but I do want to encourage you to move some parts (toes, hands, arms, eyes) of you throughout the day.
So, if we’re going to move more throughout the day then a standup desk has the edge because it’s much easier to remember to move when you’re tired from standing on your feet than it is when you’re all supported in your ergonomic chair. That said it’s certainly not game-over if you’ve still not got the approval to get the latest and greatest standing desk. Try sitting in different positions; cross legged, one leg up, the other leg up, adjust the height of your seat, then try not to sit when you are not at your desk.. that will make your desk time all the less impactful.