We can all agree that our bodies need movement and that a sedentary lifestyle is generally unhealthy and can have severe effects on our long-term health. This situation has been exacerbated over the last 3 months with remote work.
In fact, I went to visit my general practitioner the other day who said that over 50% of the patients she saw over the last two months have experienced weight gain of 10 pounds or more.
Many articles have been written about makeshift home offices people are using in addition to the standard dining room table or kitchen counter. I’m sure they would agree that sitting in front of a computer all day — in many instances for even longer periods than they did at work since they don’t have the commute — is beginning to take a toll both mentally and physically.
Will investing in a sit-stand workstation for your home office make you more comfortable and productive?
Will investing in a sit-stand workstation for your home office make you more comfortable and productive?
The answer is NO.
If you don’t use it as intended.
The intention of a sit stand desk is to have you do just that – sit AND stand throughout the day.
The answer is NO.
If you don’t use it as intended.
Sure, having a dedicated space in your house and working at the proper height as opposed to your kitchen counter will make you more comfortable, but so will any office desk for that matter.
The intention of a sit-stand desk is to have you do just that – sit AND stand throughout the day.
There are many benefits to standing not just during breaks but also while you work. Standing and moving around increases blood flow, reduces your risk of injury, and allows your internal systems to work at their full capacity. In addition to these physical benefits, standing while you work can also increase your focus and productivity.
Energy
Being on your feet helps you feel more alert, awake, and energetic. Have you ever heard the term, “runners’ high”? Well, in many ways, exercise will increase your mood and overall energy level.
Intense exercise isn’t necessary to experience increased energy levels. When you stand or move around, your energy levels remain more stable throughout the day. You may not experience the “high” commonly talked about by runners and gym goers. You will, however, experience more long-term and sustained energy than you would if you spend the day in your chair.
For example, have you ever felt “drained” during the second half of the day? You know that afternoon slump typically remedied with a coffee or an energy drink — at least until the caffeine crash hits. Part of the reason for this slump during the day is that sedentary workers aren’t getting the appropriate movement and engagement that their bodies need. Increased activity, and even simply activating the muscles through standing, will increase energy, reduce the slump, and help employees have a more productive afternoon.
A 2016 study done by Texas A&M University showed that call center employees were 46% more productive when they used sit-stand desks. So if the average number of calls an employee can take per day is 100 (for easy math) while using a traditional desk, that same employee can take 146 calls when using a sit-stand desk. Let’s look a little deeper into why employees experience higher productivity when using sit-stand desks.
Comfort
In the same study, 75% of employees using the sit-stand desk after six months said that it decreased their overall body discomfort. Scientists believe that part of the increased productivity is directly related to employees merely being more comfortable. Being more comfortable standing rather than sitting seems a bit backward until we remember that movement is necessary for our bodies to function correctly, and an upright position is what is most natural for the human body.
Sitting down all day may feel okay if it is what employees are used to doing. Still, it often leads to chronic lower back and hip flexor pain due to inactivity. Chronic pain usually increases gradually. By the time the employee is to the point of noticing and wanting to take steps to fix it, the damage is already done. That’s not to say chronic pain cannot be reversed and improved, but it is much easier to prevent it than to fix it.
Standing may feel uncomfortable initially but will lead to less discomfort in the long run. When moving the body throughout the day and allowing it to straighten out in its most natural position, employees are much more comfortable overall.
Circulation
Standing up, walking, and pretty much any kind of movement stimulates circulation. This increased blood flow leads to increases in the amount of oxygen and other nutrients transported to the brain every second. Standing and moving around also increases brain cell production, allowing critical thinking and problem-solving skills to heighten the more you move. Over time, as increased movements continue, the cerebral blood vessels that carry the nutrient-rich blood will expand, allowing for better blood circulation even on sedentary days.
Your blood acts as fuel for so many of your bodily functions, including your brain. Memory, executive functioning, concentration, and the ability to detect and respond to rapid environmental changes are all skills that improve with better circulation. Insufficient circulation can significantly hinder your brain’s ability to function at its best, taking a toll on your ability to focus and be productive.
Proper Usage
The proper ergonomic tools are vital for working efficiently while increasing employee satisfaction as is proper usage. When the tools employees have aren’t tailored to their needs, they are less likely to use them especially over time.
However, the benefits are too great to ignore. When switching to a sit-stand desk, many employees will notice an immediate increase in energy levels. Productivity is likely to increase in the first month or two of use. Within six months, many employees notice a decrease in discomfort.
Using app-based and browser-based reminders to encourage movement as well as to educate users on proper ergonomic positioning help ensure proper and continued use for maximum benefit and improved productivity.
References
- Details, A., & Sumners, —. (2018, October 04). Boosting productivity at work may be simple: Stand up. Retrieved July 23, 2020, from https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/boosting-productivity-at-work-may-simple-stand/
- FitzPatrick, L. (2018, October 11). Standing desks will improve productivity, study by University of Leicester in BMJ finds . Retrieved July 23, 2020, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/10/standing-desks-will-improve-productivity-study-university-leicester/
- Flynn, H. (2012, October). The Impact of Daily Exercise on Productivity. Retrieved July 24, 2020, from https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/journal-of-health-sciences/2012/10/28/the-impact-of-daily-exercise-on-productivity/
- Starr, J. (2019, February 21). Why We Choose Standing Desks: Achs.edu. Retrieved July 23, 2020, from https://info.achs.edu/blog/standing-desks-at-achs
- Stringer, H. (2017, September). Boosting Productivity. Retrieved July 23, 2020, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/09/boosting-productivity
- Zhou, S. (2019, March 27). 4 Ways Standing Desks Improve Employee Productivity. Retrieved July 23, 2020, from https://www.flexispot.com/spine-care-center/4-ways-standing-desks-improve-employee-productivity/