I was first introduced to the standing desk about 3 years ago, when I first started working at W.B. Mason. I initially thought it was just the current trend, and like all trends, this would soon fizzle out. Boy was I wrong.
It has now become a staple in many offices, and not to mention, a desk that I love working at!
So, what’s all the hype around the standing desk?
I don’t know about you but keeping healthy is something I’m constantly working at. Eating right and staying active are top of mind. But working on yourself and staying healthy shouldn’t be postponed or stop while you’re in the office. With the amount of time spent in the office, it really becomes your second home. So, for me, being healthy can’t stop, even if I’m at work.
To live a healthier lifestyle, I work on out on my Peloton, eat well, and drink plenty of water. But one thing I didn’t think too much about was how much I was sitting. It never crossed my mind that at work I was sitting for 8+ hours a day. Of course, I get up every now and again, but majority of the day I am sitting.
Get this – in one regular workday you sit around 8 hours a day. In a week that’s 40 hours, and in a month that’s 160 hours. That’s a lot of sitting – and that’s just at work. But why is sitting for this long a big deal?
The Health Side of Things
There has been a lot of research around the implications of sitting for too long and after learning that my risk for weight gain, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, deep vein thrombosis, and poor posture are raised from sitting, I knew that I needed to do something different. Not only did I learn about the risks from sitting for too long, but I was starting to see some of these affects. Most notably was my posture. An hour after starting work, I would notice myself hunched over, shoulders inward and my face very close to the screen… and this is not how I started my day. I knew I needed to make a change, so I started using a standing desk. Check out our post Ergonomics – 3 Things I Should Think About as I Sit Down for Work to learn more on the importance of posture.
After realizing my posture was becoming a problem, I made it a point to stand at my desk for a certain period each day. I had to start off slow, only standing for a half hour to an hour a day, and slowly as I built up my strength, I was able to stand longer and longer. Not having the option to hunch over when standing was a great solution to my new growing problem! Not only was it helping my posture, but it was also helping me burn some calories as well – that’s what I call a win, win!
Where to Get Started
Vari®’s standing desks make the transition from sitting to standing seamless. It’s as easy as pressing and holding a button until it’s at your optimal height. With such a quick and easy way to go from sitting to standing, you can move from one to the other in just seconds. This way you don’t have to feel like you’re stuck in either position for several hours.
Having two different types of standing desks, the Height-Adjustable Standing Desk and the Electric Standing Desk, you are sure to find the right Vari® desk for you.
The Adjustable Standing Desks are meant to be placed on top of an already existing desk or table; we suggest purchasing this item when you are really looking to stand for the entire day when working.
The Electric Standing Desk can be used to work either sitting or standing. This Vari® desk has several different table colors and styles to choose from as well as sizes.
Maybe you want a simple black desk, or you want a reclaimed wood style look. Whatever the case may be, Vari® has you covered!
Take it from one of my co-workers, Nick, who stands for the entire workday, every day, and loves his Vari® desk: “As an active person with previous injuries, sitting at a desk all day for work wasn’t a great option on my joints. My Vari® Desk has allowed me to decide if sitting or standing is best for me based on how my body is feeling that day. This has helped improve my posture, productivity, and avoid tight joints caused by sitting all day. I highly recommend my workstation set-up, a Vari® 60″ Reclaimed Wood Electric Standing Desk, Vari® Active Seat, and Vari® Monitor Arm & Laptop Cradle to anyone looking for a high quality sit stand workstation.”
No matter how long you stand each day, your body will thank you. Reduce the risk for several health conditions by taking that simple next step of standing. What are you waiting for? Go get yourself a standing desk and keep your healthy lifestyle going into the workplace.
References
“The Dangers of Sitting.” Harvard Health, 23 May 2019. (www.health.harvard.edu/pain/the-dangers-of-sitting) Accessed July 2, 2020.
Leech, Joe. “7 Benefits of a Standing Desk.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 18 June 2017. (www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-benefits-of-a-standing-desk) Accessed July 2, 2020.
Katella, Kathy. “Why Is Sitting so Bad for Us?” Yale Medicine, Yale Medicine, 28 Aug. 2019. (www.yalemedicine.org/news/sitting-health-risks) Accessed July 2, 2020.
