If you work as an engineer, graphic designer, or any office job requiring you to remain seated for hours, you could be at risk of developing several chronic diseases. That’s the conclusion of several researchers involved in a study recently published by the Mayo Clinic, a well-regarded nonprofit academic medical center in Rochester, Minnesota. According to those researchers, some of the most common chronic diseases linked to sitting for too long include obesity, hypertension, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. But it does not end there, sadly. They also note that sitting for too long can put individuals at risk of developing cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. In light of these findings and findings documented in many other studies, it’s easy to see why many employers are investing in standing desks to help safeguard the health of their employees. Many are also investing in standing desks to boost productivity in the workplace.
What Is a Standing Desk?
As the name might suggest, a standing desk is a desk that allows workers to alternate between working in a seated and an upright, standing position. They are also sometimes referred to as stand-up desks. If employers opt to furnish their workplace with these modern desks, they’re likely doing so because they care about the health and well-being of their employees or they’re trying to boost productivity to help drive up profits. Of course, some happily spend $100 to more than $1500 per desk because they want to achieve both. That said, there are four types of standing desks, and they include the following:
- Desktop risers
- Height-adjustable standing desks
- Non-adjustable fixed standing desks.
- Standing desk converters
How Standing Desks Improve Productivity
Considering how they allow individuals to quickly transition from a seated position to an upright, standing one, it is not too hard to see how a standing desk helps minimize their chances of developing many chronic diseases. But how these desks boost productivity in the workplace might not be quite as clear. Fortunately, several studies have clarified and made sense of the relationship between the two, one of which was published in the British Medical Journal, an esteemed peer-reviewed medical trade journal. In that study, researchers found that standing desks, because they allow individuals to alternate between sitting and standing, help reduce mental fatigue. In turn, they say, this leads to improved engagement and overall job performance.
In addition to reducing mental and physical fatigue, standing desks can help boost brain power. And this is because transitioning from a seated to an upright, standing position several times throughout the day stimulates blood circulation in the brain, which means the brain gets more oxygen and nutrients than it otherwise would. Additionally, alternating between sitting a standing is enough physical activity to encourage neurogenesis in areas of the brain responsible for critical thinking.
Another way standing desks improve productivity in the workplace is by helping to reduce pain and discomfort, especially when it comes to one’s back. Available data shows that roughly 16 million people in the U.S. struggle with chronic back pain. The same study data also notes that having the ability to periodically switch from sitting down to standing up throughout the workday helps relieve such pain, which leads to improved focus and productivity.
In summary, standing desks can benefit employers and employees alike. When employers invest in them, they receive a return on their investment, which comes in the form of improved productivity in the workplace. And employees make use of them, standing desk to a terrific job of fending off a host of chronic diseases, reducing mental and physical fatigue, and relieving pain. For more information about these revolutionary desks or to get help choosing the best ones for your office, consider speaking with a Solutions Office Interiors associate today.