Switching to aĀ standing deskĀ is an important step for your health. Americans spend an average of 12 hours a day sitting, which is linked to many negative health effects, such as increased risk for cardiovascular disease, weight gain, and diabetes.
With a height-adjustable desk, you can swap some of those sedentary hours for time spent on your feet. Not only does standing during the workday prevent the ill-effects of a sedentary lifestyle, but standing also boosts energy and promotes productivity.
However, too much of a good thing can also be a bad thing. Sitting all day isnāt good for you, but neither is spending too much time standing stationary at your desk. Standing for too many hours at a time can cause fatigue, back strain, leg cramps, and joint pain. The good news is that with the right tools, you can avoid the side-effects of too much standing and gain the full benefits of using a standing desk at work.
These are a few of the most common mistakes people make when they first switch to aĀ standing desk:
1. Not getting the right accessories.
A standing desk alone wonāt do much to alleviate the chronic pain associated with sitting. Youāll just be swapping in one set of aches and pains for another. Standing for too long can be hard on your leg muscles and joints, and unless your computer screen is adjusted accordingly, your neck may also experience some strain and discomfort.
AnĀ anti-fatigue matĀ andĀ monitor mountĀ are essential accessories when youāre switching to a standing desk. The anti-fatigue mat alleviates the pressure on your joints, while the monitor mount lifts your screen to a height that allows your neck to rest at a comfortable angle while using your computer.
2. Using poor posture.
Even if youāre not spending too much time on your feet, standing with poor posture will increase the likelihood of back and joint pain. When people try to stand for an extended period of time without something like an anti-fatigue mat to alleviate the stress on their joints, many will start to lean and slump, putting a strain on their back muscles. Using a computer while standing can also result in poor wrist posture, leading to musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel.
3. Forgetting to sit down.
You gain the most benefit from aĀ sit-stand deskĀ when you cycle between sitting and standing throughout your workday. Experts recommend alternating every 30 minutes, known as the āsit-stand-switchā philosophy. However, when you get absorbed in a project, it can be surprisingly easy to forget to switch every 30 minutes. Thatās why theĀ FlexiSpot electric height-adjustable desk frameĀ comes equipped with a sit-stand time reminder system, which alerts you when itās time to sit down or stand back up.
4. Thinking you donāt still need to exercise.
Just as exercising the recommended 150 minutes per week (or even every day) wonāt offset the negative health effects of sitting too much, using a standing desk at work also doesnāt exempt you from getting regular exercise. The ideal lifestyle for physical health and fitness includes a mixture of low-intensity ānon-exerciseā activities such as standing and walking, moderate-to-high intensity aerobic exercise and strength-training, and a healthy amount of rest.
Unless you educate yourself beforehand, you might just be swapping your old problems for new ones when you start using aĀ standing desk. Equipping yourself with the right accessories and the a good understanding of what your body needs for maximum health and vitality will allow you to gain the most benefit from using your new sit-stand desk.
