The Surprising Dangers Of Sitting & Benefits Of Sit-Stand Workstations
If you are one of the professionals who sit at their desk all day, you are not alone. There are thousands of professionals across the country who spend 8-9 hours on average sitting at the desk. With the current work from home situation, the work hours have become erratic and it can stretch up to 10 to 12 hours daily. In the past, humans did not have to work like this. They did not sit in front of their desks number crunching, nor did they have to provide for themselves or their families.
Our ancestors engaged in a lot of physical activity like walking, cutting, running, and this left them exhausted at the end of the day. Our world has changed with time but our bodies have done little evolving. It is high time we understand that we are designed to stand. Our habits and activities have transformed us into people who spend hours sitting. But our body does not get used to it.
The dangers of sitting
Think about this, you sit at your desk for 8 hours on an average, for five days a week, and decades on end. It has some serious consequences on the health and body. The impact of sitting on the body has been studied for many years and some of the findings will make you think twice about being seated at work. This is not normal. The body is not made to withstand the pressure put on the musculoskeletal system when sitting. This position can lead to the development of back and neck pain as well as musculoskeletal disorders. It has been noted that sedentary time can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and can also cause mortality. Now, if sitting leads to these scary outcomes, why do you continue doing it? You can prevent them by doing just the opposite-standing.
The solution
If you are someone who understands the importance of health and wellbeing but thinks that the desk doesn’t help, you are right. There is a solution for it. You can use a sit-stand workstation to prevent damage to your body due to sitting all day. Consider workstations and not desks. All desks are workstations but all workstations are not desks. You can find the best workstations that will hold all the devices and adjust to your standing height so the body remains healthy and can avoid the damaging consequences of sitting as you work. When you incorporate a sit-stand workstation in your routine, it will give you the ability to stand as you work and will limit the potential to contract body pain. Studies have shown that it has positive impacts on your mental health as well.
Let us take a look at the benefits of sit-stand workstations:
1. Helps burn calories
What if we told you that you can burn calories by simply standing at the workstation all day? Yes, it is possible. Studies have shown that an afternoon standing at work will help burn 174 calories as compared to sitting. It can also lower blood sugar levels. When you burn more calories, it will help maintain the right body weight. When you consistently stand at the desk, your chances of developing obesity are reduced. You can maintain or lower your weight by making the right switch from sitting to standing at the workstation.
2. Enhance productivity and energy
Whenever you stand, there is an increased blood flow and better circulation in the body. It leads to high energy. Besides higher energy, it has been noted that standing can reduce the strain on your neck and back. It leads to improved mood and feeling better will give you a positive outlook at work. It will boost morale and enhance productivity by 10%. Studies have shown that standing workstations in the meeting rooms can lead to the generation of more ideas and an increase in creativity, which leads to better productivity.
3. Enjoy better mental health
Studies have shown that standing at a workstation can have a positive impact on your mental wellbeing. If you often struggle with anxiety, have mood swings, or depression, you should consider moving from sitting all day to standing while you work. It boosts the creative juices, has a strong impact on your productivity, and will make you feel positive and energetic.
By simply switching from sitting on the workstation to standing while you work, you can improve your life and wellbeing. Sitting is associated with early death, which is also why it is known as the new smoking. If you stand more regularly, there are higher chances of living longer, even if only by a few months. You do not need to start standing for hours right away. Just a few minutes every day will do the trick. It will be difficult and you may even feel awkward standing at your workstation initially. But the point is to begin somewhere.
Take a stand against the basic desk setup and consider using a standing desk. Whether you work from home or office, a standing desk will make a huge difference to your health, productivity and efficiency. It can be adjusted according to your height and you will soon get used to working on it. Do not start by standing for few hours on the first day itself. Take it slow and get used to the process. You may want to stand for about 20 minutes initially and sit for 40 minutes. Take a quick break and go back to standing while you work. This way, you will be able to get used to standing as you work.
Remember, there is nothing more important than your health. If you can take the right steps to improve your health today, it will go a long way in the future. A small but significant shift of the workstation will help you in several ways. Take a stand today and watch your health improve.
