Standing desks have become insanely popular in the last few years and are shown to be incredibly beneficial for your health AND productivity!
If you recently started using a standing desk, or are thinking of getting one. We’ve got you covered!
Watch and read below for all the tips and tricks you need to know!
https://youtu.be/6oDs7biXThE
Standing desks are a great health tool but at the end of the day there’s no best practice, how-to manual that comes with it.
While there’s no best practice on how to use one, there are some guidelines on how to set it up!
The ergonomics of a standing desk, or any work station really, is more important than the desk itself. You need to have it set up properly for your specific needs to benefit the most from it.
Correct desk height and computer screen position are important for improving comfort and minimizing your risk of injury.
Your desk should be at roughly elbow height so that when you rest your elbows on the table they’re at a 90 degree angle from the floor.
Your screen should be 20-28 inches away from your eyes or roughly the length from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. The top of the screen should be at around eye level and a slight tilt of the screen toward the ceiling can also save your neck by helping keep you from looking down.
Here’s a helpful diagram to get you started on your set up!
Getting a new standing desk can get you excited about standing up at work, but switching from sitting for 8 hours to standing for 8 hours can be just as problematic.
Dr. Rob mentioned using intervals to help with the transition to a standing desk! Start by splitting your time evenly between sitting and standing. So for every 20 minutes you spend standing, sit for 20 minutes. You can then move to longer intervals of standing, like for every 40 minutes of standing, you sit for 20 minutes etc.
This works best if you have a desk that transitions from sitting to standing but it is important to change positions fairly often even if you have a normal sitting desk!
Like Dr. Rob showed in the video, having a stool at your desk can help encourage you to change your position often. You’d be amazed at how much of a difference standing or sitting with one foot on the stool for 10 minutes can make! We encourage you to fidget, cross your legs, and stretch out at your desk. Motion is lotion and by changing positions you’re constantly keeping your body moving.
While changing positions at your desk is important, so is getting away from your work station for a quick 2-5 minute break. This will help clear your head, rest your eyes, and get you moving!
There are some great apps and websites that you can put on your phone or computer to remind you to get up and away from your desk. My personal favourite is Big Stretch Reminder which you can actually set to lock your desktop screen for a certain time to force you to take a break!
Reducing sedentary time can improve physical, metabolic and even mental health. This is why sitting less and standing more is such an important lifestyle change.
If you want to try this out, most places who sell office furniture also offer sit-stand desks. We know everyone has a different workplace setup and not everyone works in a traditional office. For more personalized advice and tips talk to your practitioner at your next visit to PRICE! We’re always here to help you find the right solution for you and your lifestyle.
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