What's most striking about those figures is the effect they play on our health. People that sit for six or more hours a day are 40 percent more likely to die within the next 15 years than another person who sits for three hours or less each day. Worst of all? Post-work exercise has no effect on that statistic.
Fortunately, there's an alternative. Stand-up desks are gaining in popularity for a host of reasons. Entire offices are now fitted with stand-up models, and in traditional workspaces, those that choose to stand are more likely to start a trend than to be chastised as a black sheep.
Interested in giving it a try? Here are a few more convincing arguments for standing to work:
Sitting Can Make You Gain Weight
One in three Americans is now qualified as clinically obese, and the average obese person sits for 2.5 more hours a day than a person with normal weight. By standing, you automatically burn more calories than you would slouched in a chair. You're also more likely to shuffle in place, nod your head and hips to music, and lift your legs periodically -- all calorie burning activities -- than you would when sitting.
Feel Better When You're Not at Work
Inactivity is a huge threat to our health. When we're sedentary, our levels of good cholesterol drop, blood flow slows, and we increase our risk of heart disease. Most noticeably, standing can alleviate much of the chronic lower back pain that desk workers often experience. A properly situated stand-up desk can work wonders for back, wrist, and elbow pain sufferers.
Remain More Alert and Productive
Who hasn't recognized a decrease in their work performance after a big lunch? It's easy to slouch back in a chair and browse the web, or just simply daydream and work at a slower pace than what's ideal. Standing takes that option away. Being on our feet keeps us alert and ready, making it easier to focus on the task at hand.
Clean Up Your Work Area
Anti-clutter experts often discuss how to make use of the unused vertical space in our homes and offices. By elevating your desk, you gain storage space below. Items that typically clutter your desk can now be moved out-of-sight to new shelving and cabinets, yet remain within arm's reach.
If you're intrigued but not convinced standing to work is for you, give it a trial run by placing a sturdy chair with a flat seat atop your regular desk. Place your monitor or laptop at eye level atop the chair. For laptops, you'll want an external keyboard and mouse. Situate these at a 90-degree angle in front of your elbow.
Do-it-yourself options exist for long-term stand-up desks as well. It's possible to use brackets mounted on the wall with a plank of wood, or a stand-alone small table atop your regular desk, to fashion a stand-up desk that still allows you to sit down at your existing desk when you so choose.
Alternatively, a high backed barstool can serve as an alternative chair for your elevated desk (or lean on it for a semi-standing alternative).
Of course, there are also a growing number of static and adjustable stand-up desk models now available within any price range, including some that allow users to effortlessly raise and lower their work station level.
Whatever option you choose, your heart and overall health will thank you. Have you tried a stand-up desk before? Do you use one now, and would you recommend it to others?
Author Bio:
Chris Long is a Home Depot store associate in the Chicago area, where he has been helping customers since 2000. Chris also contributes to Home Depot's Home Decorators.com website. His home-décor interests range from home furniture to patio furniture.
Follow us on Twitter, for more of such interesting Guest Posts.
One in three Americans is now qualified as clinically obese, and the average obese person sits for 2.5 more hours a day than a person with normal weight. By standing, you automatically burn more calories than you would slouched in a chair. You're also more likely to shuffle in place, nod your head and hips to music, and lift your legs periodically -- all calorie burning activities -- than you would when sitting.
Feel Better When You're Not at Work
Inactivity is a huge threat to our health. When we're sedentary, our levels of good cholesterol drop, blood flow slows, and we increase our risk of heart disease. Most noticeably, standing can alleviate much of the chronic lower back pain that desk workers often experience. A properly situated stand-up desk can work wonders for back, wrist, and elbow pain sufferers.
Remain More Alert and Productive
Who hasn't recognized a decrease in their work performance after a big lunch? It's easy to slouch back in a chair and browse the web, or just simply daydream and work at a slower pace than what's ideal. Standing takes that option away. Being on our feet keeps us alert and ready, making it easier to focus on the task at hand.
Clean Up Your Work Area
Anti-clutter experts often discuss how to make use of the unused vertical space in our homes and offices. By elevating your desk, you gain storage space below. Items that typically clutter your desk can now be moved out-of-sight to new shelving and cabinets, yet remain within arm's reach.
If you're intrigued but not convinced standing to work is for you, give it a trial run by placing a sturdy chair with a flat seat atop your regular desk. Place your monitor or laptop at eye level atop the chair. For laptops, you'll want an external keyboard and mouse. Situate these at a 90-degree angle in front of your elbow.
Do-it-yourself options exist for long-term stand-up desks as well. It's possible to use brackets mounted on the wall with a plank of wood, or a stand-alone small table atop your regular desk, to fashion a stand-up desk that still allows you to sit down at your existing desk when you so choose.
Alternatively, a high backed barstool can serve as an alternative chair for your elevated desk (or lean on it for a semi-standing alternative).
Of course, there are also a growing number of static and adjustable stand-up desk models now available within any price range, including some that allow users to effortlessly raise and lower their work station level.
Whatever option you choose, your heart and overall health will thank you. Have you tried a stand-up desk before? Do you use one now, and would you recommend it to others?
Author Bio:
Chris Long is a Home Depot store associate in the Chicago area, where he has been helping customers since 2000. Chris also contributes to Home Depot's Home Decorators.com website. His home-décor interests range from home furniture to patio furniture.
Follow us on Twitter, for more of such interesting Guest Posts.
Avoid slippery seat covers. A vinyl or leather seat cover can cause you to constantly slide to and fro, which can ruin your posture and throw your back out of whack. Opt for a cloth seat cover, which helps keep you put while the vehicle is in motion. Be sure your steering wheel is set at a proper height. Most modern cars allow the user to adjust the height of the steering wheel. It is important to set the wheel at a height that you are comfortable with. Don't lock your seat in a 90 degree angle. This can put undue pressure on your spine and lower back. Try a tilting your seat back every so slightly.
If you have an
existing lower back condition, go for a car with an automatic transmission. Shifting gears is an activity that you repeat dozens of times a
day that can harm your already injured back, leading to further injury. If you
have the option, ditch the stick. In addition to things that you can do about
your driving, lifestyle changes can also help address back pain. Try to be more
active; favor exercise movements that target your core areas, like your
abdominal muscles and lower back. Eat foods that have anti-inflammatory
qualities, and try to get at least six hours of sleep a day.
Thanks for sharing these useful tips and information with us.
This is great, thanks for spreading the word on the benefits of standing! You can check out a ton more benefits here: http://www.nextdesks.com/benefits
And also, DO check out the desks on this site! This is where I got my standing desk and I have to say, I am in LOVE with it. It's the Terra model-- it is beautiful, it is adjustable in height, it is made with eco-friendly materials, and it has been the thing that has saved my posture and back comfort at work!
Can't recommend making the switch to standing at work enough. And if you're interested in trying it out, you can try one of the NextDesks for a trial period. That's what I did!
www.nextdesks.com. Let me know what you think.
NG