Switching to a 4-leg standing desk from a regular sitting desk can do wonders for improving your creativity and productivity. However, to take full advantage of its benefits, there are a few different tricks that you can do to make the most of your new workspace.
Here we'll take a look at how you can use your standing desk as a foundation for productivity with additions like ergonomic seating, correct accessory placement, cable management, and more. Let's find out more!
8 Ways to Make the Most of a Height Adjustable Desk
Here are our eight ways you can get the most out of your new dynamic workspace and unlock your maximum productivity.
1. Move and Adjust Continuously
To maximize your productivity, aim to alternate between sitting and standing, as this will give you mini breaks and prevent you from getting fatigued or experiencing discomfort.
For example, you can set a timer to remind you to switch positions every 30 minutes. You can link this into the Pomodoro Technique to maximize your work output. This way, your mind will remain focused, and you'll be far more productive.
2. Use an Ergonomic Stool Even While Standing
Using an ergonomic stool meant for dynamic or active sitting fosters better posture and core muscle engagement. Look for a stool that enables you to maintain a comfortable seating position while supporting your muscles.
Active sitting stools also encourage movement from time to time to reduce stiffness and improve blood flow by helping you rock your hips or make circular motions with them, further enhancing focus and productivity.
3. Stand on a Supportive Floor
Stand on a memory foam mat while working at your 4-leg standing desk. This will provide adequate support to your joints and muscles from your feet to your back, reducing soreness and strain throughout your entire body.
Your body will have to do less compensation, and your mind won't be distracted by the discomfort, enabling you to work more efficiently over longer time slots. Alternatively, you can get a footrest with a mound to stretch your legs.
Make sure to use supportive shoes as well, especially for flat-soled models or working barefoot, rather than wearing shoes with elevated heels, which cause you to put your foot in an unnatural position.
4. Change Positions Whenever Necessary
Change position as soon as you find yourself leaning. Leaning is the body's way of taking the path of least resistance, but it's unhealthy for you in the long run.
By switching positions whenever you start leaning, you can prevent yourself from adapting to difficult-to-reverse posture patterns that cause discomfort and reduce productivity.
5. Use Monitor Arms Instead of Stands
By mounting your monitor on an arm rather than a fixed stand, you'll be able to change its position based on the ergonomics needed when switching from standing to sitting and vice versa. Get a monitor arm that lets you move your monitor up and down and side to side to achieve the best screen-to-eye and arms-to-keyboard ratios.
Avoid those that only tilt because these won't allow you to change the monitor's height, which is crucial when alternating between sitting and standing at the workspace.
6. Have Everything in Front of You Instead of Off to One Side
Your body can adapt its position in a way that allows you to keep your eyes at the same level as the horizon. This improves alignment in the spine, neck, back, and leg muscles, so if you're looking at something that's off to one side, your body adapts into an imbalanced position, which will cause you plenty of discomfort in the long run.
To avoid this productivity-hindering discomfort, place your monitor, keyboard, and everything you use frequently centered in front of you. Specifically, this should be above eye level in front of your chest and head. This way, you are forced to lift your chest and align your spine and muscles into a natural position.
7. Use Separate Monitors, Keyboards, and Mouse
Even if you're working with a laptop, using a separate monitor will completely transform your workflow. Likewise, using a separate keyboard will save you from wrist pain and discomfort in the back.
You can keep using the laptop as a second monitor, and you'll gain the ability to adjust your setup based on whether you're standing or sitting when doing a specific task at hand. In addition to wireless keyboards, it's also a great idea to have a separate trackpad or mouse. This will allow you to multitask more efficiently and become far more productive throughout the day.
8. Further Ergonomic Setup
Make sure to set up a 4-leg standing desk correctly to avoid discomfort and injury. Further ergonomic enhancements you can add to your workspace are document holders, adjustable desk lamps, and keyboard trays.
These will help improve your posture, alleviate discomfort, and make you comfortable while working. For example, keyboard and mouse pads will keep your wrist in a more elevated position while standing to prevent wrist pain.
Opt for desks with a configuration that helps you accommodate proper cable placement during sitting and standing to avoid accidentally tripping over the lines when switching positions and moving around.
This will also enable you to prevent the cables from being under too much tension, which could cause you to make the device they're connected to come crashing down when the cable gets pulled.
Final Thoughts
Implementing a standing desk into your work routine can significantly productivity. However, you can still fall into bad habits. Feel free to implement and experiment with the little tips you've learned here and work out which solutions will help you stay energized and productive throughout the workday.
