You probably already know that sitting all day, every day, can be extremely detrimental to your physical and mental health. However, given the nature of our jobs, most of us don’t have a choice but to stay put at our desks.
Fortunately, the physical work environment is transforming like never before. Centered on the concept of ergonomics, standing desks are becoming widely popular throughout homes and traditional offices.
Those unaware about standing desks can’t help but wonder what they are and why they are becoming an increasingly popular furniture piece essential for comfortable office working, while those who know the benefits of these desks usually find it difficult to choose the perfect one suitable for their space and work style.
Well, we’re here to clear all the confusion and misunderstandings encircling standing desks to give you a better and clearer idea about what they are, the benefits they offer, and how to choose the best one.
So, without further ado, let’s get into all the details about standing desks you need to know.
What is a Standing Desk?
As the name suggests, a standing desk is a desk that lets you stand while working. Although the craze surrounding these desks began during the pandemic, when work-from-home was at its peak, standing desks aren’t a new concept at all. Architects, drafters, and various other professionals have been using standing desks for decades – due to the various benefits they offer.
Standing desks are known by many other names, including adjustable desks, stand-up desks, gaming desks, height-adjustable desks, ergonomic desks, and sit-stand desks.
Why You Should Use a Standing Desk
Sitting desks have engulfed the workplace, and over the years, have negatively impacted people’s health in more than one way. However, given the growing awareness of the drawbacks of constant sitting, many people are turning towards standing desks.
Not only does a standing desk help improve your health, but it also provides an array of other benefits, including:
Reduces Chances of Weight Gain
If you’re already a standing desk user, you’ve probably noticed that switching to a standing desk has improved your chances of weight loss. In essence, standing and working increase the number of calories your body burns compared to sitting.
Prevents Health Problems
Standing helps decrease blood glucose levels, preventing the chances of heart conditions and other ailments.
Improves Mood and Reduces Stress
Sitting all day long can be quite monotonous, making an individual feel lazy and bored. On the other hand, standing desks can help improve one’s mood and reduce stress, making you feel more energized and amped up.
Improves Posture and Prevents Back Pain
One of the biggest concerns of sitting in an uncomfortable chair is that it results in poor body posture, resulting in severe neck and back pain. Fortunately, standing helps improve one’s posture by forcing them to keep their back, shoulders, and neck straight, reducing the chances of pain in different body parts.
Increases Productivity
By boosting your energy levels and making you feel pumped up, using a standing desk increases one’s productivity at work.
Improves Health
Whether you struggle with any health challenge or simply wish to be healthier, a standing desk can help you achieve your fitness goals.
Types of Standing Desks
If you picture a simple tall wooden desk when you think of a standing desk, think again! Standing desks have evolved a thousand folds over the years, resulting in a wide variety available in the market today.
If you’re currently using a makeshift or DIY standing desk, learning about the following types of standing desks might help you find a more suitable one for you.
Manual Adjusting Standing Desks
As the title suggests, a manual standing desk features a hand crank mechanism built in the desk that the user is supposed to operate to adjust the height of the workstation.
Electric Motor Standing Desk
In contrast to a manual standing desk, an electric standing desk, such as the L-Shaped Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk, comes with a motor used to configure and adjust the desk's height, among many other features. This type of standing desk is, by far, the most popular and highly coveted of its type.
Hydraulic Standing Desk
This standing desk type employs pumps to pressurize the tubes present under the surface of the desktop for height adjustment, adding to their durability.
Fixed Height Standing Desks
The most basic of its kind, a fixed height standing desk is basically a regular desk that is constructed at a height that makes the desktop easily accessible when you’re standing. This type of standing desk comes in a single height that cannot be adjusted.
Exercise Standing Desks
This standing desk allows you to fit in some exercise while working. The most common types of exercise standing desks are treadmill desks and bike desks.
DIY Standing Desks
A DIY standing desk is designed and customized by the user to ensure that their workstation matches their exact requirements and specifications.
Standing Desks Materials
Like other furniture, a variety of materials are used to manufacture standing desks. Here are some of the most common standing desk building materials.
Solid Wood
Wood veneer
Butcherblock
Laminate
Composite
Metal & Steel
Plastic
Glass
What Size Standing Desk Should I Get for My Home Office?
Standing desks are found in various sizes, from small to large ones. It may seem like the sensible and obvious thing to do is to purchase a standing desk that will fit into your space, but it still isn’t that easy.
Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect size standing desk for your home office.
Measure Floor Space
The first thing you need to do is to determine how much room you have available for your standing desk, which can easily be done by measuring the floor space. Remember to measure only after leaving some extra space around the desk, as exact measurements can often land you in tricky waters.
Measure the Pathway
One of the biggest mistakes standing desk users make when purchasing a standing desk is not measuring and accounting for the pathway and doorway that leads up to the home office. So, once you’ve measured the floor space of the home office, make sure to account for the stairs and doorways that the desk will have to cross before reaching its final location.
Measure Yourself
Unless you’re investing in a manual or electric standing desk with adjustable height, you will have to measure your height to see what the right size desk is for you.
Measure Your Arms
If you’re planning on getting a standing desk with a keyboard tray, make sure to measure that place where your arms naturally rest while you’re standing and working.
What Standing Desk Should I Buy For My Home Office?
For starters, when figuring out the kind of desk you need for your home office, you’ll need to see the amount of space you will need to operate comfortably from your desk. For this, you will have to determine the number of screens you’re planning to set up on your desk and the kind of work you’re planning to do.
Another major consideration when selecting a standing desk is storage space. Many people have enough space around their home office to store stuff. However, it is often handy to have certain important items within an arm’s reach – at your standing desk.
Storage space also helps you organize your workspace to keep everything clean and neat to prevent it from getting distracting. Additional shelves, cabinets, and small drawers are excellent standing desk storage options.
Another vital consideration you must make for your standing desk is the material you want it to be constructed from. This decision is determined by your aesthetics, tastes, functionality, convenience, and budget. While some people prefer wood due to its longevity, looks, and convenience, others opt for lamination.
Accessories for Your Standing Desk
Whether you’re a seasoned standing desk user or are new to this invention, there are a few accessories that you can add to your desk to make your experience even better.
Here are some additional accessories for a standing desk:
Anti-fatigue mat
Footrest
Keyboard tray
Headphone stand
Ergonomic gel wrist rest
Monitor Stand or Desk Shelf
Monitor Arm
Desk Mat
Wrapping Up
A standing desk can make your life easier and more convenient by improving your energy levels, mood, and productivity, all while preventing neck and back pain, among other health concerns that may otherwise arise from sitting all day long. Moreover, with an ergonomic standing desk, you can also improve your body posture and burn more calories for a healthier and fitter life.
If you’re looking to invest in an ergonomic standing desk that will turn your work life around, get in touch with FlexiSpot today! We have an extensive range of standing desks, so you can easily find one that suits your needs and works best for you!
