We’re spending more and more of our time hunched over laptops and devices and it’s really taking a toll on our health and well-being. The pandemic working-from-home rules have seen many businesses adopting a hybrid model and that can mean that there’s now no clear oversight of how employees are sitting.
The right chair will solve some of the problems. An ergonomic chair can be tailored to meet your precise needs and you may find that using one can alleviate a lot of the pressure points. However, an ergonomic chair won’t fix all the problems caused by sitting at a desk all day. Changing to a height adjustable desk could transform your experience of a desk-based role.
What Is A Height-Adjustable Desk?
A height-adjustable desk changes height as and when you need it to, taking you through your day from a morning meeting to an afternoon report-writing session.
Unlike a fixed-height standing desk, height-adjustable desks can switch seamlessly between sitting and standing with a quick tap of a button. It allows the user to swap between sitting and standing according to the task that they are doing.
For many offices that have adopted a hot-desking model, a height-adjustable desk means that every employee can set the desk to their own optimum settings. This not only accommodates height differences around the office, but it can be instrumental in making workstations more easily accessible for all.
Will It Really Make A Difference?
Many people are living too sedentary a lifestyle and the impact can be felt in all aspects of our life, from back pain to digestive issues. Sitting down for long periods of time is linked to many different health issues, like varicose veins, and it’s thought that a hard session in the gym won’t actually undo all of the harm caused by long periods in a chair, behind a desk.
Research from The British Heart Foundation (BHF) shows that sitting down and working in a desk-based sedentary role can lead to raised blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause organ damage and harden arteries, leading to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
How A Height-Adjustable Desk Can Solve The Problem
Working while moving can generate a dynamic shift in your lifestyle, without fundamentally changing anything about your day-to-day role. With a height-adjustable desk, you are able to stand when doing less focused tasks or are on calls, while you can return quickly to sitting to work on a more focused piece of work. Switching between the two will increase your daily movement and help you to shake off the afternoon slump.
Hints And Tips For Using Height Adjustable Desks
- You can get used to your desk at your own speed, starting with short bursts of standing and increasing them as you get used to your desk.
- Make sure that your footwear is standing-friendly.
- Make sure you take time to gently move about as you work.
- Stretch throughout the day.