Here Are Six Ways That Working While Standing Can Be Beneficial To You
Most jobs today require people to sit in front of computer screens for long periods of time every day. Most tasks are now computer-based, which means there is little movement but a lot of sitting. The idea of sitting all day sounds appealing, but in reality, sitting for too long can do more harm than good. According to experts, sitting is the new smoking, which should give you an idea of how bad too much sitting can be for you.
People used to move around their workplaces a lot when computers weren't around to get things done. All they have to do now is press a command button, and that's it. If they need to communicate with a coworker, they call, email, or use the company's internal communication channel rather than walking over to their workstation.
As much as technology has aided us by making tasks easier and faster, it has also led us to live sedentary lives with far less physical activity than is recommended. We're not kidding when we say that a sedentary lifestyle is bad for your health.
Working while standing is one way to reduce the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle (and too much sitting). You read that correctly! Standing at work is one of the best ways to combat a sedentary lifestyle, especially if your schedule does not allow for much time for exercise or other physical activities.
This blog post will explain how sedentary living can affect you and how standing at work can benefit you.
What Effect Does Prolonged Sitting at Work Have on You?
You may be wondering how sitting can be harmful. You'll be surprised (or should we say shocked?) when we tell you how long you can sit for.
Lower Body Muscles Weakness
You don't use your legs and glutes when you sit for long periods of time. These muscles will become weaker if they are not used. When you stand or walk, your muscles are constantly working (contraction and expansion) to keep you upright against gravity and maintain your balance, but when you sit, they don't have to do any of this work. You are more likely to be injured if these muscles weaken.
Gaining Weight
Weight gain will occur if you sit all day with no physical activity. When you don't exercise, your body doesn't process the sugars and fats you eat, resulting in weight gain. Sitting all day increases your chances of developing metabolic syndrome.
Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System
Most people are not aware of their posture. Sitting in an incorrect posture for long periods of time increases your chances of developing posture-related musculoskeletal disorders. These disorders are characterized by pain in the lower back, shoulders, and neck, and if not treated promptly, they can lead to long-term health complications.
Diabetes and heart disease
Because of increased insulin resistance, sitting for too long at work and not engaging in physical activity after work can put you at risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Veins Varicose
If you sit for an extended period of time, blood begins to pool in your legs, resulting in varicose veins. Although it is not dangerous, it can cause more serious conditions such as blood clots.
These aren't the only effects of prolonged sitting at work. It can also result in increased mental and physical fatigue, poor mental health, and decreased workplace productivity.
How Can Standing at Work Benefit You?
Well, thanks to ergonomic standing desks like the Sunaofe Tau 2 Standing Desk, you can now work while standing and combat a sedentary lifestyle without having to do much! With a standing desk, you can adjust the height of your workstation to suit yourself and work in absolute comfort and ease.
Let's look at the many ways you can benefit from working while standing using a standing desk:
1. Helps You Burn Calories
As you know by now, sitting for long hours can lead to weight gain because you don't give your body a chance to burn calories. Standing at work can reduce your chances of gaining excessive weight. Standing can help you burn calories, pretty much the same way walking does. Standing for an hour can help you burn 60 to 130 calories. If you stand for 3 hours every day of the week, you can burn as many as 1950 calories a week without moving an inch!
2. Enhances Your Posture
The majority of people are unaware that they are sitting in an incorrect posture at work. So, what exactly does a bad posture look like? It occurs when you sit with your back curved, shoulders slumped, and your neck awkwardly positioned (chin out or head bent forward). If you're currently sitting like this, you're at a high risk of developing posture-related musculoskeletal disorders because your back, neck, and shoulders are being strained.
Standing at work improves your posture and lowers your risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Using a standing desk at work greatly improves ergonomics. You can adjust the height of your workstation with a standing desk so you don't have to curve your back or slump your shoulders.
You can keep your computer screen at eye level to avoid having to raise or bend your neck. The correct workstation height also ensures that your arms are at a 100-degree angle on each side and that you do not have to lift your wrists awkwardly when typing. The best thing about standing work is that you constantly have to shift weight between your legs, which keeps your leg muscles from becoming fatigued and your blood from pooling in your legs.
3. Relieves Back Pain
If you have back pain at work and nothing seems to help, your sitting posture could be the culprit. When you sit in an incorrect posture for long periods of time, your spine is put under a lot of strain, which causes back pain. Persistent back pain should not be taken lightly because it is usually a sign of a serious problem, which in the case of a sitting job is incorrect posture. When you're standing at work, however, there's no strain on your back. You can finally say good-by to back pain by standing comfortably in a neutral posture.
When you're sitting and typing on your keyboard, you'll notice that you rest your wrists on the keyboard and raise your fingers to type. The wrists are constantly strained as you type, resulting in compression of the median nerve, which runs through the wrist. This nerve compression can cause numbness or painful tingling in the fingers, making typing very uncomfortable and even painful. This is referred to as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
When working while standing, however, you can adjust the height of your workstation to ensure that your keyboard is at the proper height for you and your arms are at a 90 to 100-degree angle. This is the ergonomic standard position for your arms, and it significantly reduces the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
5. Increases Circulation
Standing at work can also help you improve your circulation. When you sit for an extended period of time, blood begins to pool in your legs. This is why you get swelling in your feet after sitting for a long period of time. When blood begins to pool in the legs, the load on the heart increases, putting you at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and other complications such as the formation of blood clots in the lower extremities that can mobilize to other parts of the body.
However, when you work while standing, your muscles are constantly working to keep you balanced against gravity. Micro-movements in the leg muscles keep blood flowing smoothly and prevent blood from pooling in the legs. As a result, the risk of heart disease is reduced.
6. Enhances Your Mood
Standing while at work can improve your mood and energy levels. When you stand, your leg muscles are constantly engaged, as you are aware. Not only do these micro-movements benefit you, but standing causes you to move around more. This keeps you awake and alert. You'll feel revitalized at work, which will reflect in your mood and performance!
