More and more companies are thinking in greater detail about what kind of desks and other office furniture to put in their office spaces. While many are sticking with a kind of “one size fits all” approach, giving everyone the same size and style of desk, others are seeing a greater mix of traditional desks, as well as alternatives like standing desks.
Imagine a Queensland company fitting out a new office, and they know they have employees of different tastes. They’ll want to find a range of sit stand desks perfect for any Brisbane office. These are adjustable and allow people to pick or choose to make them into sitting or standing desks. If you’re undecided, how would you know which of the two styles is better for you?
The Case for Standing Desks
Standing desks are a unique style of desk that allow you to be standing while doing your work. The idea is that too much time sitting in an office chair in front of your computer or leaning over papers is pretty bad for your posture, your lower back, your neck and other parts of your body. What’s more, it’s part of an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle that is contributing to all of our expanding waistlines!
So, standing desks can lower the risk of weight gain or obesity, and can help lower both blood sugar levels as well as the risk of heart disease. The lack of opportunity to simply recline or laze back in your chair also helps to keep you focused and motivated to get your work done.
Speaking to the issue of weight gain, standing and doing work has been shown to burn up to 170 additional calories when compared to the same period of time as sitting and doing the same work. As for the risk of heart disease, it has been shown already that people who sit a lot every day have an elevated risk of heart disease, as well as diabetes.
For back pain, one particular study showed that for those employees taking part and trying out standing desks, there was an apparent improvement in lower back pain by as much as 32 percent. It was also shown to reduce neck pain and upper back pain by as much as 54 percent in as fast as 4 weeks of use.
The Case for Sitting Desks
For most people, there is an obvious and attractive comfort factor when their employer opts for sitting office desks from office monster, or a similar provider. Being able to take moments to lean back in the chair, possibly spin from side to side while they are thinking, could be seen as an important part of the sitting desk’s benefit over a standing desk. What’s more, a sitting desk takes an enormous strain off your feet, which many would imagine as a great benefit of a standing desk, too.
Standing for long periods of time can cause great discomfort in one’s feet, especially if they are wearing tight-fitting shoes, high heels or other less-than comfortable formal footwear, which might be a requirement for their workplace. Being able to sit at their desks could be the only relief they get from this otherwise uncomfortable footwear. What’s more, standing for long periods can cause blood to pool in the legs and ultimately lead to inflammation in the veins. Click here to find a relaxing chair online perfect for your sitting desks
Clearly a Balance is Best
In the end, it’s clearly best to try and find a compromise between the two. Sit-stand desks offer a good balance, also known as height-adjustable desks. Buy height adjustable desks as they will allow those workers who want to stand periodically to adjust the desk, allowing them to stand and work perhaps in alternating hours or in another arrangement that suits them. Both types have their pluses and minuses. Let the staff choose!
