“The healthiest way to work is to utilise both sitting and standing positions, and standing desks allow effortless switching between seated and standing postures,” explains Humanscale’s Mark. “The best standing desks will allow you to seamlessly adjust between sitting and standing postures without interrupting workflow, and this, in turn, promotes a healthy and balanced level of activity throughout your working day, whether you’re at home or in the office,” he adds.
Why is it better to stand while working?
“The length of time we spend sedentary at our desk impacts our health, and not in a good way,” explains Mark. He continues, “Research reveals that the production of beneficial enzymes drop to ineffective levels after sitting for as little as an hour, and over time, the continued lack of movement leads to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (14%), cancer (13%), and diabetes (91%). “In addition, fat-burning enzymes drop by 90% as a person sits down. ”
“Correcting the negative effects of sitting is all about movement,” Mark elaborates. He says, “Moving for as little as a few minutes every hour re-engages metabolism and blood flow, and can improve mobility. ”When blood flow improves, more oxygen is carried to the brain. “This leads to increased productivity as well as improved health.”
What are the benefits of a standing desk?
“We know that prolonged sitting can cause injury, heart disease, and fatigue,” claim the experts at Herman Miller. They tell us, “Our research shows that a combination of sitting, standing, and moving throughout the day is optimal for health.”
“Standing all day is not the cure for sitting all day, and alternating between the two is best,” the experts add. “Sit-to-stand desks are beneficial because they encourage regular movement between postures,” they describe, explaining how, “This lowers health risks, leads to better energy and productivity.”
What is the average height of a standing desk?
“The height range of a standing desk varies, and will also depend on the type of desk you choose,” says the Herman Miller team. “For Herman Miller offerings,” they begin, “the standard height range typically falls between 64cm lowered and 120cm raised.”
The height of a standing desk will also vary depending on brand. The FLYTTA Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk, for example, has been specially designed to be suitable for people up to 6ft 9″, and measures in at 130cm when raised – not including the desktop. Homall’s Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk, on the other hand, only raises to 116cm, which is just over 45.5” (around 3’8″ in feet and inches). This means that it’s always worth checking the height specifications of a desk before you click purchase, as the difference between brands can be quite significant.
What are the top 3 factors to consider when buying a standing desk?
Space
Before you start thinking about the specifics of your desk design, the first thing you’ll need to consider is the space your desk sits in. The amount of space you have in your room will dictate whether your desk should be standard sized, compact, permanent, or portable, but the type of space your desk sits in will also help you decide which sort of design is best. Put simply, do you want something that’s obviously office-like, or something that looks more like a regular piece of furniture? Taking into account your room’s current aesthetic will help you decide.
“If you have a dedicated home office space, you might choose something like The Float Table, because it comes in a standard desk size,” explains Mark. “This type of desk,” he continues, “would also work in a general living space that doubles up as home office, because it comes in finishes that will suit any home environment”.
“If you’re in a small apartment, however,” Mark qualifies, “The Float Mini table is a much better option. It’s compact, and therefore better for small home office spaces.” He adds, “If you just don’t have the room for an extra piece of furniture, you might want to consider solutions that can transform ordinary desks or tables into a healthy and active workspace instead. ”Something like the QuickStand Eco is great because it can be attached to a traditional table and stored away if required.”
Height range