The more scientists discover the adverse health effects of sitting at a desk all day for work, the world comes up with innovative solutions. One of those solutions includes standing desks. Studies show standing desks help prevent weight gain by allowing the user to burn more calories. They also help reduce neck and back pain, as well as a variety of other ailments. Additionally, people find that using a standing desk increases their productivity - the benefits are endless for this office space invention!
If you're interested in purchasing a standing desk to benefit your health, it's important to know how to properly use one. In today's article, we'll share with you some easy tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your standing desk experience and where you can purchase one.
How to Stand Properly at a Standing Desk
Learning how to use a standing desk properly can ensure you reap all of its terrific long-term benefits. Your posture and stance are everything when it comes to this - so let's discuss how to stand at a standing desk.
Maintain Good Posture
To help you get into proper posture, adjust the desk so that it is level with your elbows. Your fingers should be able to drift over the keyboard without ever bending your wrist up or down. Your neck should remain in a strong and tall stance with your shoulders back and relaxed. Maintaining your posture may be difficult at first, but it will get better over time.
Remain at Eye-Level with Your Screen
To further help you maintain proper posture, you should always ensure that you are eye-level with the screen. If you have a laptop on the desk instead of a traditional monitor, you will want to get a stand to prop the screen up higher. There should never be a need to noticeably bend your neck up or down. Your posture can take time to perfect, especially when you're used to slouching in a desk chair. But as the saying goes, "practice makes perfect." It won't be long before you start to notice small changes and then huge improvements.
Easy Standing Desk Tips
If you feel like you still need some extra help on how to use and get the most out of your standing desk, try implementing these tips. These tips may seem small, but you will be amazed at their long-term impact.
Don't Lock Your Knees
One of the biggest tips for using a standing desk we can give is to never lock your knees. Keeping your knees slightly bent will provide optimum comfort while using the desk. By doing this, you are keeping the joints loose, avoiding hyperextension, and ultimately preventing long-term damage.
Stand On a Comfortable Surface
Standing on your hardwood floor or a thin office carpet is going to get old really quickly. It can make our heels and knees hurt, which can then lead to us compromising our posture to ease the pain. The best solution to this problem is to place a small and cushioned mat by the standing desk. These mats are typically called anti-fatigue mats and are made from various foams. The foam will prevent fatigue and pain from occurring in your knees, ankles, and heels while utilizing the standing desk. If you're working in an office, you will also want to consider wearing comfortable ergo dynamic shoes - ditch the heels and wear a stylish pair of shoes that also prioritize your health.
Use an Arm Support
If you're prone to pain in your wrist while using your mouse, try using an arm support. An arm support, also known as an arm rest, is a small, cushioned pad that helps relieve pressure on the wrist. By relieving the pressure, you can prevent pain and damage in joints. Arms supports are great whether you're standing or sitting - but we particularly recommend them when you first start using a standing desk to make the experience more comfortable.
Take Frequent Breaks and Stretch
Attention all of our super productive readers, it is okay to take breaks. That is especially the case when you first start using a standing desk; they take some time to get used to. And even once you're used to standing for longer periods, it's advised to still take frequent breaks and stretch. Keeping your legs limber and comfortable can create a more enjoyable working experience as well as maintain the health of the joints in your knees and ankles.
Support Your Back When Sitting
Despite their obvious name, you can sit at a standing desk when you need a break. All you have to do is adjust the height of your desk and grab a chair - but you'll want to put some thought into the chair you use. To properly support your back when sitting, the chair you choose should be curved inward or have substantial padding. You will also want to ensure that you are sitting upright and avoid slouching your hunching your shoulders. Sitting in an unsupportive and awkward position can cause strain on the disc in your back - a chair with lumbar support can prevent pain and pressure in this area.
These four simple tips for using a standing desk can greatly improve your overall experience and increase your ability to reap the desk's long-term health benefits.
Change The Way You Work with Progressive Desk
Are you looking for the perfect standing desk for your home workspace or company office? If so, then you need to check out Progressive Desk.
Our four electric adjustable standing desks come in various colors perfect for any office space - we even have a corner style option. They also have a variety of features to help make your standing desk safer and easier to use. Some of those features include energy-saving mode, collision detection, memory positions, child locking mechanisms, and so much more.
Create a healthier and more productive work environment today with a standing desk from the innovative company Progressive Desk.