How we go about our daily jobs also has implications on our health and productivity. For office workers and people who sit down for the majority of their days, it’s important to know how limited movement affects our bodies and minds. Penn Medicine reveals that being sedentary for long periods of time can negatively impact your health. In particular, even if you’ve completed your exercise routine for the day, you can still be at risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure if you fail to move around at work.
Height adjustable desks can mitigate against these risks by providing opportunities to improve your health and enhance your productivity. Read on to learn more about the benefits of this type of ergonomic furniture.
Improved health
Sitting down for long periods of time can increase your risk of chronic health problems as our bodies are simply not designed to be sat in the same position all day. This means that pain and discomfort can also be caused by long periods of sitting.
Too much sitting and not enough standing or moving can also be bad for your mental health. Studies have shown that people who sit for more than seven hours a day are at a higher risk of developing depression. During exercise, your brain is flooded with natural feel-good chemicals that improve your mood and combat stress levels.
Experts suggest alternating between sitting and standing every 30 minutes for optimum health.
Boost productivity
Moving your body from a sitting to standing position gives your muscles and mind a gentle exercise that makes you feel more focused and energised.
Research suggests that height adjustable desks can reduce tiredness, which in turn increases productivity. In just ten minutes of sitting at your desk, your blood flow and circulation can be negatively affected, leaving you feeling lethargic.
Standing promotes neurogenesis, which is the creation of brain cells. Therefore, by standing more regularly you are boosting your ability to think and work productively.
Simple ways to stay active at your desk
In addition to using a sit stand desk, here are some other ways to stay active during your working day and improve your health and productivity:
- Set a timer to ensure you get up from your desk regularly or switch to a stand-up position.
- Do subtle stretches such as shoulder raises, leg raises, and neck stretches a few times a day to get your blood flowing.
- Suggest a walking meeting to your colleagues out in the fresh air instead of the usual board room.
- Make the most of your lunch break by going for a brisk walk or head to the nearest gym to really get your blood pumping and energised for the afternoon.
Health and productivity go hand-in-hand. Your body and mind need to be healthy in order for you to be productive in your work.
