How standing desks are key to work wellness
Fact: The work health of Americans is at risk due to too much sitting. The vast majority of Americans make their living by sitting at a desk and, by the way, they hate it. So what we have is a vicious cycle of pain and discomfort that leads to a host of life-threatening diseases that benefits absolutely no one.
We all want to be healthy and comfortable. Humans don’t typically agree on anything but health and comfort are universal goals. However, they do require some diligence for work wellness. Follow these few tenants and you’ll be a healthier, happier and more productive person at work.
“A Good Stance and Posture Reflect a Proper State of Mind.”
Sitting may not seem like unhealthy behavior but, in reality, hours of it will kill you! That doesn’t mean you need to run a marathon from 9-5; even just a few posture tweaks can make a world of difference. One of the simplest changes you can make to your work health is buying a standing desk. If sitting all day is the smoking, having a desk that allows you to stand for periods is an easy fix.
An ergonomic desk doesn’t mean you have to stand all day, in fact, that’s not healthy either! Our caveman ancestors didn’t spend a lot of time typing at a desk and it seems we aren’t meant to either. But since we don’t have to hunt for our food, perhaps a standing desk is more feasible.
By switching between sitting and standing, you stop all the damage that’s done by doing too much of one or the other. From there, small adjustments like having your monitor an arm’s length away or having your hands at or slightly below your elbows also help. The data is in and standing desk has proven to benefit work wellness across the board.
Work Wellness is Your Environment Too: “Control Your Environment, Otherwise It Controls You”
Another key to work health is your surroundings. Sure, a standing desk will go a long way but your work setting is also key. A study by Princeton University found that messiness affects your ability to concentrate and focus. It puts facts to the idea of, “Cluttered room, cluttered mind.” By creating a neat and tidy workspace, you will find that getting down to business comes easier.
Fuel is another vital factor in work wellness. It’s simple: you are what you eat. A double meat burrito from Chipotle is more likely to induce a nap than a furious work binge. Nutrition, whether at work or home is fundamental to keeping your body in order. Healthy, small snacks eaten over the course of the day are far more effective.
Short breaks to stand up, walk around and take your eyes off your screen are also highly recommended. Taking care of yourself isn’t rocket science but it does require discipline and awareness. Sure, you can strap in matrix style and not move for eight hours, but eventually, that will catch up to you.
You Are Not a Caveman or Woman, Take a Walk
The prehistoric human, our ancestors, were probably in great shape. However, they didn’t work in front of a desk, drive a car or watch TV. They also froze to death. So objectively, we have it a lot better. Nevertheless, the lives of many Americans have become too sedentary. That is part of the reason why we are seeing diabetes and heart disease at all time rates.
Our bodies can’t handle hours of extended sitting. That is why whether it is a standing ergonomic desk or taking a 5-minute walking break every hour, sedentary periods must be broke up. So take a hard look at your work health and see what changes you can make.