Battle of the Desks: Standing Vs Sitting

Bracken Workspace Plus Battle of the Desks: Standing Vs Sitting

Office spaces have changed over recent years. Why? Because of what’s known as the “sitting epidemic”. As a species, we’re designed to move and yet it’s the case that many adults in the UK spend around 9 hours a day sitting. And whilst we know from the research that sitting for prolonged periods of time, with little to no physical activity in between, is not good for our physical health, there’s also an argument to be made that it’s not good for our mental health either.

All of this leads us onto the arrival of the standing desk and their growing popularity in recent years. Let’s start by outlining what a standing desk is. It’s simply a desk that allows you to work comfortably whilst standing up, as opposed to sitting down at a desk and in an office chair. But does this new way of working solve all the problems associated with sitting down at a desk all day? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of both standing and sitting setups.
 

What are the advantages of a standing desk setup?

Sitting at a desk all day causes many people to slouch or lean forward, which in turn results in poor posture. It can also lead to aches and pains, and a common complaint of those who spend the majority of their day sitting is the pain they experience in their lower back. However, an advantage of working at a standing desk is that it helps the body to stretch out and ease the pain that can be associated with sitting hunched over at a desk all day.

Another point in favour of the standing desk comes from research published in the British Medical Journal. Findings showed that people who switched to a standing desk reported a boost in productivity and they also reported feeling more engaged in their work. And in addition to this research, spending an increased amount of time sitting down has been linked to low mood and even depression, whilst standing has been linked to increased mood and energy levels.

There’s also evidence to show that standing burns more calories than sitting down, and standing can also help to lower blood sugar levels, which is all good news as increased blood sugar levels are not good for our long term health. Sitting down for prolonged periods of time also means you’re not moving, and not moving is not good for our cardiovascular system. Sitting down for long periods of time is thought to slow the body’s metabolism, affect the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and break down body fat.
 

What are the disadvantages of standing for long periods of time?

However, standing setups are not problem free either. Whilst sitting for long periods of time can lead to aches and pains, so can standing for excessive amounts of time too. The aches and pains are just felt in different parts of the body. For example, tired knees and feet are not uncommon, especially if you’re not wearing comfortable or supportive footwear.

And whilst we’ve mentioned that standing is better for your posture, that’s only true if you pay proper attention to ergonomics. If not, it can be just as bad for your posture as sitting down all day. So whether you choose to stand or sit, an ergonomically correct workstation is paramount, and can be set up easily regardless of your preferred method of working. You’ll need:

  • A monitor at eye level to prevent neck injuries as a result of slumping and leaning into the monitor. The head and neck should be in a neutral position.

  • A keyboard and mouse within reach. Your arms should be parallel to the floor, and you shouldn’t find yourself leaning forward to reach them - if you are, they’re too far away. When typing, your hands should be shoulder width apart so that the shoulders are relaxed.

  • If sitting, you need an office chair with lumbar support and which supports the natural ‘S’ curve of your back. Your feet should touch the ground and be flat to the floor.

  • If standing, you’ll also need to make sure you’ve got a desk that allows you to rest your arms comfortably at your sides.

 

Which option should you choose: standing or sitting?

Many jobs require us to be at a computer for a large portion of the day. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all of that time needs to be spent sitting down or standing up. The good news for us all is that many desks now allow us to transition seamlessly between a standing and sitting setup, offering the best of both worlds at just the push of a button. All that you need to remember if you’ve been used to sitting and plan to spend some of your working day standing at your desk is to try and not overdo it. Instead, incrementally increase the time you stand each day until you become more comfortable standing for longer periods of time.

And remember that with whichever work setup you prefer, make sure you’ve set up a workstation which supports your body in a neutral position so you can sit, or stand, comfortably for long stints. And for either setup, you need to remember to take a break regularly as it’s important to stretch, walk around and change position in order to break up long periods of sitting with light activity. You could try the following tips to help you remember to get up and moving regularly throughout your work day:

  • Set a reminder to get up every 30 minutes throughout the day.

  • If possible in your working environment, try to walk or stand whilst on the phone instead of sitting down.

  • Take a walk around the office each time you take a tea or coffee break

  • Walk to a colleagues desk instead of emailing or calling.