A sit-stand lifestyle—it’s an exciting shift! Not only is it healthy, but many people have reported an increase in their energy and an improvement in their overall wellbeing when they started to stand and move more often. In many workplaces and home offices today, a standing desk has replaced the traditional fixed desk, making working and living spaces more ergonomic, more dynamic, and healthier for all the occupants of the space.
Have you made the shift to a standing desk in your space? It’s the first step towards injecting more movement into your working schedule, allowing you to keep your muscles active and your posture correct even as you focus on your work for the day. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best practices that will help you gain success in the use of a stand up desk.
Gaining Success in the Sit-Stand Lifestyle—Here’s How to Do It
From your own habits to your workstation set-up, all of these affect the success rate of your entry into this lifestyle. Here are some tips that can help you succeed:
Design Your Workstation Well
When you look at the lifestyle shift that sitting and standing alternately entails, it’s important to understand that it’s not just all about the standing desk. You have to look at it in its entirety—the working space you move in. Of course, this means the desk first and foremost. Is it set at the correct height? Are all the equipment on the desk properly arranged and organized, within your reach as you need them?
Apart from these, consider the other elements in your space that also affect your wellbeing. Are you getting enough lighting? Do you have enough ventilation? Is the entire space properly organized without clutter that may cause distractions and even hazards? Check all of these and make sure they are properly taken care of.
Invest in the Right Accessories
Having a standing desk is a good start, but you may want to invest in accessories that will ensure your working comfort and help you make the shift to more standing so much easier and more comfortable. Here are some of the accessories you may look into:
- An anti-fatigue mat to reduce fatigue when you are standing
- A set of monitor arms to make adjusting monitor height and angle easier, as well as free up space on your desk
- A foot rest to elevate your feet and relieve pressure when you are seated
Build a Rhythm
By this, we mean creating a sit-stand schedule that works for you, one that is tailored to your preparedness for the lifestyle. During the early days while you are just starting, don’t push yourself to stand for too long at any given time—it’s okay to go back to sitting position when you feel tired. What’s important is that you monitor your standing time and make sure that you add more standing minutes as you work to build the habit. Once your body is ready to stand more, you can build an alternating schedule that will ensure you don’t stay on your chair for too long.
Choose Comfort Over Function in Your Footwear
We know you love your high heels, but that is not the best footwear for you when you are embarking on a sit stand lifestyle, especially in the beginning while your feet and legs are just starting to adjust to more work and pressure. Switch to more comfortable shoes, a pair that can provide more support and comfort while your feet and legs are still getting used to your new, more active habit.
Start Right: Choose the Right Standing Desk for You
We are ending this by going back to the beginning. Even before you start embarking in a sit-stand lifestyle, ensure a higher chance of success by choosing the right sit stand desk to begin with. Choose a desk with the correct height range according to your own height, one that can carry enough weight to handle all your working equipment, one with durable table top and frame, a desk with good warranty coverage, and one that is reasonable in terms of price.
Look for a high-quality standing desk that can meet all your needs as you make this important lifestyle shift. Find the right one, be it a single motor or a dual motor desk, a regular standing desk or an L-shaped desk. No matter what you choose, consider the features that will work for you best.
