Benefits of Standing Desks

Many jobs these days, including mine, involve sitting all day. However, sitting all day long is terrible for the body. The longer I sit, the more tired I get. I try to move around for a few minutes at least every 1 - 2 hours. The recommendation is to move around every 30 minutes, which breaks the workflow, so I push it out a little further. More than that is just too much sitting at once where I can just feel it's been too long. I either start getting antsy or fall asleep depending on the day. On the other hand, it's also not good to stand all day long. The best approach is to alternate short lengths of time doing equal amounts of sitting and standing. Standing burns a few more calories over sitting, but over time they add up. Standing also helps improve blood flow which means better heart health. It helps decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke and boosts metabolism. It will lead to more energy and less disease. It's also an improvement to your health that can be done for free. There are areas of the world like Sardinia in Italy where people live the longest called Blue Zones. People live an active life well into their late 90's and early 100's. One aspect of their lifestyle is they incorporate daily movement. Dan Buettner has studied these people and told a story of how they walk to go get groceries and it's downhill. On the way back they have to go uphill carrying all of the groceries they bought. They walk everywhere and are frequently moving. The elderly don't end up in nursing homes. They are still out and about living their life. Daily movement doing everyday activities like cleaning also add up to be beneficial. Standing desks are a good alternative to sitting at a desk. I have a couple of different ones. One is on wheels and can easily be moved from room to room. The top is only big enough for a laptop though. I also have a standing desk converter. It sits on top of a stationary desk or table and raises up and down using a lever. It's big enough for two monitors and a laptop. It works great. The desk converter I have doesn't seem to be available, but this VIVO Black Height Adjustable 36 inch Stand up Desk Converter Quick Sit to Stand Tabletop Dual Monitor Riser is similar. This is the mobile standing desk, Techni Mobili Sit-to-Stand Rolling Adjustable Height Laptop Cart with Storage. I try to stand up around the same time every day for a couple of hours. Picking the same time every day helps build a habit and makes it easier to remember to do. I feel more alert and focused when I stand. The key is forcing yourself to do it when you are comfortable and cozy sitting. Challenge: Pick an hour out of your day where you are normally sitting and stand instead. If you are sitting at a desk and don't have a standing desk, raise your screen up by propping it on a very sturdy box or use books. Standing while you watch tv or play video games is another idea. Over time, gradually work up to rotating in equal parts between sitting and standing throughout the day. #ads Standing Desks

References https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/standing-vs-sitting-fewer-pounds-less-heart-disease https://www.bluezones.com/articles/ https://healthyfreelancers.com/standing-desk-benefits