I remember the first time I tried a standing desk. The office I was working in had been remodeled, and every workstation got a makeover to include an electric standing desk. I’m talking about those really cool standing desks where you press a button, and the entire surface moves without needing to move your laptop or stuff (in 2016, this felt revolutionary). I thought it was awesome. This was back in the days when I worked five days a week in an office. A lot has changed since then.
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Flash forward five years, and I found myself working from home at a desk I thrifted years before. I’m not sure if it was all the day-in-the-life TikToks that flooded my feed, the months (OK, years) of working from home, or maybe everyone saying sitting is the new smoking that finally got to me, but I made the decision to purchase my very own electric standing desk. I was in search of the awe and excitement I experienced the first time I tried one, and as often comes with many purchases, I thought a standing desk would solve all my work and wellness problems.
Now, I’m about a year into using my standing desk, and I’m here to report back. Want the skinny on standing desks before you add to cart? Here’s my honest opinion on everything you need to know.
Flexispot
Electric Standing DeskDesigned with ergonomics in mind, Flexispot’s electric standing desk can be raised up to 47.6 inches, allowing you to sit and stand comfortably throughout your work day.
Shop nowOnce I put my desk together, I couldn’t wait to work at it. I’d start my day standing for an hour or two and then switch to sitting for a meeting. Then, by the time 5 p.m. rolled around, I found myself still sitting. It wasn’t out of laziness but because I got sucked into my work and simply forgot I had the option to stand. Some days, I wouldn’t even stand at all. It took me a while to get my groove, but once I did, I found myself standing more frequently.
At least for me, it’s not. If I had to put a number on it, I’d say I stand about 25-30 percent of the day. I’ve learned that it depends on the task I’m working on whether I stand or sit. Focused solo work: Stand. Off-camera meeting: Stand. On-camera meeting: Sit. I learned this from experience.
Early on, I took a few on-camera meetings standing and found myself shuffling my weight from foot to foot. While minimal, the swaying on the screen was distracting, especially when everyone else was sitting. So now, my best practice is to take these meetings while sitting. It’s best to find what works for you based on your preferences and type of work you have on your to-do list.
As much as I hate to admit it, I’m not as young as I once was. Sitting too long during the day causes my lower back and hip flexors to ache. On the days I stand, I feel a noticeable difference in my body. I’ve also found that the more I use my standing desk, the more my body craves it. It’s second nature now that I press the button to stand as soon as I get a little achy and antsy.
It’s worth noting that when I stand more during the day, I prefer to put on a good pair of shoes for support. I also purchased a standing desk mat (like this one) to provide additional cushion for the days I’d rather be barefoot. Both of these tactics help me comfortably stay on my feet longer.
One thing I haven’t discussed yet is cost. While standing desks have become more readily available and affordable in recent years, they’re still an investment compared to a traditional desk. I purchased mine for just over $250 from Amazon in 2022, and personally, it’s been worth every penny. The price of my specific model has gone up since to $299, but at the time that I’m writing this, it’s on sale for $179. If you’re interested in investing, keep an eye out for deals and coupons. Prices fluctuate regularly, and you can seriously score a killer deal if you stay on top of the deals available.
Having the option to stand throughout the day has increased my productivity, improved my physical well-being, and allowed me to focus on my body in a way I haven’t historically been able to while I work. I can listen to what my body needs throughout the workday, and that, alone to me, is priceless. But if you’re looking to purchase a standing desk, it’s up to you to determine if the benefits you anticipate (i.e., improved health and productivity) outweigh the cost (i.e., dollars spent and how much you’ll actually use it).
Long story short, I love my standing desk. I’m not sure I could ever go back to a traditional desk. I love the option to stand when I need it. I love that I can focus on my physical well-being in this new way while focusing on my work. For anyone considering a standing desk, I’d highly recommend it. I truly don’t think you’ll regret it.
And now that I’ve had my standing desk for a year, the only question is, do I splurge on a walking pad to elevate my working experience? Only time will tell.
Flexispot
Comhar Standing DeskFlexispot’s Comhar standing desk is our managing editor’s personal favorite. It features USB charging ports, allows you to personalize the height settings of your desk, and has a drawer for extra storage.
Shop nowBranch
Standing DeskThis is the standing desk in The Everygirl’s Chicago home office. It’s sleek, beautiful, and helps our team prioritize ergonomics without sacrificing a gorgeous office space.
Shop nowFlexispot
Standing L-DeskIf you’re in need of a little extra space (anyone else can’t live without dual monitors?), Flexispot also offers L-shaped desks that give you a ton of extra desktop space.
Shop nowIf you’ve paid attention to, well, the world over the past half decade, you’re probably aware of the latest hype-train in workplace technology: standing desks. There’s a good chance that at least one person in your office is a “standing desk” advocate. And now, as we outfit our homes with the latest remote work tools, these contraptions have found their way to our bedrooms, living rooms, and makeshift home offices.
The perfect companion to mindfulness and Soylent, standing desks became all the rage as a way to counteract the negative health impacts of sitting in a crouched position all day. While the hype has died down a little bit (in no small part due to a predictable counter-hype training accusing standing desks of causing knee problems), standing desks continue to grow in popularity and millions of people swear by them.
Is the hype justified? This article will dig into the facts and fiction behind standing desks, and try to answer a simple question: are standing desks worth it?
Want more information on 55 inch electric height adjustable standing desk? Feel free to contact us.
Standing desks are by no means a recent invention. In fact, many famous intellectuals, writers & statesmen worked on standing desks as a means to improve posture and drive focus — names like Thomas Jefferson, Ernest Hemingway and Charles Darwin among them.
The theory behind standing desks are sound: according to a meta-analysis of studies done on the topic, it’s clear that prolonged sitting consistently leads to much higher mortality rates. So, following that train of thought, standing should solve that problem. Right?
Well, the answer there is frustratingly fuzzy. Part of why it’s a difficult question to answer is because we aren’t entirely certain why sitting is so bad. We know it’s bad for your posture, and we know it causes issues with circulation. It’s also a strong signal for obesity (though that’s more of a lifestyle issue than directly related to sitting). So if posture and obesity are the two primary issues with sitting, are standing desks the answer?
In part because of a lack of studies on the issue, and in other part because the results simply aren’t convincing, there isn’t much evidence to make a strong case against sitting. In other words, we can’t convincingly say that standing desks are better for you.
Here’s what we do know. A 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that standing desks reduced upper back and neck pain and improved overall mood vs sitting down. While this sounds compelling, there are two obvious flaws to this conclusion: 1) there’s likely a placebo effect at least partially involved with the latter, and 2) the study didn’t look into possible drawbacks of standing desk.
On the topic of orthopedic health, standing is certainly a better option for your posture, as well as back and neck, than sitting. This aligns with the recommendations of orthopedic specialists, medical professionals with an MD degree who focus on the musculoskeletal system. However, standing for long periods of time also brings it’s own share of issues, primarily related to knee pain. When factoring in all the unique drawbacks of standing desk, research around this issue suggests that standing desks generally don’t offer more orthopedic benefits to sitting desks.
There are ways to counteract some of the drawbacks of standing desks. For example, fatigue mats have been shown in some studies to reduce standing fatigue and knee strain by as much as 60%. While there certainly isn’t any research to drive this conclusion, that difference might just be enough to tip a standing desk setup over the edge in comparing it to it’s 4-legged counterpart.
The other purported benefit of standing desks is supposed to be for obesity. On that front, there is a scientific consensus. A standing desk setup doesn’t burn significantly more calories than sitting down, and it certainly isn’t anywhere close to the miracle obesity cure it has often been hyped to be. At best you can expect to burn a few pounds a year, but week to week it won’t make much of a difference.
So, if we had to summarize, the actual physiological impacts of standing desks don’t have enough research behind them to say conclusively one way or the other, but the little research that does exist seems to strongly suggest that they aren’t all that helpful an alternative.
Short answer: It depends.
Long answer: Research doesn’t seem to suggest that a standing desk is helpful from a physical perspective, but that doesn’t mean it wont improve your overall work experience. Until there’s more research on the issue, the right answer likely depends on your personal preference and physical responses to standing while you work. And even if standing desks don’t significantly impact your physical health, there’s a good chance they could improve your overall mood or improve your productivity.
The issues with standing desks are independent from those with sitting desks. In other words, standing mitigates a lot of the problems that sitting has while introducing some of it’s own, and vice versa.
Following that train of thought, you could conclude that the best way to maximize the benefits of both while minimizing the risks is a hybrid setup. Sit-stand desks are an increasingly popular alternative to a pure sit or stand desk — desks that can be electronically shifted up or down to switch between sitting or standing.
In theory, this setup should enable the best of both worlds; minimizing the risks of either setup, while still attaining the benefits.
Sit-stand desks are still relatively new and not very well understood, but there is some research out there that suggests this line of thinking is valid. A study done by a team of researchers in the UK aimed to answer this question, studying the impacts of hundreds of office workers who switched to a sit-stand desk. The results were fairly convincing: participants showed notable improvements in job performance, work engagement, occupational fatigue, daily anxiety and quality of life.
Several Hive employees use standing desks, so we reached out to get their thoughts. When we asked 2 people if their standing desks were worth the purchase, both immediately responded yes. They were very eager to share their thoughts about the desks they use (and love) right now.
Jovanna, our head of People Ops, uses this Fully Standing Desk for kids. Although it’s on the pricey side, Jo says it has been worth the money. Her pro tip? Get the kids desk! The size still works for adults, but it’s small enough to fit in an apartment, which is great for remote workers.
CJ, Hive’s VP of Product & Engineering, also uses his standing desk — the Realspace Magellan Performance Desk — to be more productive while working from home right now. He says the desk gives him an excuse to get up for a few hours every day, which is something all remote workers will relate to. One unexpected benefit CJ mentioned? It’s a great space saver. The elevated height lets him tuck his chair under the desk, which keeps it out of the way in his apartment.
Standing desks are, without a doubt, over-hyped, and most of the supposed benefits simply aren’t true. While the science is still catching up, the existing research strongly points in the direction that standing desks simply aren’t worth the investment.
Sit-stand desks, however, do show some promise, which ultimately belies the underlying point: the real issue is structural, and not related to your desk. We need to move away from sedentary office life, and move towards encouraging workplace cultures that promote activity.
Regardless of your desk setup, there is one consistently proven technique for improving your health: walk. Replacing 2 minutes of sitting time every hour with a quick stroll around the office reduced risk in office workers of premature death by a whopping 33 percent.
Seriously — just by getting up to get a glass of water once an hour you’re 33% less likely to die prematurely compared to your peers. That’s a significantly bigger health impact (for significantly cheaper) than any reported benefits of standing desks.
Instead of focusing on a desk, the best workplaces have a steady mix of sitting, standing & walking — and ultimately, that’s the future of work we need to strive towards.
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