How Standing Changes the Way You Work
Pushed for time, lacking creative inspiration, tired from the day-in, day-out grind? These are common complaints of professionals who feel drained by their office surroundings. Over the past century, the way humans work has radically shifted—a move away from manual labor to more sedentary work environments. And as a result, we face changes to our physiological makeup and psychological well-being that are unnatural, even deadly. According to Dr. James Levine, the doctor who coined the term “sitting disease,” simply switching to a stand up desk can remedy the harmful effects of sitting. Learn how standing changes the way you work, and experience a better, more productive workday.
More Energized
Know that feeling of clarity you experience after a run? It’s the result of a number of physiological factors that also occur when standing. Firstly, endorphin levels rise when you’re active, causing you to feel alert, less stressed, and more apt to take on challenges (*wink, wink*—like that huge project you’ve been avoiding). Because standing triples your energy expenditure as compared with sitting, it also regulates cortisol levels, a stress hormone that increases with inactivity and has links to depression and decreased energy. And the resounding reason why standing is connected with a boost in energy? Greater blood flow stimulates brain activity, meaning a more productive, and thus satisfying, workday.
More Healthy
The research tying sitting to diabetes, obesity, and heart disease is prolific. A 2010 Australian study even suggests that for every extra hour we sit, our risk of dying from cardiovascular disease increases by 11 percent. With facts like these, it’s easy to become frightened by our everyday activities. But luckily, research also proves that standing can reverse these deadly consequences. In a study conducted by the American Diabetes Association, researchers found that participants who alternated between sitting and standing boasted slimmer waistlines, lower BMIs, and healthier fat and blood sugar levels than those who primarily sat—factors linked not just to diabetes risk, but to other diseases as well.
More Collaborative
The way we work also determines how we work with others. In a study from Washington University in St. Louis, researchers found that standing while working actually encourages more creative and collaborative group work. College students were broken into two groups—half in a traditional office setting, the other half standing. Those who worked in the more sedentary workspace showed lower signs of engagement and were more private and territorial about their work. But those who stood moved about the group, brainstorming with others as the result of their environment.
Change the way you work with an adjustable-height standing workstation. Stand Up Desk Store can help you find the perfect crank adjustable, manual, or electric standing desk for your office. Shop now, or contact us today!
