Standing desks are the in-thing and continue to top the best buys as we welcome yet another year. Everyone wants one, from office workers to remote employees, freelancers, and content creators. After all, how can one say no to the one thing that’s been enabling people to boost their work performance, address their back and neck issues, somehow get a workout while working, and improve their posture? It’s the dream office setup. But, like with anything good, there is such a thing as overindulging. We look at how long you should stand when using your standing desk.
From Beginner to Pro: How to Progressively Use Your Standing Desk.
The allure of a standing desk is understandable, as it breaks the monotony of sitting for hours. But how long should you be in this upright position?
The Newbie
Using a standing desk can be so exciting that you may feel tempted to stand for hours on end. But to ensure you transition into this working position without straining your body, you should start by standing for about 15 to 30 minutes at a time. As you do this, pay attention to how you feel. Are you feeling tired, woozy, or experiencing any other kind of discomfort? If yes, here are the first ways to go about this:
● Check your posture. Sometimes, you may be straining your body because you have set up the desk in the wrong way. It could be too high or too low. You should set it up such that your elbows meet the desk at a 90-degree angle and your eyes align with your desktop. You can enjoy much better posture control with desks that offer memory presets, such as those from Desktronic, as you won’t need to configure the settings each time you change your position.
● Assess your footwear. Standing in heels or other stylish shoes might look great but it won’t feel as good for your body. Look for more comfortable shoes with a slightly elevated heel and comfortable padding. Examples include running shoes, walking shoes, and orthopaedic shoes.
If everything checks out, you should take the discomfort as a sign that it’s time to take a break. First, go on a short walk or stretch your arms and legs for about five minutes. That will alleviate any physical discomfort arising from standing. Then, have a seat. Your body needs to recover from the strain of standing. Even if you have stretched or taken a walk, you still need to have a seat.
The Intermediate User
After the first week of using the standing desk, you will have a good idea of how long it takes for your body to start feeling tired. You can then start increasing this time by 10 to 15 minutes at a time. For example, if you were able to stand for 15 minutes at a time in the first week, you can start standing for 25 to 30 minutes in the second week. Be sure to listen to your body and adjust your standing time accordingly.
The Pro
How far should you go with your standing as you progress? Some people can stand for as long as 30 minutes at a time while others can go for as long as 2 hours. Per expert advice, you should not stand for more than 2 hours at a time without taking a break. Such prolonged standing not only tires your body but it can also pave the way for physical health issues – it is just as bad as sitting for 2 hours without stretching or taking a break.
The Sit-Stand Ratio
Experts agree that it’s best to spend anything from 2 to 4 hours of your day in an upright position. Any more than this can result in physical strain. Ideally, you should spread the standing time throughout your day such that you use a sitting-to-standing ratio of 1:1 or 2:1. For example, you can sit for 1 hour and stand for 30 minutes or an hour. Once again, it comes down to listening to how your body feels and progressing over time.