Is A Standing Desk Better Than Sitting?

Us humans are never satisfied. We are always looking to innovate, create, and improve. This perpetual lack of satisfaction, along with a culture based on consumerism, has us constantly looking for the next thing.

This never ending search for improvement has taken us away from traditional work environments. Cubicles and uncomfortable work environments are on the way out. Instead, employers are offering more and more benefits. It isn’t altruism; it is financial. Happy, pain-free employees make you more money than unhappy sickly ones, and there is far less turnover.

New desk health products are hitting the market every day, but one that will never be replaced is the standing desk. A standing desk is a phenomenal tool for staying healthy at work because it encourages an active lifestyle. But before we jump into the benefits of a standing desk, I want to address a common question.

Is sitting bad for you?

A lot of people purchase a standing desk because they hear something along the lines of “sitting is the new smoking.” Sitting is not the new smoking. Smoking causes lung cancer, and sitting is a natural position in which humans have eaten all their meals for thousands of years.

Sitting is in no way inherently bad for you. However, staying in the same position for eight hours at a time, regardless of the position, will be detrimental to your health. For example, standing still for eight hours at your computer will cause lower back and hip pain. Humans are designed to move; inactivity is far more dangerous than sitting.

If you have the luxury of working from home or have a very chill office, you can try sitting on a pillow on the floor. Sitting on the floor allows you to constantly change positions and challenge your core when sitting with good posture. Sitting on an exercise ball is another way to make sitting a healthier activity.

Many ergonomic chairs and stools can help you sit optimally at work. However, no matter how much you spend on your desk setup, if you stay in one position for too long, you will likely have some low-back, neck, or hip pain.

Is a standing desk better than sitting?

So if sitting is not the devil, is standing the answer? Standing is slightly better than sitting. You burn eight to ten more calories per hour and allow your legs to take more of the load of holding up your torso. When you sit, your lower back and abs work harder to keep you upright. When you are standing, they still work, but your legs help.

That is the main reason standing desks benefit people with back pain; standing lightens the load on their backs. In addition, those interested in a standing desk for weight loss are often disheartened by the seemingly insignificant number of calories burned by standing. Eight to ten calories per hour may not seem like a lot, but it does add up.

If you spend 20 of your 40-hour work week standing, you’ll burn almost 200 extra calories. You likely will continue to work at that desk for years, and even a slight calorie deficit will help with weight loss.

The standing desk is best for preventing pain caused by sitting in one place for too long. Sitting may not be the new smoking, but if you work a desk job, you are four times more likely to go to the doctor for back pain than a construction worker. A standing desk promotes movement, and movement is the number one thing that prevents back pain.

Does that mean a standing desk is good for you?

Yes, a standing desk promotes an active lifestyle and reduces your risk of chronic back pain from desk work.

An active lifestyle is a significant benefit. You may not think much of it, but when you are standing, you rarely stand still. Instead, you walk around, shift your weight from side to side, or even stand on a balance board.

Standing on a balance board can burn a few extra calories while at work and is pretty fun. Balancing or walking around when taking phone calls makes my day go by much faster than sitting on the phone. If you need help finding the best balance board for you, check out this article.

Overall, a standing desk is good for you but may not be as life-changing as some people think. You won’t get super fit from just using a standing desk, but you’ll likely get some more steps in and reduce your risk of chronic back or neck issues.

How long should you stand at a standing desk?

No matter how fit you are, you can’t stand all day. You will get a lot more joy from your standing desk if you use it in intervals. Most people I know who use a standing desk only do so for two to four hours daily.

Your body will determine how long you should stand at your desk. Stand as long as you are comfortable, and then sit down. This isn’t a workout; it is movement. If you find yourself quickly getting stiff, you can do some simple exercises to stand longer and more comfortably: calf raises, marching in place, and butt kickers are all things that look relatively normal at the desk.

You can even do mini side lunges if your work attire allows it. Remember, movement and change of position prevent back pain, not standing.

The more you use the standing desk, the longer you’ll be able to stand during the day. Like most things, start slow, stand for thirty-minute intervals throughout the day, and work up to longer intervals.

Nonetheless, you will have to sit down at some point, and you may be thinking about a drafting chair for your standing desk. Here is an article to help determine if a drafting chair is a good choice.

Your choice of chair is important, as there will be days when you don’t feel like standing, and you’ll be delighted that standing desks are adjustable and not always in the standing position.

Although, you don’t need to change your chair to purchase a standing desk. Any desk chair works with a standing desk, but people like drafting chairs for seamless transitions from sitting to standing.

How much healtheir is a standing desk?

Although there are many benefits to using a standing desk at work, it is only slightly healthier than a regular desk. It is a tool in your arsenal, and how you use it is far more significant than the tool itself.

The calorie difference is the same as adding a 15-minute walk to your day, and most of the other benefits result from the ease of movement rather than the standing itself.

Think of it like this:

Sitting is fine.

Standing is better.

Walking is best.

If you want to get the absolute most out of your standing desk, grab an under-the-desk treadmill so you can walk while you work. There are tons of under-desk treadmill options, ranging from $300 to $1300 in price, but the best one I’ve seen is Treadly. Treadly is the Peleton of under-desk treadmills. It is sleek, easy to store, and pairs with your apple watch.

It is on the more expensive side, and Amazon has less expensive options. However, none are as lightweight and easy to store as Treadly.

If you want to make your standing desk significantly healthier than sitting, you’ll need something that promotes movement. A balance board is good but a conveyor belt forcing you to walk is better. You can walk for far longer than you can stand still.