If you want to stand while working, the best desk setup for standing will help you stay efficient and maximize productivity. As the name implies, a standing desk is a desk that lets you work in a standing position rather than sitting. More people are beginning to realize the dangers of sitting too much and buying a standing ergonomic desk is becoming an increasingly affordable option.
People who spend most of their days sitting have a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and early death. Using a standing desk can negate the harmful effects that lead to these health problems. This article will provide tips on the best standing setup, what makes a standing desk setup effective, and how to create a standing workspace using tech and non-tech items.
What Makes a Standing Desk Setup Effective?
A standing desk setup is effective in offering versatility to workspaces. An ergonomic standing desk setup lets you stand while working or switch to sitting if you get tired. They come in different shapes and sizes and with amazing features that a conventional office desk wouldn’t have.
Fixed height standing desks, electric standing desks, sit-stand desk converters, and manually adjustable standing desks are the most common standing desk options. Additionally, standing desks reduce the amount of space your workspace takes up, reduce health risks associated with sitting for long periods of time and can even improve your posture.
Spacious Work Area
A standing setup offers a wide-open work area that allows you to arrange your key items and work documents to your preference. These desks usually come with enough space for your notepads, coffee cups, external devices, and any other pieces of equipment you need in your workspace. Additionally, without the need for a chair, you’ll free up plenty of room in your office.
Improved Health
Working at a standing desk can improve your health by reducing the chances of sedentary lifestyle-induced health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. According to a Harvard Medical School study, standing burns about 88 calories per hour. Sitting for long periods of time, however, can cause weight gain and put you at risk of high cholesterol, obesity, and stroke.
Standing desks are also great for your mental health. By not having to sit all day, you’ll get fewer aches or body pains, and you’ll feel better at the end of every working day which boosts your energy levels and productivity. A study by the National Library of Medicine proved that people who used standing desks were less stressed and fatigued than those who didn’t.
Improved Proper Posture
Using a standing desk setup can prevent poor posture caused by sitting for long hours, which puts considerable stress on your spine, neck, and back muscles. A standing position allows you to stretch, move around, and perform minor exercises in your workspace. This will help you to keep all parts of your body active while working.
How to Create a Standing Desk Setup: 5 Top Tips
Adequately Distance Your Monitor
The correct monitor position for a standing desk setup is one arm’s length away from you, at a distance of 50 to 70cm. If your monitor is too far from you, you will be forced to lean in towards the screen; likewise, if it is too close, it can cause strain on your eyes.
You should also position the top of the monitor to be at or below your eye level. This will reduce the pressure on your neck by allowing you to see the screen properly without having to move your neck forward, backward, up, or down. A correct monitor position can save you from headaches, eye strain, neck strain, and an aching back.
Spread Your Weight Across Both Feet
You should stand in front of your standing workspace with equal pressure on both feet. Putting too much pressure on one foot can cause hip or lower back aches. It can also cause you to start leaning on the desk for standing support, which can result in eye strain and neck strain. An anti-fatigue mat can help you stay comfortable when standing for long periods.
Relax Your Shoulders
While using your standing office setup, you should keep your neck tall and relax your shoulders. Avoid slouching and bend your knees slightly while standing. Doing this will help you develop and maintain a proper posture, allowing the muscles surrounding your spine to support your body equally.
Keep Your Elbows Beside You at a 90-Degree Angle
You should position your keyboard tray and mouse at a level that allows your elbow to bend at a 90-degree angle. Doing this will keep your hands and wrists parallel to the floor, allowing you to move freely and engage in any of your tasks comfortably.
Tilt Your Monitor Slightly Upward
You should tilt your monitor screen slightly upward by about 10 to 20 degrees to prevent reflections on the screen, especially, if your desk is placed close to a window. Without having to constantly battle reflection or glare streaks on your screen, tilting your screen upwards will improve your view of it and save you from eye strain and neck pain.
5 Things You Should Invest in When Designing Your Standing Desk Setup Workspace
Whether you are working remotely from home or working from your company’s office space, your workspace setup affects your focus and productivity. This is why it is crucial to invest in computer accessories that make it easier to work. Here are some things to consider when designing the standing desk setup of your workspace.
Technical Items to Consider
- Large monitor. A large computer monitor allows you to display your work at a larger resolution, making it easier to read text and look at images without needing to strain your eyes. Some monitors even come with a backlight to illuminate the area behind them. These are great for reducing any eye strain caused by working at night.
- Ergonomic mouse. An ergonomic mouse is a great tool for avoiding health issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome. An ergonomic mouse fits perfectly in the palm of your hand and reduces any discomfort that comes with using one for long periods of time. A wide range of ergonomic mouses are available at a reasonable price.
- Ergonomic keyboard. Ergonomic keyboards are important if you want to reduce wrist strain. They are specifically designed to keep your hands, wrists, and arms in a comfortable and natural position. Higher-end mechanical keyboards are usually designed to be ergonomic.
- Monitor arms. Monitor arms are useful for elevating a computer screen that is too low. If you are working with a laptop, you should get an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse to elevate the screen to meet your eye level. For computer screens that are lower than your line of sight, you should use monitor arms to raise them up.
- Cable management tray. Cable management trays help to organize cable connections, hide power strips, and give your standing setup a clean look while also preventing damage to wires or issues with knowing which wire is which. A cable management tray can help you extend the life of your cables.
Nontechnical Items to Consider
- Desk lamp. Desk lamps are a great light source when natural lighting is not enough. You should invest in an adjustable desk lamp to brighten exactly where you need light. LED light bulbs that produce warm light are energy efficient and are easier on the eyes than colder-temperature bulbs.
- Wall decoration. Wall decorations like paintings, pictures of your loved ones, or wallpaper are a great way to customize your desk setup. Personalizing your workspace helps with improving your mood at work, making you more productive.
- Plants. You can improve the ambiance of your desk surface by decorating it with a plant. If you do not mind the trouble of taking care of your plant, you should invest in a live indoor plant. You could also use artificial plants if a live plant is too much of a burden. Live plants also help keep the air in your workspace fresh.
- Anti-fatigue mat. Also called a standing desk mat, an anti-fatigue mat encourages healthy posture by forcing you to engage your core to bring balance to your stance. Anti-fatigue mats support micro-movements, which help to evenly distribute the pressure of standing.
- Ergonomic chair. An ergonomic chair is an extremely beneficial addition to any workspace. You can’t stand all day, and when you need to switch to an office chair, it is best to sit on an ergonomic chair that provides spinal support and comfort that encourages a natural posture.
Creating the Best Standing Desk Workspace
An ergonomic standing desk setup is a great option for people who want to stay a little active while working. It prevents the negative effects associated with tech careers that require long hours in front of a computer screen such as software design, data science, artificial intelligence, and information security.
Standing desks offers a wide range of health benefits and the best standing desk setups are proven to improve productivity, boost energy levels, and reduce fatigue after a heavy day’s work. Standing desks are available in different styles and designs with plenty of customization options to suit the specific needs of anyone.
Best Standing Desk Setups FAQ
You should stand for at least 30 minutes per hour to get the health benefits of a standing workspace. Research from the University of Waterloo has shown that the ideal sit-stand ratio is between 1:1 to 1:3.
Yes, standing desks are worth it because they offer a wide variety of health benefits, encourage proper posture, increase productivity, and improve energy levels. Anyone can take advantage of standing desks, as they tend to be as affordable as regular desks.
Herman Miller is commonly known as one of the best brands for standing desks. Ergotron WorkFit-D, Ergotron WorkFit-T, Uplift V2, Vari electric standing desk, Flexispot E7 Branch Standing Desk, and ApexDesk Elite are popular standing desk models. If you are handy with tools and have decent carpentry skills, you can also build your own standing desk workspace.
The lowest setting a standing desk can go is usually 28 inches to 29 inches. You can adjust the desk height of a height-adjustable standing desk. When purchasing a standing desk, consider whether or not you fit within the average height margin and the maximum height limit. If you don’t, you can look for standing desks specifically made for short or tall people, or make your own.
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