If you’re like most people, you probably spend most of your waking hours in your office with your back bent over a desk. While you think that this is the typical setup for anyone who works in an office setup, you could actually be harming yourself without knowing it.
Sitting on a desk for long hours on end can be very damaging for your spinal health. In addition, many studies showed that sitting for long hours can even cause chronic health problems like obesity and heart diseases and in more serious cases it can even trigger mental ailments. This brings us to standing desks. Standing desk advocates claim that it has several benefits like lowering blood pressure, improving your energy level and productivity only to name a few. If you want to give standing desks a try, here are some tips on how to choose the right one:
Set Your Budget
This is a good place to start when considering which standing desk to invest in. Price is a very impactful factor that you need to account for early on. If you find a standing desk that checks all of your boxes but it’s out of your budget, you’ll have to drop it out of your list of potentials and look for something else. Do a quick online search to understand the available price ranges for the models you’re interested in then set your budget. You’ll find that the price will vary according to the features that each standing desk has to offer. Sitting-to-standing desks powered by an electric motor are usually more expensive than other non-electric ones. Don’t feel like you need to pay a fortune to find the right standing desk, it’s more about personal preference.
Mind the Ergonomics
The whole purpose of switching to a standing desk is to find solutions that can release the tension from your body and make you comfortable to perform at your optimal levels. When you keep in mind the basics of ergonomics when buying a standing desk, there’s a higher chance you’ll get it right from the beginning.
Based on your height and after taking some simple measurements, you should be able to identify the correct dimensions for the right standing desk. Ergonomics enthusiasts believe that offering customers limitless customization options is essential especially for those who don’t understand much about ergonomics. This gives you the chance as a new customer to try different settings before you can decide on the right one for yourself. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with a model that proves to be unsuitable in the long run that might even exacerbate your backaches rather than ease them.
Think About the Nature of Your Work
According to the nature of your job, you should be able to decide on the right standing desk. Swing-arm adaptors can be clamped onto the back of your desk and work best if your job entails a lot of video calling. Placing your laptop on the swinging adapter allows you to adjust your laptop at the right height while you’re standing. Alternatively, if the nature of your job requires you to stay put for a long time just staring at your laptop screen, it might be worth it to invest in a high-quality dedicated standing desk powered by an electrical motor.
You’ll find that the dedicated desk is easy to adjust and won’t distract you from the work you have on hand. If you’re unsure which models will work best, you should consider consulting professional salespeople to have a better understanding of the uses and special features of each of the standing desk models.
Consider the Noise
In some of the cheaper standing desk models, the electrical motors make a constant whirring noise. If you’re purchasing the standing desk for your home office, this might not be a big deal. However, if you’re sharing your office with a number of your colleagues, this noise can be quite disruptive. While it’s best to steer clear from the ‘noisy’ models altogether, you might be limited by your budget constraints. In that case, you should clear this issue with your colleagues and seek their approval before you make the purchase.
Choose Deep Desks
Your standing desk should be comfortable in all aspects. Don’t think that you can make do with a small surface just because you’re standing up and won’t need the extra arm space. Choosing a narrow surface can be damaging to your eyesight defying the purpose of switching to the ‘healthier’ standing desk. Usually, a 30-inch wide desk surface should be enough for you to work comfortably while standing.
There’s no need to rush when you’re choosing the right standing desk. Take your time to understand the pros and cons that each model has to offer. With the above factors in mind, you should be able to find one that suits your needs and helps you become more productive whether you’re working from your home or office.
