Standing desks are common, and many claim to appreciate them for their positive effects on their health.
However, are standing desks overrated? and what is the truth?
In this article, we will consider the advantages of standing desks, the costs, and how long they last to determine if they are overrated.
How Much Do Standing Desks Cost?
Before we can see if standing desks are worth it, we have to know how much you will pay for one. Since the health benefits are the greatest when a user alternates between sitting and standing, it is important to get a height-adjustable option.
The price for a standing desk will greatly depend on a variety of factors. The brand, model, functionality, and features all have some influence on the price. Solid wood and customizable desks are also more expensive.
Height-adjustable standing desks can be manually operated, use pneumatic systems, or use electric systems with one or two motors.
Many options also have programmable memory presets. However, the basic models cost somewhere between $200 and $800 while the high-end options get up to $2000 or even $3000.
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On average though, you can get a high-quality standing desk for around $300 to $400 but may choose to spend more depending on your style and needs.
This is a little more than a traditional desk of similar quality, so there must be some benefits associated with a standing desk for it to be worth it. Good thing there are tons of benefits.
How Long Do Standing Desks Last?
To help to determine whether standing desks are overrated, we also need to look at how long they last. Typically, you can trust a mid-level standing desk to operate without issues for a minimum of 15 years.
However, there are a lot of durable options that last significantly longer.
Some options will have a lifetime warranty and a dual motor system that reduces the amount of strain each motor would feel. A good standing desk should last 30 years without replacing any parts.
To ensure that your desk lasts a long time, you should make sure that you take care of it. This means that you should abide by the weight limit. Putting more weight than the limit suggests can put a strain on the motor or mechanism and cause it to wear out much faster than otherwise.
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Benefits of a Standing Desk
There are tons of benefits associated with a standing desk. Sitting can be detrimental to your overall health and well-being and a standing desk can help you reduce your sedentary behavior.
Movement:
The most beneficial effects of a standing desk come with the promotion of movement. When we are standing at our desks we are much more likely to move around. Also, when we switch between sitting and standing regularly, we move as well.
This can also relieve some of our aches and pains. Neck and back pain are often caused by remaining in the same position for too long.
A height-adjustable standing desk can certainly fix these types of issues if you use it correctly. Some people even like to exercise while they are working at their desks.
Energy:
A lot of people also say that their standing desk has helped them beat the afternoon slump that follows lunchtime.
This may be due to the effect that standing can have on our blood sugar levels. Not only are blood sugar spikes bad for your health, but they can also cause periods of heavy fatigue.
Standing has been shown to significantly improve the spike in blood sugar after lunch.
Weight:
When we sit, we burn very few calories. Then, we can gain more weight if we consume more calories than we burn. Obesity leads to a lot of problems including diabetes and heart disease.
Standing burns more calories than sitting and also encourages movement which can burn even more.
This can help to prevent excessive weight gain and keep your body and mind healthy. There is research that indicates that standing may reduce our chance of heart disease as well.
Mental Health:
Sitting may be linked to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Research suggests that the use of a standing desk may improve your overall mood.
An additional study looked at stress and fatigue levels. The participants in the study who used a standing desk reported lower stress levels and less fatigue than their sitting counterparts.
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Sitting and a sedentary lifestyle have been connected to mental health issues including anxiety and depression.
Mood:
Although it is unclear which is the cause and which is the effect, research does seem to suggest that using a standing desk may improve mood.
Standing also encourages better posture which can help to alleviate back pain and improve core strength. Just a few hours standing at your desk may be enough to strengthen and tighten the area around your core and your abdominal muscles.
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Do Standing Desks Increase Productivity?
You may be wondering how your focus and productivity will be affected by the use of a standing desk as well.
Standing desks are good for productivity. This may be due to several different factors like the reduction in back pain and other aches or the improvement in the mood of the users.
One interesting study found a substantial increase in productivity over 6 months for the participants who used standing desks.
Another study found that students who used standing desks were more engaged than their peers who used traditional, sitting desks.
Downsides to Standing Desks
Standing desks provide tons of benefits, but there are downsides to be aware of as well. First, it can take a little time to adjust to the use of a standing desk. We are so used to sitting down and working while sitting that it may be uncomfortable to stand at first.
Standing can also be more tiring than sitting. Standing all day is also not very good for you and can have some negative side effects. That is another reason why you should switch between sitting and standing regularly throughout the workday.
Using a standing desk can reduce back pain, but it can also put more pressure on your feet, knees, and ankles than you would have if you chose to sit. However, this should not be too bad for a healthy adult as long as you sit some during the day.
If you stand for too long at a time, especially if you stand a lot every single day, you will increase the risk of developing varicose veins. This is only true if you do not move a lot which a standing desk can help to promote.
Standing still all day in the same position can cause blood to pool in the thighs, ankles, and calves and increase the chance that you will develop varicose veins.
Finally, a standing desk can cause some foot pain if you do not wear comfortable shoes or use a standing desk mat.
This is important because some people who purchase a standing desk find that they do not even use it in a standing position anymore because they developed foot pain. You need to try to prevent pains like this by wearing the right shoes and using the desk correctly.
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Are Standing Desks Worth it or Overrated?
Well, it seems that the popularity has made standing desks a little overrated which may lead to some people claiming that there are benefits to standing all day and that you should never sit.
In addition, some people may exaggerate the benefits of using a standing desk. However, just because they are slightly overrated does not mean that you should not invest in one.
The increase in productivity alone may help the standing desk pay for itself. Then, a height-adjustable desk can allow you to sit when you need to.
Reducing the sitting time and regularly adjusting between sitting and standing can have great health benefits and increase your life expectancy.
Therefore, even though they may cost a little more and have a chance to break down unlike a traditional desk, they still seem to be a great option for workers who would otherwise sit at a desk all day for 5 days out of the week (or more for some people).
Final Thoughts on Whether Standing Desks are Overrated
Buying a standing desk for rare use may not be the most beneficial buying decision. However, there are plenty of people who use desks all day for work.
If you sit for 5 or more hours multiple days every week, then you could be at risk of some negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle. Paying $500 for a standing desk can help you reduce the chance of heart disease and diabetes.
It can also increase your life expectancy. Not only that but there are some great mental health benefits as well including a reduction in anxiety and depression and an increase in productivity.
Therefore, as long as you use your standing desk correctly and alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day, it can be a wise investment for your well-being and health.
