When should you choose a sit-stand desk?
Table of Contents
Sitting and standing in the office
Would a sit-stand desk be useful for me too?
Should I wait to get a sit-stand desk until I start experiencing problems?
Where can I buy a sit-stand desk?
Sitting and standing in the office
The range of sit-stand solutions for the office has seen significant development in recent years. As more and more people recognise the health benefits of alternating between sitting and standing whilst working, sit-stand solutions are being snapped up. In some countries, full-scale campaigns have even been launched to promote this. For example, the ‘Get Britain Standing’ campaign was launched in England a few years ago.
The first standing desks widely used in offices were adjusted using a crank. The time and effort required to raise or lower the desk each time presented quite a barrier. It was only with the arrival of (affordable) electrically adjustable desks that things really took off. Due to the growing popularity of standing while working, the range of solutions on offer has also expanded in recent years. Various manufacturers have come up with innovative solutions. I have listed a few of them below.
Sit-stand solutions
| Sit-stand desk | Sit-stand workstation | Laptop stand | Do-it-yourself | |
 |  |  |  | |
| Feature | ||||
| Price range | ||||
| Easy to install | ||||
| Easy to use | ||||
| Biggest advantage | Most workspace | Suitable for any location | Quick to set up | Good value for money |
| Biggest drawback | Relatively high investment | Bulky and heavy | Can’t be raised as high as other sit-stand solutions | Time-consuming to assemble and set up |
In most cases, we still prefer a complete sit-stand desk. One of the main reasons is that it allows you to retain your full workspace. Alternatives to a sit-stand desk significantly reduce the amount of workspace that can be raised. Items such as documents or the landline telephone often cannot be raised, which is certainly a limitation.
Furthermore, a sit-stand desk offers greater flexibility. The desk itself can be customised in terms of size and colour; you can choose an adjustment unit with a memory function and personalise it to your own taste with additional accessories. Think of a monitor arm, a power strip for the desk or a CPU holder. With a maximum load of up to 100 kg, you don’t have to make any compromises when it comes to setting up your desk.
The effects of sitting and standing
We and others have written plenty about this already. The phrase ‘sitting is the new smoking’ no longer really holds true in the sense that standing is the best solution. Recent research has shown that prolonged standing also carries health risks.
In any case, we know for certain that sitting all day is definitely not good for our bodies. Prolonged sitting increases the risk of premature death, cardiovascular disease, muscle wasting, weight gain, higher blood sugar levels and reduced blood flow.
Although standing does not have only health benefits, plenty of studies have been carried out showing that there are sufficient benefits. You burn more calories, lower back pain is reduced, you feel more energetic, your problem-solving skills improve and your life expectancy increases.
Would a sit-stand desk be useful for me too?
You can actually find that out quite easily. Do you spend more than two hours at a time sitting at your desk every day? If so, it might be wise to look into a height-adjustable desk. If you manage to alternate your computer work sufficiently with some physical activity, then a sit-stand desk won’t be necessary just yet.
However, not everyone has that freedom. For example, because you often get lost in your work and forget to stand up, or when you are forced to sit in front of your screen for 8–10 hours a day. An adjustable desk isn’t just a godsend for standing, by the way. It’s easier to adjust for both standing and sitting work, which is handy when you share your workspace with others.
The eternal sitter
You know the type: the eternal sitters. Down on your knees at 08:00, up from your knees at 17:00. Especially if you find it hard to take enough breaks that involve a bit of walking, it becomes a long sit. In that case, a height-adjustable desk is a good incentive to stretch your legs often enough. We’ve also seen from our own experience that working standing up encourages movement. The barrier to taking a short walk, such as fetching a glass of water or asking a colleague a question, is much lower when you’re already standing.
Long days at the computer
There are plenty of jobs these days that are carried out almost entirely at a computer. This means you’re tied to your workstation all day, apart from the odd toilet break. It’s much easier to get enough exercise during an 8- or 9-hour shift if you can alternate between sitting and standing.
Working from home
As a home worker, isn’t buying a sit-stand desk a bit of an overkill? It never was, and with recent developments, it’s only becoming more relevant. The basis of a good workspace consists of a good chair and an adjustable desk – you’ll want to have these in order at home too. Furthermore, a home office is often used by different people. So isn’t it nice that you can adjust it to your ideal height at the touch of a button?
Flexible workspace
Offices are increasingly being designed flexibly, meaning employees no longer sit at their fixed desks every day. For example, because staff don’t have full-time contracts or to encourage collaboration between colleagues. With a flexible workspace setup, there’s a good chance you’ll be sitting somewhere different every day and will therefore need to make a small adjustment to your chair and desk each day. An electrically adjustable desk is the perfect solution in that case.
Should I wait to get a sit-stand desk until I start experiencing problems?
For a long time, ergonomic aids were only considered urgent once someone developed symptoms. Fortunately, the trend is increasingly shifting towards prevention and conscious investment in health. This has become increasingly important from both the employer’s and the employee’s perspective.
We don’t even need recent studies to prove the benefits of a sit-stand desk. As early as 1953, a study involving bus drivers and conductors demonstrated that movement is far better than sitting still.
Prevention is gaining ground
More and more products with an ergonomic focus are being used preventatively. Of course, there are still aids that seem unable to shake off their curative ‘image’, such as the ergonomic mouse. The sit-stand desk has long since left that image behind and is now standard office equipment.
Prevention is gaining ground
Why wait until you experience symptoms before getting an electrically adjustable desk? Its benefits go far beyond simply preventing potential physical complaints. A sit-stand desk is an investment in reduced absenteeism and increased productivity among employees. The average sick leave stands at around 26 days of absence due to physical complaints, amongst other things. It is not just those days of absence; the run-up to sick leave and the reintegration process are also associated with reduced productivity.
Sitting at work
Standing workWhere can I buy a sit-stand desk?
If you’re considering an electrically adjustable desk, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve been supplying and installing sit-stand desks for businesses and private individuals for years. What makes us the right choice?
- High-quality products. Our ROL Ergo desks come with a 5-year warranty
- Our prices include delivery and installation
- We install in collaboration with a specialist partner
- We deliver and install within 2 weeks of ordering
- You can view the bases in advance at our office and in the showroom
