Benefits of Standing at Work

Standing desks and treadmill desks are all they hype in the workplace right now and are quickly being adopted as a means of keeping employees comfortable, healthy and more productive. Research has proven that sitting for around 6 hours a day can do irreversible damage to your health. In fact, some describe the issue of sitting at work with the new phrase: “Sitting is the new smoking”. While that phrase may be a little exaggerated, we do know the average American worker spends 5 hours and 41 minutes sitting, which has been linked to slowing calorie burn by 1/3 as it slows metabolisms. At Major, we understand that your comfort, even in the work place and at commercial facilities, is a priority so we’ve created a list of all the benefits of standing at work so you can be informed of this new trend in the commercial space.

Stay Alert

One immediate effect of standing throughout the day is that you’ll feel more energized. Standing will keep your blood flowing through your body and keep your mind more alert. It’s much harder to be sleepy if you’re standing and it will make you less groggy at the end of a long work day. Because you are more alert throughout the day, also means you will be more productive. In fact, several studies have linked stand up desks to a 10 percent, or more, increase in average worker productivity.

Health Benefits

Standing at work also keeps your health in check. Just by standing for two hours each day you will lower your risk of obesity, cancer, and even death. Once you get accustomed to standing for short periods of time, you’ll also be able to increase the length of time that you work while standing.

  • Standing decreases your risk of obesity due to the caloric burn difference. Standing burns, on average, 50 more calories per hour and keeps your muscles from too much rest.
  • Cancer studies, specifically on colon and breast cancer, have shown that physical activity is directly correlated with daily activity. A 2011 a Harvard study found that sitting for long periods of time may be responsible for, annually, over 49,000 cases of breast cancer and 43,000 cases of colon cancer.
  • Due to the decrease in health problems, your mortality risk also drops considerably by not sitting for hours at a time throughout the day.

It’s also important to keep in mind that while exercise is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a one hour sweat-session can’t reverse the effects of sitting down for an 8 hour work day. Not all businesses have access to standing desks, in which case, be sure to take a quick standing or walking break every hour in order to keep you blood flowing. If you do have a standing desk, try to stand for increments of one hour at a time and work your way up to even longer.

How to use this Information

While standing can improve overall health in the work place and at your commercial facility, keeping your employees comfortable also contributes to better productivity. Major can help keep your business cool and comfortable with our quality indoor air systems. For more information or to schedule an appointment with us, call at 303-424-1622 or schedule you free systems evaluation for your commercial facility.