Why Should I Bother with Ergonomics or a Standing Desk?

For the longest time, shopping for a new desk meant looking for one that’ll fit amongst existing furniture, or one that’s on sale, or even saving up to get one you’ve been eyeing for a while. We didn't look at design beyond how they appear to the naked eye and we didn’t have good reason to! When the majority of office workers had to shift to work-from-home setups, the concept of ergonomics became more and more attractive. Working from home gave us the opportunity to create a workspace that fits our personal comfort levels and fuels our brains at the same time. 
 

So what is ergonomics, really?

Ergonomics is defined as the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment. It looks into how balance can be achieved among comfort, functionality, and cognition. In making furniture ergonomic, the portability of our devices also plays a role because they make us even more mobile while working. 

Furniture companies are adapting by delving even deeper into the science behind creating workspace essentials that maximize productivity- tailoring their products to the individual needs of customers. They are giving focus to additional details such as height, weight, physical abilities, habits, and even work routines to design products that respond to new demands. Now, workspace furniture is customizable to allow for comfort, good posture, and improved well-being. A proper ergonomic workplace means: 

• Your hands are comfortably placed on your desk with your elbows angled at about 90 degrees.
• You’re sitting or standing up straight. 
• Your spine isn’t over stretched or strained. 
• Your upper back is able to move freely.        
• Your neck isn’t bent down. 
• Your thighs are parallel to the floor.
• Your chair provides you with lower back support. 

How does this all affect me?

The rise of ergonomics in the furniture industry is good news! Slouching on a desk all day can cause body aches, impede our productivity,  and may be dangerous to our health. When we’re stuck with poor ergonomics, we could suffer from repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) like carpal tunnel, back, neck, or joint pain. In fact, studies show that back pain is the most common work-related disabling condition that affects workers across industries. But now we’re provided with endless options so we can both be comfortable and productive in our workspace; one of them being height adjustable standing desks! 

Make the switch, opt for a standing desk 

Standing desks are ergonomic; there are a lot of health benefits to using them and they significantly enhance productivity.  Studies and physiotherapists are testaments to how standing desks are changing the ergonomic scene and are helping us stay active and focused at work. Know more about the benefits of a standing desk here.