What is Sitting Disease?

Sitting Disease is just an idiom doctors use to symbolize the ill effects of leading a sedentary life. Humans are designed to move a good portion of the day. Studies show that extended periods of inactivity drastically increases your risk of contracting serious medical conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and more.

what can you do?

While your daily routine provides numerous opportunities to remain stationary, it is important to get up and move; a body in motion stays in motion. One of the easiest ways to incorporate more movement into your daily routine is to work standing up for at least 10 minutes every hour. In addition to standing while working, there are a number of things you can do to incorporate more activity into your daily routine, including:

• Stretch – take time to stretch at your desk or even do a few light exercises.
• Walk – walk during your 15-minute breaks, during your lunch, start a walking club with, or even schedule walking meetings.
• Avoid email when possible – It’s obviously not realistic to handle all business face-to-face, but take time everyday to drop by a co-worker’s desk to personally deliver a message or ask a question.
• Revise your commute – if you take a car, opt for public transit a few days each week. If the weather is nice, get off a stop or two early so you can walk the rest of the way to work.
• Turn off the TV – seriously, how much TV do you need anyway? Instead of flopping on the couch to watch another reality show, take a brisk walk outside or put an exercise video on. If you must watch TV, try riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill during your favorite programs.

Leading a sedentary lifestyle is dangerous to your health and a surefire way to increase your risk of facing serious medical complications as you age. In addition to eating healthy and exercising regularly, standing at work can make a huge difference in your daily activity level. Using a dynamic workstation, you can seamlessly switch between a seated and standing posture during your workday. Visit our online catalog to find the dynamic workstation that is right for you so you can begin incorporating the practice of standing while working into your daily routine.

The post Sitting Disease: Are You at Risk? appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

It’s High-Tech
This isn’t your average standup desk. A state-of-the-art lift system is all controlled by an advanced microprocessor. The controller has a digital LED display with three programmable memory settings so you can customize your standing and sitting heights. The Xdesk uses a chain drive system with dual (or quad – depending on the model) 18 volt DC motors that seamlessly transition. And it’s all completely hidden inside the lift columns, so you’ll never see an exposed gear, motor or wire.

It Has Options
Our standup desks feature choices that fit multiple users. The main thing to remember about the Xdesk is its drive to encourage clean lines, perfect ergonomics, and practically zero clutter. The available options fit those criteria. A Vanity Cover hides all computer cables and wires, while a Power Management System protects your precious equipment. The NextSpace Keyboard Platforms helps you find the best ergonomic position for your wrists and arms, and the Ergonomic Monitor Arms allow you to freely adjust your computer screen(s).

It Benefits the Planet
These standup desks never use laminates or MDF in their materials. Instead, Xdesk has chosen to use only sustainable materials like natural bamboo and recycled aluminum. The desk never has solvent-based paints or additives that can harm you and the environment. And it’s made right here in the U.S.

You’ll Be More Productive
While you stand, you can move from side to side, fidget, and bend your knees. Movement is a powerful thing, not only for health but also for concentration. Studies show that the ability to move freely actually leads to better focus. Focus ultimately leads to productivity—and that’s something we can all understand. What’s more, you’ll discover a totally new energy boost in the afternoon, when most workers are tired and hunched over their computers.

You Need the Right Footwear
Leave the uncomfortable dress shoes or heels at the door, and switch to something that’s more comfortable (but not necessarily less attractive). Standing long hours can be hard on your joints and back, so you’ll need the proper support to fully reap the benefits of our stand up desk.

You Don’t Have to Stand All Day
A shocking point, but it’s true! You don’t have to stand all day behind your Xdesk. Instead, Xdesk gives you the flexibility to sit and stand as you please. Stand for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or sit for 45. However you choose to move throughout the day, Xdesk gives you the freedom to do it. And with more than 200 positions, chances are you’re going to find the right height for you.

The post Facts You Need to Know About Using A Standup Desk appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

To re-inspire your drive to stand most of the day, here’s a list of the top 10 sitting and standing facts. After reading through these, you may find yourself adjusting your desk and standing more often.

1. One in three Americans is obese, and obese people sit more than 2.5 hours per day than thin people.

2. The bodies calorie burning ability drops to 1 per minute and electrical activity in the leg muscles shut off the moment you sit down.

3. Men and women who sit for more than 23 hours a week are 64% more likely to die from heart disease.

4. Thirty minutes to an hour of daily exercise is not enough to counteract the negative effects of prolonged sitting.

5. Good cholesterol drops by 20% after just two hours of sitting down.

6. A study published by the CDC found that sit to stand devices are an effective method to generate health benefits and combat the negative effects of sitting all day.

7. Standing the majority of the day has been said to increase concentration, focus and overall productivity at the office.

8. A study from the University of Chester found that standing during the week can be the equivalent to running 10 marathons a year.

9. Standing for most of the day has the potential to burn 30,000 more calories in a year. That’s about eight pounds of fat.

10. Regular, brisk walking can help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

The facts continue to go on from here, and we’re sure there will be more to come. So keep standing, moving and stretching throughout your workday to start experiencing better health that you deserve!

The post Top 10 Sitting and Standing Facts appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

But is it healthy?

The lunch break has slowly become a thing of the past, with two thirds of office workers eating behind their desks, or choosing to eat standing up. But deciding to eat standing up behind a desk can decrease productivity. It’s important to take a break midway through your workday and check out of the office.

Doctor Chris Cunningham, a professor of Industrial Organizational and Occupational Health Psychology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has an interesting view on the effects of choosing to eat while standing up, or skipping lunch altogether.

Reboot Brain Function
“Taking a lunch break away from the desk lets people separate themselves from the source of that drain,” Dr. Cunningham said. “And that offers the opportunity to build back some of those resources in the middle of the day – rather than just at the end when work is over.”

So with that, step back from the standing desk and don’t eat standing up, even if it’s for a moment. Dr. Cunningham reports that rebooting time is specific to each person. You may need a full hour, while your coworker needs 20 minutes. If you can’t manage to leave, don’t choose to eat standing up. This could force you to scarf down meals and ingest more calories.

Since you’re at an adjustable height desk, all you need to do is press a button to lower your desk, minimize the 30 open windows on your screen, and take a breather.

Rediscover Your Natural Habitat
Instead of opting to eat standing up in the break room, talk a walk, go outside and get some fresh air. With the beautiful fall weather in full force, enjoying a meal outdoors will make you feel refreshed. We know that sitting is bad for your health, but choosing to eat standing up isn’t doing your body any favors.

If you can’t take a walk, thankfully adjustable height desks have the flexibility to move from sitting to standing. This isn’t advocating the choice to eat standing up, but at least switch the position of your desk for a few moments to take a break, or walk down to the water cooler and grab a drink.

Partake in the Buddy System
“If you’re a service rep or a call-center employee, I could understand why you wouldn’t want to take a social lunch,” Dr. Cunningham said. “But for some of us, it’s different enough from what we’ve been spending our days doing, and we get a lot out of it.”

On slow days, grab a few coworkers and head to lunch. The only catch – don’t talk about work. Friendly conversation is surprisingly refreshing. If you can’t leave, don’t take a loophole and eat standing up around the conference table. That defeats the purpose! Instead of deciding to eat while standing up, head to the break room with friends for a quick meal.

Other suggestions instead of choosing to eat and stand include enjoying your meal and switching up your space. Take time to appreciate your surroundings, and that includes reexamining the leftovers from last night.

It’s also recommended to switch up your focus to reenergize. This could be something small like changing from sitting to standing, or taking a quick stroll around the office.

We love standing desks, but what we love even more is the flexibility that an adjustable height desk gives you. Switching positions gives the boost you need to keep going throughout the workday. But, don’t forget to take a well-deserved lunch break and don’t choose to eat standing up. Your mind and body will thank you.

The post Should You Eat Standing Up Behind an Adjustable Height Desk? appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Check it out below to learn a bit more about how sitting all day on the job impacts your physical and mental health. To start, people with sedentary jobs are twice as likely to die from heart disease than those with active jobs (yikes!).

You may want to stand up after reading this:

The post MindBodyGreen Agrees that Sitting is Making You Fat appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Or do you?

To test your knowledge of standing desks and adjustable height desks, take the following quiz to see how you measure up. Maybe you’re a standing desk connoisseur, or an adjustable height desk master. You won’t know until after this quiz.

We promise you won’t break into a nervous sweat (unless you’re already on a treadmill desk), and here’s a hint: All of the answers can be found within the Xdesk site. Happy hunting!

How did you do? Let us know in the comment box below! If you already own an adjustable height desk, or are heavily considering one, we hope you got all 10 correct. If not, don’t fret, stick around the Xdesk blog and you’ll be a standing desk master in no time.

Stay tuned for the answer explanations in the next post!

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