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.

The majority of desk jobs today require you to stare at a computer screen for a marathon period of time, but if you’re not looking for a career change, how do you prevent this from happening?

Read on and we’ll tell you.

Eyestrain is a common ailment among workers throughout the country, and symptoms can range from sore, dry eyes to a lack of focus and headaches. If you’re experiencing more severe symptoms like a noticeable change in vision or double vision, it’s time to see a doctor.

Not only does eyestrain occur from the extended use of a computer screen, but also from exposure to bright light, dry air and stress – all things workers come into contact with on a daily basis (those harsh fluorescent lights above your standing desk aren’t ideal for eyes).

Thankfully, eyestrain doesn’t have long-term consequences, which means you won’t go blind anytime soon. But it is an unpleasant complaint to deal with when you’re trying to focus at work. That’s why it’s important to learn how to prevent eyestrain before it starts, and to know what to do once your eyes start to blur.

Check out these steps on how to prevent eyestrain:

• Look Away
According to the Mayo Clinic, to prevent eyestrain you should give your eyes a break every 20 minutes. They suggest the 20-20-20 rule: look away from the computer every 20 minutes, and stare at something that’s 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Take this opportunity to make a phone call, switch from sitting to standing, or make a trip to the water cooler.

• Update Your Space
Having a flexible workspace is vital to health, happiness and productivity. And you can do this easily with an adjustable height desk. Sit to stand desks give you the freedom to move, make adjustments to fit your needs, and ultimately give those tired eyes a much needed break. So get moving and improve your workspace!

• Chill Out
It’s easier said than done, but take time to relax! Everyone experiences negative stress, but take a deep breath, close your eyes and chill out. Stress induces eyestrain, and increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other harmful physical complications. Practice relaxation exercises to calm down when you’re feeling tense. And if that’s not enough, check out these songs to help you relax during a stressful day at the office HERE.

• Franken-Four-Eyes
In honor of Halloween yesterday, we had to insert a cheesy joke somewhere! Ok, let’s move on. If you have to wear glasses or contacts, make sure they’re the correct prescription and tailored to work at a computer screen. If you want to get really fancy, you can invest in hi-tech computer glasses. They use anti-reflective coatings to reduce the glare from the computer screen. Check out this option HERE.

• Blink and Repeat
When was the last time you blinked? It sounds like a weird question, but think about it: you stare at a computer screen most of your day when you’re concentrating on work that needs your attention. And consistent staring leads to dry eyes and eyestrain, so don’t forget to blink! Blinking produces tears and moisture to lubricate your eyes and lessen the chance of strain.

The next time you find yourself with painful eyes, stand up, walk away, and come back and reread this post on how to prevent eyestrain before it starts. We can’t emphasize enough the benefits of using a flexible workstation as a preventative step. Having the freedom to sit, stand and move around does wonders for irritated eyes.

Try out these tips and let us know how it worked!

The post How to Prevent Eyestrain at Your Adjustable Desk appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Did you know that not only is caffeine addictive, but also can increase your risk of insomnia, stroke and heart disease? Those two or three small cups of daily coffee are doing some damage (even though it’s hazelnut-flavored and unsweetened).

The expensive Columbian beans you invested in were probably exposed to pesticides that contribute to cancer. Research shows that coffee can combine toxic substances in your body and make you at risk of fluid loss, high cholesterol and contribute to diabetes. And we won’t even get started on energy drinks.

Beyond basic health concerns, caffeine affects your mood and your memory. When you couldn’t remember how to adjust your keyboard tray, or worse, you forgot that important meeting, caffeine could have been the culprit. Caffeine also causes mood swings. You may feel giddy and focused after finishing that third soda, but get ready to crash when you realize you’ve cleaned your entire office instead of written that report.

Yes, we know you still want to watch your cup stand still when you adjust your standing desk, but choose a healthier alternative. The feeling of caffeine is fleeting, causing people to consume more and more, but you’ll be surprised at how much more energy you’ll have once caffeine is completely eliminated from your body.

Eliminating caffeine from your diet is tough, and could cause nervousness, headaches and fatigue, so gradually cutting back is the key.

Here are a few healthier options to help you start:

Water, for one, is the substance our body craves and needs the most. Feel a headache coming on from caffeine withdrawal? Grab a bottle of water and start drinking. Better yet, grab two or three bottles. Studies show men need three liters a day while women need 2.2 liters – that’s nine to 12 cups a day.

Dehydration is the main cause of headaches, and drinking water will keep you hydrated and keep caffeine withdrawal symptoms at bay (you’ll also save on pain medication).

If you really need a fix of your favorite roasted pecan blend or ice-cold caffeinated soda, try the decaf version. It may not be as exciting since you aren’t getting the same effect, but it will taste great and can trick your body into that caffeine happy place.

Herbal tea is delicious and most don’t contain caffeine. There are numerous benefits of drinking herbal tea. Ginger tea aides nausea or an upset stomach, and rosehip tea is a great source of vitamin C. There are even types of herbal teas that will increase your energy – something we all need during a long day at the office.

Check out these herbal tea energy boost options HERE.

And as always, when you’re feeling sluggish from the lack of caffeine, put your desk in gear and stand up! Standing increases blood flow to get your mind and body working, and it will get you out of a rut.

Challenge yourself and drink less caffeine this week. And let us know how it works!

The post You Should Detox from Caffeine, Here’s Why appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

A new study found that standing for just a few hours a day has amazing health benefits, and you’ll burn a ton of calories along the way.

Researchers at the University of Chester and the BBC took a group of 10 volunteers and asked them to stand at least three hours out of their day. The volunteers wore an accelerometer that measured their movements, heart rate monitors and glucose monitors.

The results were shocking at best (or maybe not that surprising if you already own an adjustable height desk or even a treadmill desk).

The volunteer’s had a much higher heart rate while they stood. It was about 10 beats per minute faster, so think about this in the long-term. That 10 beat increase adds up to 50 more calories burned per hour when compared to sitting. Throughout the entire year: about 30,000 more calories or eight pounds of fat.

The results also showed that the volunteers’ blood glucose levels normalized much quicker after eating than compared to days when they sat. High glucose means an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes, but standing for a few hours really does make a difference in lessening that risk.

According to Dr. Buckley from the study, “If you want to put [the results] into activity levels then that would be the equivalent of running about 10 marathons a year just by standing up three or four hours in your day at work.”

And there you have it: standing is good for your health, so much so that standing burns calories similar to running 10 marathons a year. Yes, we’ll emphasize that again – 10 marathons a year!

This isn’t the only study done to prove that standing benefits your health. In case you missed it, check out the study from ReadWrite, the technology blog. The participants reported increased concentration levels and better productivity at work. Standing desks really are the gifts that keep on giving!

And thanks to Lifehacker for sharing the great news!

What do you think about the results, does it make you want to stand more often during the day?

The post University of Chester Study: Standing Burns Serious Calories 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.

It’s time to start thinking about improving your posture, but this time we have a few tips on maintaining good habits that won’t have you getting strange looks from coworkers.

Take Time to Reflect

• Instead of staring out your office window, use it as a mirror to check out your posture. Figure out what’s keeping you out of line. Slouched shoulders, hips to the side, or bent back? Let the mirror be your guide.

Start From the Bottom

• Good posture begins with your feet. They should be relatively shoulder length apart. Next, align your hips and keep your shoulders squared to create a straight line from head-to-toe.

Teach and Repeat

• Instead of running to get coffee during breaks, try teaching your body what it feels like to stand tall. Position your body against the wall, with just your shoulders, head and butt touching it. It will feel awkward at first, but practice makes perfect! And soon it will feel strange not standing that way.

Stick With It

• Since we can’t bring our mothers with us to the office (usually), place post-it notes or stickers around your workspace to remind you to keep your posture in check. You can be as harsh or as gentle as you like, just as long as it gets you to stand up straight.

Get in Your Head

• Of course it’s important to continue to sit up straight while sitting, but don’t forget to adjust the head rest! Your back may be aligned, but it’s not doing any good if you’re straining the neck. The head rest should be placed so the middle of your head rests against it, not beneath the neck or placed too high.

Did you practice these steps? What did you think?

The post How to Improve Posture at Work appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

They named the benefits of using a standing desk, what to look for when investing in one and how they came to the conclusion that Terra was the best. But one claim stood out beyond the others:

Terra desks are beautiful.

Wirecutter said other desks were practical, but beyond that they provided little else.  Some were made from quality materials, but the overall appeal paled in comparison to Terra.

“Last year I recommended this as the best desk to daydream about,” Wirecutter said. “And even though it costs more, it is actually a great value.”

And there you have it – quality,  beauty and value all in one. We were flattered that Terra was dreamed about.

Workers generally spend a great amount of time at their desks, which is why the appeal factor stood out the most. It’s important to maintain pleasant aesthetics in a work space, and you see businesses all over creating a homier environment for their employees.

The “work hard, play hard” mentality is spreading, and employees are reaping the benefits if the work space feels more enjoyable.

If workers are more comfortable, it leads to greater satisfaction when a job is done, increased interaction to form a stronger team, and workers want to be there. And at the end of the day, that’s better for business.

We appreciate Wirecutter’s praise and thorough research they took to come to their conclusion of naming the Terra desk the best standing desk out there.

What do you love about the Terra desk?

The post Wirecutter Names Terra the Best Standing Desk appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

You know the habits that can creep in during a long work day – daydreaming about lunch, staring at the computer screen or browsing the web while that report remains unwritten. Sitting in one position all day can have a negative effect on a person’s mood and cloud the mind.

Luckily, if you own a standing desk, adjusting your position can get you out of a rut.

Lifehacker shared the psychological benefits of standing desks and how they help keep your mind moving throughout the day.

“Something about standing keeps me more engaged,” Ben from Pitch Dreams says. “My mind wanders less and for some reason I feel a bit more energized at work.”

He summarizes scientific research from Amy Cuddy, author of the TED talk, Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are (& how to create confidence and influence out of thin air).

Standing in specific “power poses” produces more testosterone that changes the body’s physiology and increases focus. Working at a standing desk naturally positions you into these certain poses, which subconsciously leads to better productivity.

Standing increases blood circulation, and we know what that means: more oxygen getting to the brain, which in turns revitalizes a person to see their mundane work tasks in a new light. Try standing most of the day and feel the brain cells spark and the creativity flow.

via LifeHacker

The post The Psychological Benefits of Standing appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Today, I thought we could talk about preventing and “treating” stress with food. And no, I’m not talking about emotional eating—something we do in response to stress. I’m talking about healthy foods that you can incorporate into your diet on a regular basis to help promote overall relaxation 24/7. Sounds good, right? I thought so too.

So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to 10 foods that you should be eating to promote relaxation, health, and an overall sense of “ahhhh.”

1) Asparagus: This green veggie is high in folic acid, which can help stabilize your mood.

2) Milk: Milk is high in antioxidants and vitamins B2 and B12, as well as protein and calcium.

3) Beef: Beef contains high levels of zinc, iron, and B vitamins, which are also known to help stabilize your mood.

4) Cottage Cheese: Cottage cheese is high in protein and calcium—it will keep you fuller longer and won’t spike your blood pressure which can stress you out. Mix it with fruit that is high in vitamin C like oranges or strawberries and you’ll have a stress-busting snack or breakfast.

5) Almonds: A good source of Vitamin B2 and E as well as magnesium and zinc, almonds are high in fat, but most of the fat is unsaturated. Like vitamin C, vitamin E has been shown to fight the free radicals associated with stress, and in particular, those free radicals that cause heart disease.

6) Tuna: A great lunch option, tuna is high in stress-fighting vitamins B6 and B12.

7) Blueberries: Very rich in antioxidants, blueberries offer a high-fiber, low-calorie fruit option that is also rich in stress-fighting vitamin C.

8) Crispy Rice Cereal: Although they aren’t low in sugar, cornflakes and crispy rice cereal are fortified with B vitamins and folic acid to help reduce stress.

Next time you’re feeling stressed out, it might be a good idea to take a look at your level of activity and your diet. By switching to a standing or adjustable height desk you’ll burn calories and get rid of the excess energy associated with stress, and by adding these healthy options into your diet, you’ll be well on your way to bliss.

Remember, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”  – Hippocrates

What foods do you incorporate into your diet to help de-stress?

The post De-Stress By… Eating! appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Stand up and start walking toward better health.

The title of this post might seem a bit confusing. Walking? Right now? But I am reading this post!

Well, if that was your immediate reaction, let me let you in on a little secret: You can be walking right now, staring at your computer monitor, or even typing along in the comment box below, all with the magical help of a treadmill desk.

But why should you be walking at work with a Xdesk Fit? After all, you go to the gym, you exercise, you eat pretty well, right? Studies show that even with regular exercise, if you’re sitting at work all day, you are not as healthy as you should be.

Here are some more reasons to get up and start walking with a treadmill desk:

1) You’re designed for it. The human body is designed to be actively walking most of the day. And when we deprive our bodies of walking, they suffer. The evidence is seen in back, neck, and shoulder pains, becoming overweight, vision problems, and general weakening of the body.

2) Walking is one of the healthiest ways to exercise. Walking is a low impact workout for your whole body, just like biking, yoga or golfing. They won’t take a toll on your joints like running, soccer, and cross training might (Believe me, I am a living testament to what can happen to joints after too much high impact work!).

3) Walking is good for your cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular system is comprised of the heart, veins, and blood vessels, and if you don’t strengthen these organs (i.e. by sitting around all day), you are more prone to diseases and health issues. Walking is wonderful for strengthening our heart, veins, and blood vessels, and it does so easily.

4) Walking boosts your metabolism. Lots of types of exercise will increase your muscle mass and decrease fat, but walking has the added benefit of increasing your metabolism very consistently. Walk regularly, keep moving, stay active, and your body will be a fat-burning machine—even when you are stationary!

5) Walking strengthens your immune system. Walking helps increase the number of macrophages, the cells that attack bacteria, and the number of immune cells circulating throughout the body. In short: walk more, get sick less.

6) Walking is a great stress reliever. Think about a time when you were stressed out at work and you were stuck sitting at your desk—you practically feel like you’re going to boil over! The best thing you can do is get out and take a walk, but sometimes you just can’t escape the office. With a treadmill desk, you can relieve your stress and stay on task (but then get outside and get some fresh air when you can—we weren’t designed to be cooped up all day!).

7) Walking will make you live longer. Yes, the Big Reason to walk. Turns out walking and low impact exercises is one of the factors that constantly pops up in societies around the world that live the longest, healthiest lives. They don’t kill themselves in the gym, they don’t do marathons—they walk and do consistent, low impact exercises. It is a part of their lives.

So if you aren’t walking while reading this, I recommend that you order your own treadmill desk immediately. And while you’re waiting for it to arrive, you can start implementing walking more throughout your workday by:

1) Take walking meetings

2) Walk to your co-workers’ offices, rather than send emails

3) Walk up the stairs to work

4) Park further away from work

5) Walk to lunch

6) Walk around the office when you’re feeling tired

7) Walk to work.

In short, just walk.

How do you implement walking and movement throughout your day? Do you use a treadmill desk?

The post Why You Should be WALKING Right Now appeared first on Xdesk Blog.