The results speak for themselves.

Skeptics believed it was the next Silicon Valley fad, since adjustable height desks in the workplace is the mark of a hip, tech-savvy office (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Google, Facebook Twitter and AOL are just a few companies that have jumped on the standing desk bandwagon. But they were convinced otherwise once they gave it a try.

They also noted that the editor-in-chief of ReadWrite Owen Thomas has taken sit to stand desks to the extreme with his treadmill desk – which he proudly uses on a daily basis.

The employees at Draugiem Group scientifically measured the impact standing desks had on four different stages: productivity, wellbeing, concentration, and the ability to work.

They took it to the next level and used an app they created called DeskTime to accurately track productivity at the office. It’s really useful, so if you’re in the market for something to help manage employees or keep yourself on track, check it out HERE.

And how much did the employees progress after using an adjustable height desk? They proved to be 10 percent more productive during the one week experiment. If 10 percent seems small, think of it in the long-term.

That 10 percent boost in productivity every week can lead to a lot more “taking care of business” throughout the entire month, and that doesn’t include the overall physical and mental health benefits the participants in the study experienced by switching to a sit to stand desk.

Unfortunately the standing desks didn’t help them lose weight or cure any diseases, but it was only a week-long experiment, and we’re always thinking about the long-term benefits over at Xdesk.

One interesting thing the participants experienced while standing behind an adjustable height desk was a sense of urgency to complete the task at hand. They went on to explain that standing worked well for tasks that needed to be completed quickly and accurately, while sitting allowed their minds to wander when they were working on something more creative.

This fact is a win-win situation, since it’s not only about standing all day during the workday, it’s about having the flexibility to switch between sitting and standing positions for the best possible outcome.

Thankfully Xdesk gives you the freedom of movement, so if you’re feeling the pressure from that spreadsheet while standing behind an adjustable height desk, with the small touch of a button you can sit back and relax, without having to look away from your task.

Other things they noted (to no surprise) were higher energy levels. No more food comas after lunch, or the need to grab a third cup of coffee for the day. Other results were higher concentration levels on set tasks. The desire to check emails and browse social media was eliminated while standing.

And on an even more positive note, one participant had fewer headaches while another realized standing more behind his adjustable desk helped stave off cigarette cravings. If that isn’t benefitting your health we don’t know what is!

The article mentions other good things like standing desks throughout history, and goes into detail about the influential companies today that use adjustable desks. To read the whole thing, check it out HERE.

What do you think about this experiment? Give it a try yourself and tell us how it worked!

Photo via

The post ReadWrite Put Standing Desks to the Test appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Stand up to get your creative juices flowing.

In a previous post we talked about the benefits of standing desks or adjustable height desks—and believe me, there are many.

So in today’s post, I thought we’d focus on one important benefit of standing desks in particular:

They boost creativity!

Artists and business-people alike can rejoice at this news, because as you know, creative juice isn’t just reserved for those working on a painting or the next Pulitzer.

No matter what you do, creativity is the key to doing it better—coming up with new, innovative ideas, having more fun at work, challenging yourself to go above and beyond.

And one great way to boost your creativity is by standing!

Standing desks might seem like a new trend, but really it’s a trend that is circling back around. For centuries, writers and “creative geniuses” have used standing desks. For example, Lewis Carroll, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemingway, and Charles Dickens are just some of the famous writers who have used standing desks over the years.

Why? Because standing desks help the blood flow and respire, which means more energy, focus and productivity.

I can attest to this.

I have been using a standing desk for almost a year now. I noticed a huge difference from remaining seated to standing full time. When I am doing something that requires very logical, critical thinking, I usually sit down. But after only about an hour or so of this, I find that I am getting restless, so, push a button, and presto chango my desk is a standing desk! When I stand up I can move around, get the blood and the creative juices flowing again, and boost my energy.

That is the beauty of an adjustable height desk rather than just a stationary standing desk. Simply push a button and you have another option in height.

Just imagine the work Hemingway could have done with an adjustable height desk!

So even if you’re not a Hemingway or Dickens, a standing or adjustable height desk can boost your creativity. And if you already have a standing or adjustable height desk, here are a few more tips to help get your brain powered up!

• Reward your curiosity
• Be willing to take risks
• Make TIME for creativity
• Brainstorm to inspire new ideas
• Realize that all problems have multiple solutions
• Don’t be afraid to fail

Pair these tips by working at a standing desk or adjustable height desk and you will be unstoppable. You might even be the next Hemingway!

Go forth and create!

What is your creative process like? Share your thoughts below!

The post Boost Creativity with a Standing Desk appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

The Duck Dynasty family has discovered the benefits of an adjustable height desk.

If you have read even one of our posts here at the Xdesk blog, you know just how beneficial a standing or adjustable height desk can be for your health. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, better your posture, boost your energy, or just feel better overall, a standing desk is the key to doing so.

And the media is taking notice!

Not only are standing desks in the news these days, but they’re also starting to pop up in shows and movies. The following video clip may as well be endorsed by Xdesk, it is so pointedly saluting the benefits of standing desks (I assure you, it’s not!).

The popular show Duck Dynasty illustrates how even a self-proclaimed “redneck” like Willie Roberson can benefit and love an adjustable height desk. Here we see that he’s just installed some adjustable height desks, very similar to the Xdesk (aside from the camo desktop!), in the office. He explains to his skeptical brother that adjustable height desks promote productivity, movement, and comfort.

Of course like any stereotypical “old man” on T.V., Willie’s uncle objects completely to this crazy newfangled technology saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks!”

But then Willie pushes the button—low and behold the magical moving desk! Willie’s uncle immediately changes his mind about the ridiculous standing desk, because “he likes to push buttons.”

Of course there is more to adjustable height desks like the Xdesk than simply pushing buttons (though that is oddly satisfying). Adjustable height desks give you the freedom to move—move while you stand, stretch, shift your weight and burn more calories. They also give you the freedom to move into a seated position, just by pushing one of the oh-so-delightful buttons.

For benefits galore, click here to see why a Xdesk could change not only the way you work, but the way you live.

And be sure to tune in to Duck Dynasty to watch how their new standing desks transform the lives of the cast! I know I will.

Where have you noticed adjustable height desks or standing desks in the media lately?

The post Standing Desks in the Spotlight: Duck Dynasty Style appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

This is a personal account of using the Xdesk Fit walking desk for the first time.

In case you missed our last few posts, let me remind you of the exciting news: Xdesk’s latest innovation in ergonomic workstations is…

The Xdesk Fit!

That’s good news for athletes, anyone trying to lose weight, stay healthy and get healthy. Okay, the treadmill desk is good news for pretty much anybody. And it sounds so good in theory, doesn’t it?

You can be work, burn calories and improve your lymphatic, metabolic, and immune health at the same time.But I bet some of you are still a little skeptical, right? Well, don’t worry. I was too. But that was before I actually tried the Xdesk Fit.

I don’t have my own treadmill desk yet, but for the purpose of this blog and my love of all things ergonomic, I wanted to find a way to give the treadmill desk a go before going all gaga over it, like so many of the reviews I’ve read.

I tried somebody’s Xdesk Fit, and I can safely say… I’m officially gaga.

Initially I wondered how walking on the Xdesk Fit would impact my typing and overall ability to multitask. But here’s the thing—have you ever walked and talked at the same time? How about walked and texted? It’s not that difficult, people! (And with the treadmill desk you don’t have to worry about walking out in front of a car while typing, as you might on your phone…).

The movement of your feet while using a walking desk doesn’t impact your typing, because you’re not moving that much above the waist. You’re not running.

That’s another thing you should keep in mind, and I know it seems obvious but I’m going to repeat it anyway: you are not running with the desk treadmill. So athletes out there—don’t expect a run-quality workout while you are using the walking desk—that’s not what it’s designed for.

What it is designed for is to keep your body in motion, to burn off excess energy while you’re at work, and to keep you alert and productive. I hardly think you’d be very productive trying to run and type at the same time, do you?

The thing that surprised me about the Xdesk desk treadmill in particular was how easy it was to use. At first I thought it might be overwhelming—typing on one computer, having to adjust and monitor my speed on another device, having to push stop the moment I wanted to take a break.

But it was easy because with this specific treadmill desk everything I needed was in one place. With their nifty app I was able to adjust and monitor my speed right on the computer I was working on and if I wanted to take a break, all I needed to do was step off of the belt and the machine automatically paused.

Like I said, I don’t have my own Xdesk Fit (yet!), and so I can’t very well tell you how it’s going after a week of use—I think the desk’s owner would probably start to get a bit irritated if I took up his work-space for a week—but I can tell you that after trying it out for a couple of hours, I felt energetic, I felt stretched out, I felt looser, and I didn’t feel like a big lazy lump (which I can say, I have before with a sitting desk).

So if nothing else, you should definitely give the walking desk a try. And after you do, when you undoubtedly want to buy one, you can visit the Xdesk Fit page to do so!

Happy walking, everyone!

Have you ever tried a treadmill desk? What did you think?

The post My Xdesk Fit Experiment: Using a Treadmill Desk appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

A first grade class used standing desks to improve learning in the classroom. Seventy percent of the students stood full-time after just six weeks.

In a previous post we briefly touched on the benefits of standing desks or adjustable height desks in the classroom. Kids burn off excess energy, will focus more on the task at hand, and will be much healthier with a standing desk. Now, there is even more evidence that standing desks in the classroom are beneficial. Just check out this study.

Recently in a first-grade classroom in Texas, students were all equipped with standing desks. The desks came with a stool, but gave students the freedom to stand as well.

According to Monica Wendel, co-author of the study published last year in the American Journal of Public Health, “Most students want to be standing, to be moving,” after six weeks, 70 percent of the students never used their stools to sit. And the other 30 percent stood the majority of the time they were at their desks.

Overall the study showed that using a standing desk significantly increases calorie burn in first graders. The results showed that heavier students in the 85^th percentile for weight based on gender and age burned a staggering 32 percent more calories standing than sitting! This is huge in combating obesity from an early age.

Some teachers might worry that using a standing desk in the classroom would be a distraction, but according to the study, standing desks actually boost productivity—especially in young students like these first graders who have a lot of energy to burn.

Here’s my favorite part about this study. Apparently, just a few weeks after the study began the teachers even requested standing desks for themselves.

Okay, this might actually be my favorite part about the study… Apparently when they tried to have students sit on stability balls rather than use standing desks, it was, as you can imagine, a bit chaotic. Students were bouncing around the classroom, toppling over, throwing their balls…

So if you have a little one who needs a place to do his or her homework, opt for a standing desk or height adjustable desk … It’s probably best to leave the stability balls for the adults.

What kind of desk setup do your kids use for homework?

Source: ChicagoTribune.com

The post Stand Up for Learning appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Adjustable Height desks improve employees productivity at the office.

Ergonomic height adjustable desks are not just the new cool thing in the business world, like bagels were ten years ago and like kale bars are now. Unlike these “healthy” trends, which can wax and wane with the days of the week, the ergonomic height adjustable desk is in the workplace to stay—and for good reason!  According to a study by Dr. Alan Hedge at Cornell University, using one of these ergonomic height adjustable desks throughout the day at work actually makes workers more productive and healthier over all.

So here is a bit of background on this study: 53 computer-using participants, who reported using a mouse for up to 60 percent of their day and a keyboard for at least 50 percent, were asked to start out at a normal, seated desk. Next, 45 of the participants were asked to use an ergonomic height adjustable desk. They weren’t required to stand up rather than sit down—these ergonomic height adjustable desks could either be high or low, after all—but ultimately the participants decided to stand on their own.

Matter of fact, 81 percent reported standing at least once a day, 18 percent reported standing five or more times a day, and 5 percent reported standing three or more times a day. Overall, those people using the ergonomic height adjustable desks reported standing for over 20 percent of their day.

When Dr. Hedge compared the two groups—those using regular desks and those using ergonomic height adjustable desks—there was a huge decrease in musculoskeletal discomfort. For those using regular desks, the average level of musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) was a whopping 43.1—just from sitting down! For those using ergonomic height adjustable desks, though, the average MSD was only 35.1—nearly a 20 percent decrease.

Productivity was up in the group using ergonomic height adjustable desks. 57.5 percent of those using ergonomic height adjustable desks reported that their productivity was “somewhat helped” to “definitely helped” by using their desk, whereas only 20 percent of those using a regular, or fixed height desk, reported an increase in productivity.

With an ergonomic height adjustable desk, workers are more productive in a couple of different ways. First of all, with an ergonomic desk employees can take fewer breaks, because they can move around while they’re still working (I’m doing it right now, actually. Can you guess which song I’m dancing at my desk to?)

Second of all, ergonomic height adjustable desks physically make employees more productive, because when you switch between standing and sitting, your metabolism, circulation, and energy increases. Ultimately this leads to less grogginess and improved efficiency in workers.

And who doesn’t want that?

All over the world, hundreds of companies like Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Google, offer their employees ergonomic height adjustable desks and even treadmill options (Yes, treadmills). The rise in the ergonomic height adjustable desk goes far beyond Silicon Valley though. Schools all over the country are starting to implement them into the classrooms. The National Institute of Health uses them and employees at the FBI and the Mayo Clinic are even standing up at work.

These are companies known for being productive—they have to be! So take a leaf out of their books: Bring ergonomic height adjustable desks into your work place for healthier, happier, and more productive employees.

The post Height Adjustable Desks: Changing the way Offices Work appeared first on Xdesk Blog.