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 can find time to enjoy the summer and manage your workout schedule behind a walking desk.

In a matter of days, summer vacation will officially begin. The kids will be home from school, those long, sun-filled days will be the norm, pool parties, days at the beach, on the lake… In short: bathing suits, bathing suits, bathing suits.

The paradox of summer is that it’s bathing suit season, but with the kids at home and so much going on, there is hardly any time to work out!

That’s why a treadmill desk like the Xdesk Fit is such a wonderful option, not only for those trying to lose weight, but for anyone with health in mind. Treadmill desks in general are great, but the Xdesk Fit treadmill desk in particular has things that the others don’t.

• The Xdesk Fit treadmill is an unobtrusive 29”x 70.5” (outside dimensions) and has modern styling with sleek lines. This desk is the height of technology—not only because of its adjustable height, but because of the treadmill itself. It comes with an LED digital display that you can place on top of your setup—no matter where it is positioned. This will list your walking time, calories burned, distance traveled and your speed.

• This treadmill desk is Bluetooth-enabled, so you can track your progress right on your computer’s desktop with a handy app. Talk about being productive at the office!

• The Xdesk Fit walking desk also comes with added safety. Most of these treadmill desks continue to run if you step off for a moment, which can be dangerous if you need to stop walking or pause to take a call. With a walking desk from Xdesk, the belt will know when you step off and will stop after just 20 seconds.

Aside from walking while you’re working, here are a few other tips to help you shed that winter insulation and feel confident and healthy in your swimsuit this summer.

• Snack smartly. Yes it’s true, snacking can be good—if you choose the right foods. The best picks are filling, protein-packed snacks, such as one stick of string cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of fruit, or a medium-size bowl of edamame.

• Turn off the T.V. If you’re mindlessly eating while watching TV, research shows you can take in up to 40 percent more calories than usual. Texting, driving, or any other distracting activity during a meal can also result in eating too much.

• Build your muscle mass. Do sculpting workouts (push-ups, lunges, weights, etc.), at least three times a week. This will help boost your metabolism—and give you a healthy toned look.

• Steer clear of sugary drinks. Studies show that liquids travel too quickly through your stomach for your brain to notice the calorie consumption, so all those sugary drinks (not to mention high-calorie beers!) may not feel like they’re filling you up, but they really are—filling you up with calories.

• Eat your veggies. Nutritionists sometimes joke that “no one ever got fat eating carrots.” Truer words have never been spoken! Eat lots of veggies and leafy greens. These will keep you fuller longer and boost your energy, metabolism, and overall health.

So if you’re trying to lose weight for summer but find that you don’t have time (and who can blame you?!), hop behind your treadmill desk during the workday, and be mindful of what you’re putting into your body.

Any other tips for healthy weight loss? Share your thoughts below!

The post Healthy Ways to Lose Weight appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Working from home is becoming increasingly popular. Invest in the Xdesk Solo to improve productivity at home.

Right now I am writing this post in sweatpants, a t-shirt, sun pouring in through my open door, and listening to the birds chirping outside. I haven’t brushed my hair today, I haven’t put on makeup, and I don’t plan to for another hour at least.

I’m working from home.

With the rapid rise in technology, what with email, Google Docs, teleconferencing, etc., working from home is becoming not only a more viable option, but a preferable one for many businesses all over the world.

In fact, studies show that working from home at least 1-3 days a week makes for healthier, happier, and more productive employees. It is a perfect option for someone (like me) who writes or does other computer-heavy task and doesn’t necessarily need to make face time in the office so much.

The only problem here is that at-home ergonomics are often not up to par.

In today’s post I thought I’d talk about things you can do to make your work-from-home time a bit more comfortable, more productive and healthier.

1) Get a standing or adjustable height desk. Many businesses are hopping on the standing or adjustable height desk train these days, but these benefits don’t need to be restricted to the walls of your office. You can get a standing or adjustable height desk for your home too. At Xdesk, there is a perfect solution: The Xdesk Solo. This is a smaller adjustable height desk, perfect for working from home.

2) Make your own standing/adjustable height desk. This isn’t as convenient as having an adjustable height desk that will move to your perfect height at the push of a button, but it is better than sitting down all day on your couch. After a day of sitting on my couch with my laptop on my lap, my shoulders and neck are in AGONY! After a day of standing at my makeshift standing desk, I can’t even tell I’ve been typing away all day.

3) Get an adjustable keyboard tray. If you already have a good standing or adjustable height desk, you might want to think about adding an adjustable keyboard tray to maximize your ergonomic benefits.

4) Add a monitor arm. Monitor arms are the accessory of the season—for your health! These will make it so that your monitor is at the exact right height, no matter what. They are adjustable, and the perfect complement for your adjustable height desk.

So if you’re working from home, think about getting an adjustable height desk, standing desk, or perhaps getting a little crafty and making your own. Believe me, your neck, shoulders, back (and energy, weight, and health overall!) will thank you for it.

Do you work from home some or all of the week? Do you use a standing or adjustable height desk? Comment below!

The post Improve your At-Home Ergonomics appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Treadmill desks are the latest workplace trend.

In a previous post we told you about how the Xdesk is the ultimate ergonomic workstation–it is perfectly adjustable for any height and any position, from the desk to the keyboard and even the monitor’s position. While doing a bit of Internet digging, I found that while the Xdesk may be the ideal ergonomic workstation, it has got nothing on this latest trend. Introducing the treadmill desk.

Yes, you read that correctly: the treadmill desk.

The Xdesk Fit can keep you moving all day.

This gem takes the idea of ergonomic workstations and standing desks to a whole new level. It is a veritable walking desk.

The treadmill desk is the creation of Dr. James Levine from the Mayo Clinic. The idea is to slowly walk on a treadmill while still working at your desk built around a treadmill.

I don’t have a treadmill desk of my own, but right now as I’m typing this, I’m giving it a shot. I’m walking. And typing. It’s pretty easy.

But this does make me wonder, do you really need to pay the extra $500 or so for a treadmill desk when you can literally do the same thing by walking behind your standing desk?

I use a Xdesk adjustable height desk and I’m walking behind it right now—going just as “far” as I would be on a slow-moving treadmill. So what is the difference?

Self-motivation, I suppose. With a classic ergonomic workstation like the Xdesk you’ll have to motivate yourself to stand up and move your feet. With a treadmill desk, if it is on, you really don’t have any option (unless you want to end up on the floor).

But even without the latest treadmill desk and without an ergonomic workstation at all, you must still motivate yourself to get up and get moving. Take breaks during your workday to walk around the building. Print to the printer down the hall instead of near your office. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

And when you get home, don’t collapse onto the couch—get outside, play with your kids, your dogs, or just play! It is my professional opinion (as a writer…) that life is taken way too seriously. There is too much work and not enough play. And too much sitting, and not enough moving!

So get yourself up and active. And if it takes this extreme ergonomic workstation to motivate you, then by all means get a treadmill desk! The point is, just move. Your body will thank you for it.

What is your unique and brilliant idea for the next ergonomic workstation? Share your thoughts below (Or patent them and then share your thoughts below…)!

The post The Ergonomic Workstation—Taken to the Next Level appeared first on Xdesk Blog.