There are millions of people in the workforce who are required to perform their occupational duties while sitting at a desk all day; graphic designers, call center workers, data entry personnel, receptionists, etc., there is a myriad of occupations that require abundant computer use. Unfortunately, sitting in a chair day after day for hours at a time can lead to some uncomfortable health implications. One recent study found that for those 45 years and older who spent 11 hours or more a day sitting had a 40% greater chance of dying within three years. It appears that regular exercise helps to mitigate the risk but it doesn’t entirely ‘balance the scale.’
Sitting in a chair all day offers a range of possible complications, from increased risk to developing heart disease and diabetes, to a critical shut down in a circulating blood enzyme that is responsible for breaking down fat (lipase). The extended sitting time can also wreak havoc on leg muscles and eventually might even make our bodies less sensitive to the insulin that is produced by our pancreas.
There are several things you can do to help combat these problems. For those who need to be at a desk all day, there are simple exercises that may be performed to increase physical activity. If able to do so, stand-up when on a call and walk around your desk, jiggling your feet and arms to get the blood circulating, stomp and pace your feet, or do some stretches. Aside from trying to increase physical activity, many have also started adapting their work stations.
One helpful tool that has been created to curb this problem is a standing all-in-one workspace that can be folded away to fit in any apartment or home. “Your Position” is the name of the workspace and it was designed by David Manning, the design aims to focus on improving physical and mental well-being.
The workspace is conveniently adjustable so that you can cater to your own individual needs and fit the design into any home. It features a standing desk, a bulletin board, an LED task light, a planter, and racks for storing various documents and supplies. The entire design is able to be folded up when it isn’t in use, in order to make more room for your daily activities and other belongings. The desk design is also set on casters so that it’s easier to move around your home when you need to. This creation helps people get more done, even if they don’t have the room, because of the capability it has to be adjusted and stored away.
Another innovative creation helps anyone turn their regular desk into a standing desk for less than $200. Many people have been making the move toward standing desks in order to help combat health implications that are associated with sitting in a chair all day long. Designed by Mikey Chen and Sam Carmichael, “The Upstanding Desk” is an affordable add-on that you can use to convert any regular desk into a standing workstation. The addition can be assembled in under a minute and doesn’t require any add-ons. It offers two levels: one for a monitor and one for laptop, keyboard, and other items.
