Work is a big part of our lives, no doubt. Those with desk jobs spend about 60% of their hours sitting against the computer screen at their workplace. Even right now, you're probably reading this blog sitting in your chair. But do you know that the longer you stay put, the more anxious your body becomes until you stand up again and take it for a walk? This may sound absurd especially when our bodies seem to prefer sitting over standing.
Human body is designed to sit, stand, walk, bend… but not just to overdo any one of it!
Sure, sitting for brief periods can help us recover from stress or recuperate from a workout, but our present lifestyle makes us sit a lot more in comparison to moving around and staying active. Our bodies aren’t designed for such a sedentary lifestyle. Nature has built it to be mobile and active.
So, if every inch of the body is ready and waiting for you to move, what happens when you don't?
Several actions are taking place in your body as you move or sit, here’s a quick run through:
● A typical sitting position at your home office desk involves curved back and slumped shoulders - a position that exerts uneven pressure on your spine causing wear and tear of your spinal discs over time.
● It overworks certain ligaments and joints and puts unnecessary strain on muscles.
● A hunched back also causes your chest to cave in giving your lungs less space to expand when you breathe, limiting the oxygen supply in your blood, and causing you to feel tired & unenergetic.
● The action of sitting also squashes your delicate tissues underneath the buttocks and may even cause swelling in your limbs due to blocked nerves, arteries, and veins reducing blood flow. This is just a gist of what happens when you sit a lot.
Prolonged sitting affects not only your body but also your brain
We are often told to sit down and think. But ironically, it is better for our brain if we would stand and move around. As mentioned earlier, being stationary reduces the amount of oxygen entering your bloodstream through your lungs. Your brain requires both of those things to remain alert, otherwise, your concentration levels will most likely dip as your brain activity slows.
Does investing in an adjustable desk pay off?
While being active has no alternative, the closest you can get to it is by using a height-adjustable work desk. An ergonomically designed furniture supports posture better, is more comfortable, reduces the strain on the spine, and also lowers the risk of neck problems. Relief from Static Muscle Fatigue may only be achieved through muscle movement. A desk that allows you to alternate between sitting and standing position, a desk that can be of height adjustable along with memorizing the data can be achieved through a height adjustable desk. Standing improves energy and mood, which means an adjustable standing desk can also significantly improve productivity. The benefits of using a height adjustable table will be visible both immediately and in the long run. Some might find it an expensive choice, but the money that you spend on your own health and well-being is always an investment that pays off! HNI India is a premium office furniture company providing ergonomic solutions such as modular office furniture, office chairs, and tables at not so premium prices. Do visit HNI India estore where you can select from a range of our hand-picked work from home furniture collections including the height adjustable table.
In fact, now that the blog’s almost over, why not stand up and stretch right now? So that your body will thank you later!