Do you prefer to sit on an ergonomic chair or use a standing desk when working in the office? Each has their own benefits and each person has their own preferences but which one is better? What are the benefits of each one? In this article we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of both so you can decide which one is better for you.
Standing Desks or Ergonomic Chairs?
An increasingly surprising amount of debates have been ongoing in recent years about the benefits of sitting or standing, especially at workplaces. As it seems, a considerable number of organizations are embracing the use of standing desks as the standard office setup, but have you ever wondered which of these two approaches have the best overall effect on your health and productivity? While a lot of people favor the standing desk because of the popular belief that it is healthier, there are still folks who don’t seem interested in leaving the comfort of their office chairs.
What Are Ergonomic Chairs?
Ergonomic chairs are designed to be as comfortable as possible. Typically, they are constructed such that the features fit the human body as perfectly as possible, for the achievement of maximal comfort. Our common traditional chairs generally consist of seats and backrests. However, these are usually not engineered to match the outline of the human body, and most of them don’t give enough support for the human spine, most especially the neck and lower back. The introduction of these special chairs have now almost completely eradicated the risks that sitting for long periods pose to the human skeletal system.
While there are now numerous brands of ergonomic chairs on the productivity market, they all have the same key features, with slight modifications and additions here and there. Adequate support for the neck and back are cardinal in any brand of ergonomic chair you may be attracted to, as well as contoured seats that seek to reduce accumulation of strain in the body. Most common brands of ergonomic chairs include HermanMiller Aeron chair, Sidiz T80 chair, Nouhaus Ergo3D chair, among others.
Benefits of Using Ergonomic Chairs
In most situations, ergonomic chairs are advantageous to the health of everyone in any office, partly because they help maintain a sitting position for prolonged periods and partly because they are quite comfortable. Seriously, ergonomics, for the most part, entails evaluating the health needs of your employees and engineering a workplace that suits them.
Apart from the above fact, these chairs are actually very cool to look at. They uplift the visuals of your workplace, and you can get virtually any design, shape or size that you want. They are adjustable, easily maneuverable and add to your sense of personal pride.
Drawbacks of Ergonomic Chairs
The major drawback to them is that they can be quite expensive, especially if you have a high-class taste. Sometimes also, there may be a need to do a trade-off between comfort and level of support offered, as these two may be difficult to obtain simultaneously. But don’t worry, Ergo Tune AU has a wide array of ergonomic chairs that suits everyone’s budget.
What Are Standing Desks?
Standing desks mean exactly what we call them – you get to stand while working. They come in different types, including the manual, electric and convertibles. They provide a clear path for escaping from a sedentary lifestyle, encouraging you to invest more effort into your physical and mental health. This form of office setup has become a craze in recent years, clearly because of the benefits associated with them.
Benefits of Using Standing Desks
Standing while working can be beneficial in many ways. From improvement of blood flow to strengthening your core muscles, you stand to gain a lot. It helps you pay conscious attention to your posture, allows you to take more frequent breaks as you work, thus improving your alertness and productivity.
In addition, they are cheaper to set up and maintain. You may even decide to fix one by yourself if you find yourself with limited funds. Creating a DIY standing desk is a popular option because it’s cheaper and does the job. You don’t need to buy an expensive standing desk; making your own one is also a very good option.
You can also get an adjustable standing desk which allows you to adjust the height so make the desk stay at a comfortable height.
Drawbacks of Standing Desks
As good as they are, standing desks have their own drawbacks. For example, you may not find one suitable for your height easily. In fact, some just find it outright difficult transitioning from working in a sitting position to doing the same while standing. Standing for too long also has some adverse effects on the spines, with the potential of causing low-back pain.
So, Which of The Two Is Best for You?
There is absolutely no winner in this debate, and the decision of which to choose for your office work should be personal. While making a choice, carefully examine the pros and cons of these two approaches, your financial strength and your health status. If you like both, you could also consider a sit-stand desk. These desks can be adjusted and can be used as both a sitting desk and a standing desk so you can occasionally stand while working and occasionally sit on your ergonomic chair. Wouldn’t that be so nice?
Which one do you prefer? Do you like sitting, standing or both?
