Standing up for yourself is a vital skill, as any assertiveness guru will tell you.
But that’s not what this post is about.
For increased productivity, I’m suggesting that you consider standing up for yourself, literally.
I mean standing up, as in not sitting down!
Standing Up for Yourself at Work
I recently read an article by Julia Gifford titled “We Tested Standing Desks—Here’s Proof They Make You More Productive” on read/write.com. The author works for the Draugiem Group and in her article she does a very comprehensive job of exploring the impact of stand-up desks on productivity, as well as on health.
Increasingly, we see these desks appearing at work places, and particularly at high tech venues. And I hear more and more about people, like my VA, who are exploring the use of standing desks.
My VA works primarily at a PC, but does have a laptop at a stand up desk that she uses regularly, to change things up. She notes that it helps a lot, both physically and in terms of focus and energy.
Standing Up vs. Sitting Down
The risks posed by the amount of time that many of us typically spend sitting are being more and more publicized. For example, according to the Mayo Clinic:
Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
So, purely from a self-care point of view, cutting down on your sitting time is a good idea.
But varying your position and factoring in time for regular breaks is also vital for your productivity. If you simply observe your own work style over time, you are likely to notice points where your energy dips. Tracking those energy fluctuations enables you to plan breaks for times when you truly need them.
We each are unique in our ability to sustain focus, but for those who subscribe to the Pomodoro Technique, for example, regular breaks at about the 45-minute mark are optimal, but your needs may be different. The point is to give yourself what you need.
So, for your health and your productivity, I suggest that you consider building in breaks at regular and frequent intervals – and perhaps consider a standing desk as an option.
As you read this post, have you been sitting for a long time?
I invite you to get up right now and just stretch or walk for a bit.
Standing up for yourself is so important! 😉
When I used to work in an office, one of the guys used his drawers on top of the desk so he could stand for periods of time. He said it made him more productive. I’ve recently seen a desk with a treadmill, so you can walk and work at the same time. It looks interesting but not sure it would really help with productivity. Great post!
Thanks for stopping by, Alexandria. I’ve heard mixed reviews on the impact those treadmill desks have on productivity – although they would certainly be helpful from a physical standpoint. Just standing up for phone calls is something I find helpful. And taking brief breaks to move, stretch, etc. I believe there are bike desks, too! 🙂
Been sitting far too long! Yes, there are certainly times that I’d like to be able to stand and work and give my rear a break 🙂 I think it can also encourage shorter “meetings” – people can get a bit too comfortable if you sit at meetings!
Hi Tamsin – I tink that your point about meetings is an excellent one. And it seems that the key is change – no matter what position you are in. Have you tried changing it up this week so far? Would love to hear how it’s going!