Let me reveal a secret. For at least the past 15 years, I have been using a standing work surface (precisely at 42″), and let me tell you, this simple change has helped not only my performance but also my thought process and creative thinking. Don’t believe me? Well, research supports the health and productivity benefits of standing while working, and now I am here to share my experiences and findings with you, fellow marketers and business leaders!
The Health Benefits of Standing While Working
Standing while working does more for your health than you would ever imagine. Let’s break down its impact on your well-being:
- Burns more calories than sitting, helping maintain a healthy weight
- Engages more muscles, improving strength, balance, and posture
- Increases blood flow and oxygenation to the brain and body
- Reduces risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers
- Alleviates back and neck pain caused by sitting in a chair for too long
With these incredible health benefits, it’s no wonder that standing desks have become such a popular workplace addition!
The Productivity Benefits of Standing While Working
As marketers and business leaders, we’re always thinking about our productivity. Let me share how standing while working has benefited me on the productivity front:
- Increased energy and alertness from more movement and blood flow
- Ability to move around facilitates creativity and idea generation
- Periodic standing breaks maintain focus and prevent mental fatigue
- Feelings of restlessness from sitting are eliminated
- May improve mood and combat symptoms of anxiety or depression
It’s a no-brainer: standing while working definitely has a positive impact on productivity!
The Creativity Benefits of Standing While Working
As creative professionals, we are always seeking ways to give our creative juices a boost. Standing while working does precisely that:
- Light activity such as standing or walking boosts creative ideation
- Increased blood flow to the brain stimulates cognitive function
- Movement allows people to think more freely and make new connections
- Breaking the sedentary position inspires originality and imagination
- Promotes “openness to experience”, a personality trait linked to creativity
So go ahead, take a stand and let your creativity soar!
Time to Take a Stand
To wrap up, standing or walking while working can truly revolutionize your health, productivity, and creativity. It may take a bit of adjusting to find the right fit for you but it’s certainly worth a try! Whether your goal is to increase mental clarity, burn more calories throughout the day, or improve your posture; these devices are an excellent way to achieve all this and more. Even if you don’t decide to go all-in on a standing desk or treadmill desk setup, there are still many ways to incorporate small movement into our daily lives that can make a world of difference.
Do you have any unique habits that lend to improved performance? Comment below – I’d love to hear some inspirational strategies for staying healthy and productive!
