Jillian Estes is an attorney who spends many hours at her desk reading long, legal documents.

“I was getting exhausted and finding myself — you know, the head nod at your desk, when you’re trying not to fall asleep and trying to get through something,” Estes said.

Enter the standing desk.  Estes decided to invest in one about a year ago and says it makes a difference in productivity.

“Just being able to get up and get that blood moving, to stretch your legs a little bit, really seems to wake you up while you’re working,” Estes said.

Benefits of Standing

Not only does standing make you more alert, it could be healthier. According to research, sitting for long periods of time every day can lead to a whole host of negative health effects — like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, even cancer.

People who use stand-up desks do seem to like them, but most evidence that standing work stations have significant health benefits is, so far, fairly anecdotal. There haven’t been enough studies to make it conclusive.

They definitely can help make you feel more alert and productive, however, and you do burn slightly more calories, about 20 to 50 more per hour depending on your size.

To amp up the calorie burn and get the benefits of exercise, you can turn to a stand-up desk that comes equipped with a treadmill or stationary bike.

Problems with Sitting

According to a British study, the average worker spends 5 hours 41 minutes sitting per day, which they say can be bad for both your physical and mental health.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Shim says sitting for prolonged periods is probably one of the worst things you can do.

“It’s bad for your posture. It’s bad for your lack of activity. People gain weight by sitting all day long,” Shim said.

Shim actually uses a standing desk himself and says it feels more natural to him, especially because he’s used to standing during surgery for many hours.

Stand with Care

You do have to be careful to avoid unintended negative consequences from standing too long like swelling ankles or varicose veins.

“Some people have bad veins; can’t do it,” Shim said. “Some people have horrible arthritis in their hips and knees; maybe they can’t do it. But, in general, if you have the ability, why not.”

It’s important to use good posture when you stand and adjust the height of the monitor so it’s comfortable for you.                                                                           

“Sometimes people have increasing back pain, if they’re hunched over. You’ve got to make sure your table is a reasonable height. Not too tall, not too short,” explained Shim. “When you look at your computer monitor, make sure you’re looking relatively straight ahead or slightly downwards to prevent you developing neck strain.”

You can also get a standing desk floor mat, which can make standing more comfortable and help avoid foot pain.

Costs and Styles of Stand-up Desks

Attorney Estes actually has a stand-up desktop converter. It’s adjustable to go from sitting to standing depending on your needs.  She says just make sure your cords are long enough.

“When you lift it up for the first time, if your cords aren’t long enough, your monitors are gonna get pulled. So, we learned that the hard way,” Estes said laughing.

The costs can vary drastically depending on what design you choose, from just a couple of hundred dollars for a simple desktop design, like Estes has, to several thousand dollars for one with all the bells and whistles, like a treadmill or stationary bike attached. It all depends on what you’re looking for and what you’re willing to spend.

Some companies will actually pay for employees to get stand-up desks, because of the increase in productivity.  If you’re interested, it’s worth asking your employer if they’ll pick up the tab, so you can take a stand.

For more information on where you can buy a standup desk, click here.