a 5-minute read
Inspiring workspaces and high-quality desks gave birth to some of the biggest ideas in the world. Did you know that Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United-States, Winston Churchill and Ernest Hemingway all worked at standing desks? The ideal workstation promotes health, comfort, and productivity. Welcome to Ergonomics - a central element in modern office design and workplace wellbeing.
The concept of Ergonomics has been disrupting almost everything we know about the workplace. Companies all over the world are redefining workstations to make them healthier. By placing a focus on health-promoting ergonomic workspaces where employees’ posture is a central concern, companies are improving the well-being of their staff. In doing so, they are also boosting efficiency. Read on to learn more about Ergonomics. We’ll show you how investing in a sit/stand desk will change your life.
Where did Ergonomics begin?
The term Ergonomics was coined in the 1950s. Ergonomics is defined as “the study of human abilities and characteristics which affect the design of equipment, systems, and jobs”. But where did it all begin? Humans have probably been aware of their posture for millennia but before Second World War, the majority of people spent their day doing manual work. Then came the desk job. These days, engineers and desk manufacturers have numerical evidence that the design and setup of the work environment has an impact on the workers using the space.
With the arrival of Google’s dynamic office environment and increasing numerical evidence showing how caring about workers’ posture and well-being boosts productivity, Ergonomics has spread into a variety of workplaces. Home office workers deserve healthy and happy bodies too, so increasing numbers of self-employed workers are now opting for ergonomic environments to increase their productivity by improving their health. When you take home your superior ergonomic desk, you’ll notice both its aesthetic value and its health benefits.
Ergonomics isn’t just a trend. Its benefits are backed up by science!
It’s true that Ergonomics is a very popular concept in today’s office environments. However, Ergonomics isn’t just a trend. The science behind working in a healthy manner is hard to ignore. According to the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana, “people who sit for most of the day are 54% more likely to die of heart attacks”. Research has also shown that being sedentary all day can increase your risk of cancer by up to 66%. The numbers are terrifying and unsurprisingly, workers and employees are beginning to take note and act upon the science. In other words, Ergonomics is unlikely to go out of fashion. Studies have found that sitting in an ergonomic workplace and moving around dynamically while at work actually lengthens your life. Alternating between sitting and standing gives you a better quality of life too.
Working dynamically at a sit-stand desk reduces pain
According to a study by Lumo Bodytech’s CEO Monisha Perkash, “workers are spending as much as 38 minutes per hour slouching”. This slouching adds up over the course of a full day of work and even more so over the course of a full week, creating health problems, including tension in your muscles. Being in pain is no fun for anyone. We’ve all been there. When your muscles are tense, you get tension headaches, shoulder pain, and most commonly back pain. Back pain the number one cause of disability in workers under the age of 40. When you’re working dynamically and sitting right thanks to your sit stand desk, the risk of back pain and tension headaches is greatly reduced.
Working dynamically at sit stand desks improves employees’ happiness
Headaches and back pain cause irritability both at home and at work. The result of reduced pain from sitting correctly and moving dynamically is increased happiness, both at work and during leisure time. No more feeling tense at the weekend due to unhealthy muscles! In addition, increasing the movement in your day, alternating between sitting to standing at your desk will release endorphins, further promoting feelings of happiness. Happy employees taking fewer sick days are productive employees who contribute to successful companies.
Alternate between sitting and standing during the day and you’ll notice a huge difference in your overall health and quality of life.
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