Standing is the New Black

In case you’ve been too busy beavering away at your work to notice, sit-to-stand desks are the cult office product du jour.

Presented with the alarming results of research (conducted by Sanitarium’s Vitality Works) into the health and wellbeing of Adventist workers, the RMS team decided to take a stand – both literally and figuratively – by installing sit-to-stand desks in most of their offices.

Also known as “active workstations”, “stand-up desks” or “adjustable height desks” this new way of working promises to reduce OHS injuries, improve circulation and potentially ward-off health problems caused by physical inactivity. Sit-to-stand desks allow workers to alternate between sitting and standing with the simple push of a button.

If you like your existing desk, a google search will deliver many suggestions for including physical activity in an otherwise sedentary work day. Here we share our top tips for a more active day at work:

  • Does your workplace sometimes start with worship? Try a standing or walking worship! God doesn’t mind what position you’re in when you pray. Watch this 3-minute TED video about the benefits of walking meetings.
  • Divide each hour of your work day into 15 minute blocks. Set your phone timer to countdown 15 minutes. Every 15 minutes change your position or your task, every 30 minutes take a 2 minute walk.
  • Get social. Make a list of the people you need to talk to and either walk to their office or if they don’t work out of the same building call them from your mobile and walk around.
  • Pack a pair of comfortable shoes for a 15 minute walk at lunchtime.

If you have a little more time and want to learn about the effects of prolonged sitting and how to lessen the damage, watch this informative 5-minute video from Catalyst.