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If you’re reading this article, you are most likely tired of sitting at a desk all day long and are ready for a change. A sit-stand solution is a great way to get a little extra movement during the day and improve your focus, productivity, and overall health. As you evaluate a new sit-stand solution for your desk at home or in the office, it’s essential to consider a few key features before you purchase. Here are five things to consider before you commit ensuring your new desk is everything you could want or need.
It’s important to note that there are fixed-standing desk solutions and adjustable solutions. Fixed solutions, although seemingly convenient, are much less versatile and don’t allow you to transition between sitting and standing throughout the day. While sitting all day can be bad for your health, so can standing for long periods of time. Being able to transition often throughout the day is key to improving health and productivity.
When choosing a height-adjustable sit-stand solution, it must have an appropriate height range for the individual user. We caution against using above-desk converters as your solution, however. These are placed on top of desks and often create more health problems than they solve.
ANSI/BIFMA recommends desks that range between 22.6″ and 48.7″ tall, which can accommodate about 90% of the population. This range becomes even more important when in shared office space where users of varying statures may be utilizing the same desk or workstation.
We all know how frustrating it can be when our office seems to be too small for the things we need to have in it. It’s crucial when choosing a sit-stand solution to consider the square footage of the space you have available. It is also essential to consider the needs you have for the space on top of the desk itself. Needs change based on the devices you use and how you use them.
If you are using a laptop, you may need less desk space than if you are using a desktop computer and monitor. Whether or not you have a printer, filing rack, or multiple other tools that sit on your desk will help determine what size you need. If you already have a desktop that you love, and that has the perfect amount of space, you may want to consider adjustable legs instead of a whole new desk. The most important thing to consider is your needs and which solution tailors to those needs best.
Some adjustable desks or legs are programmed to a button on the desk, while others can connect to a mobile or browser app. Programmability is all about preference. You want to make sure that your sit-stand solution is easy to use and adjust, and the adjustments can be made in a way that’s convenient for you. Some solutions allow for multiple heights to be stored in memory so that more than one user of a workspace can easily restore desk-height to their saved positions.
The necessary weight capacity of your sit-stand solution entirely depends on what you are using it for and the equipment needed for that particular use. If you’re buying a sit-stand solution to use at home with your laptop, chances are you don’t need one that can hold two hundred pounds. However, if you need a desk that can manage three full-sized monitors, a printer, and a small dog, you may need to swing for a desk or legs with a higher weight capacity.
Make sure that you look at the solution’s weight limits before you buy to ensure that it can transition smoothly regardless of what you have on it.
A sit-stand solution is an investment not only in your comfort but also in your short and long-term health. However, it’s still essential to consider your budget. All of the automatic features and programmable software are extremely useful and worthwhile so long as it’s in your budget. One way to get the best desk for your money is to consider spending more on the legs and less on the top or use an existing worksurface.
Purchasing a sit-stand solution is an investment. But your work experience can be much more comfortable, productive, and enjoyable with the right product. In addition to the above, you may also want to consider the noise level of the desk, the speed and how long it takes to transition, and manual versus electric movement and how various accessories such as a monitor arm or keyboard tray can be integrated for optimal ergonomic benefit.