October is Ergonomics Month. As part of our Build a Better Workspace series, we're looking at one of the most popular ways to add more movement to the workday: the sit-stand desk.
A standing desk can be a great addition to an ergonomic workstation, but simply raising your desk and standing isn't enough.
Here are 5 common standing desk mistakes and how to fix them.
1. Standing All Day
One of the biggest misconceptions about standing desks is that standing all day is better than sitting all day. The goal of a sit-stand workstation isn't to replace eight hours of sitting with eight hours of standing. It's to make it easier to change positions and add movement throughout your day.
The fix: Alternate between sitting and standing based on what feels comfortable for you. Instead of thinking about sitting versus standing, think about movement and variety. Sit for a while, stand for a while, take a short walk, stretch, and continue changing positions throughout your workday.
2. Setting Your Desk at the Wrong Height
When standing, position your work surface so your elbows can remain comfortably near your sides at approximately 90–100 degrees while using your keyboard and mouse. If your desk is too high, you may find yourself raising your shoulders. Too low, and you may start leaning or reaching downward.
The fix: Don't rely on a preset height just because it works for someone else. Adjust your sit-stand desk around your body and working position. If your desk has programmable controls, save comfortable sitting and standing heights so you can easily move between them.
3. Forgetting About Your Monitor
Moving your desk changes your working position, but your monitor still needs to be positioned correctly. Position the top of your monitor at or slightly below eye level and place the screen at a comfortable viewing distance.
The fix: An adjustable monitor arm can make this much easier, giving you more control over monitor height, distance and angle as you change working positions.
4. Standing on a Hard Surface for Too Long
Standing in one place on a hard floor can quickly become uncomfortable—especially if you're new to using a standing desk.
The fix: Consider adding an anti-fatigue mat to your standing workstation. A supportive mat can make standing more comfortable and may encourage subtle changes in your stance rather than keeping you planted in exactly the same position.
5. Thinking Your Only Options Are Sitting or Standing
A height-adjustable desk can give you more options than simply chair down / desk up. Sometimes you may want to work somewhere between traditional sitting and full standing.
The fix: Consider adding a sit-stand stool or leaning stool to your workstation. These can provide another supported working position and make it easier to transition between sitting and standing throughout the day.
Remember: The Best Position Is Your Next Position
There isn't one perfect position you should maintain throughout your entire workday.
A well-designed sit-stand workstation should make it easy to sit, stand, move and change positions without having to completely rearrange your workspace every time.
Build a Better Workspace This Ergonomics Month
This article is part of our Ergonomics Month: Build a Better Workspace series.
So far, we've covered how to set up an ergonomic workstation and how to determine whether your office chair is actually ergonomic.
Next up: 5 Small Ergonomic Upgrades That Can Transform Your Workspace.
Need help improving your sit-stand setup? Chairlines offers height-adjustable desks, monitor arms, anti-fatigue mats, sit-stand stools and other ergonomic accessories to help you build a better workspace.