When we take a close look at modern offices, we will see how much attention is given to physical activity.Many pieces of furniture look much like the equipment of an office of sensory integration therapy, i.e. balls, swings, armchairs on wheels and rocking chairs. Ergonomic furniture is a core element, but employers encourage their employees to be active in a variety of ways. Tables with adjustable top height will be very useful during working or holding meetings in a standing position, for example, whereas stairs and long hallways force walking and green patios together with enclosed areas adjoining the office buildings invite to stroll in the open air. In many companies there are bicycle parking facilities, mini gyms or yoga and relaxation rooms. Health is one of the most important aspects of the latest trends in designing workplace.
 

Sitting as harmful as smoking?

Researchers dealing with health issues have come up with the following conclusion: the contemporary way of life results in the fact that we spend almost 70% of our day sitting: at home, in the car and at work. We tend to forget that our body and brain have been designed for physical activity and when we do not have the right dosage of exercise, we fall sick. Sitting could develop chronic diseases, increase the risk of getting cancer, diabetes, develop heart disease and problems with high blood pressure, it could also stimulate depressive symptoms. That is why, many doctors believe that sitting can be as harmful to health as smoking and they say that sitting has become the scourge of our modern times.     

Change habits, gain health. Why you need a desk for working in a standing position?

If we want to maintain health, it is high time we changed our everyday habits. Although standing while you work could be somewhat surprising, it is worth trying out this new idea. Recent years have brought about some rising interest in desks designed for working in a standing position. At a first glance, it might seem to be en vogue, but research has shown that such a change is going to be beneficial for our health. The British Journal of Sports Medicine has published a report with the recommendation that office workers should be on their feet for a minimum of 2 hours daily during their 8 working hours. Great advocates of this outlook are Scandinavians, who have been trying to introduce physical activity into the workplace in a variety of ways.

Why standing while working is recommended?

• it improves blood circulation, especially in legs,
• it helps our backbone, reduces backaches,
• changing position activates our brain and improves concentration,
• we act faster, we are less prone to be distracted.

It is worth remembering that both standing as well as sitting for too long are harmful to your health. It is important to keep balance between the two and change your position regularly.

How you work in a standing position?

Here are a few principles:

• desk top should be more or less at your waist height,
• hold your elbows at 90 degrees against the keyboard,
• screen should be about 40 to 100 cm away, your eyes should look a little below the horizontal line,
•  do not stand still, try to change your position, take a few steps here and there.

Stand-up meetings

Working meetings of small groups do not always have to be held around a big table in a conference room. All you need is a table or desk with adjustable height and a little bit of space. Hooker stools and chairs will not be necessary this time, you can just introduce this new idea of holding stand-ups.
The benefit of such meetings is that they do not last too long, they ensure the efficient use of time and staying concentrated throughout such meetings. Groups do not get easily distracted and are more focused on getting things done.

How to develop healthy habits?

At first, it is extremely difficult to change the habit which has been formed many years. Make small changes and observe how your body will respond to that. Creating new habits requires self-discipline and support, it is worth using some applications like Stand Up! The Work Break Timer, which shall remind us of a break for a walk or the need to change our position. It is also recommended to use an application that counts the number of steps we take per day. 7, 000 steps is the level we should achieve if we want to maintain health, whereas 10, 000 steps will make us slim and fit.

Walking meetings

Walking meetings enable us to combine healthy behaviour with fulfilling our professional duties.  The rule for such meetings is that they are held in small groups. Otherwise, they become ineffective. Why should we walk? Walking has a beneficial effect on our brain and  it lets us look from a new perspective at the problems we need to solve. According to proxemics principles, space can affect our mutual relations, too. That is why, when we walk next to each other and are not divided by the conference table or office area, it is much easier to communicate with one another.  While walking we are exposed to the natural light, which is vital for our health and the way we feel. The daily recommended dose is 4 hours’ exposure to the natural light.