For many people, their job entails sitting at a desk for more than eight hours daily, five days a week. Several studies say that long-term sitting can have a deadly impact on your health. According to the New York Times, a research study found that men who sat for more than six hours per day had a 20 percent higher death rate than men who sat for less than three hours.
There isn’t much debate that sitting for many hours each day is detrimental to your health; there’s too much research to suggest otherwise. Bad posture is even bad for your teeth – it can lead to TMJ. Of course, many employees have mandatory tasks to complete where sitting is the most convenient, whether it’s responding to emails or compiling data reports. Sitting may seem impossible to overcome, but there are some savvy alternatives that can be good for your body and brain.
GeekDesk
As one of the more popular adjustable-height desks on the market, GeekDesk improves health and productivity through its ability to store preset heights. It allows you to either stand up while replying to emails or sit down (albeit with the best posture for you).
Xdesk
GeekDesk works well, but some users find its motors unattractive and distracting. For those seeking a more natural solution, Xdesk is a great option. Xdesk’s sleek design is manufactured with sustainable materials, such as recycled aluminum and natural bamboo. The lift system works via a microprocessor that allows movement in seconds. Unlike some other desk options, Xdesk makes little to no noise when it’s transitioning between adjustable heights.
Humanscale Float
The lever-based movement of the sleekly minimalist Humanscale Float provides a unique counterbalance mechanism that allows for easy, one-handed adjustment. Without electricity or a heavy crank, this option – much like Nextdesk – attracts fans of minimal, nondistracting and low-noise healthy desk alternatives.
StandDesk
The StandDesk was received so well by consumers that the project – headed by Steven Yu – received more than $600,000 in pledges from more than 1,000 backers on Kickstarter. It has also appeared on Fox News and had mentions in Mashable and Business Insider. Its crisp design is easy to assemble and use; users simply press and hold an up/down control button for only two seconds, as opposed to longer on other options, as the StandDesk adjusts to the user’s optimal height. Also, the customized motor is designed for a long-lasting and low-weight experience, making StandDesk one of the most accessible desk alternatives available.
Elliptical Machine Office Desk
The Elliptical Machine Office Desk provides an innovative and fun way to work and burn calories. This office desk alternative features an elliptical chair and adjustable-height desk for anyone between 5’2″ and 6’9″ and under 300 pounds. As long as you’re within those guidelines and are willing to pay the device’s $8,000 price tag, the elliptical machine/adjustable desk hybrid from Hammacher Schlemmer may be your best bet to lose weight and work simultaneously.
The five options above provide a variety of potential alternative desk uses for those who want to be proactive with their health without sacrificing their productivity. Give one of the options above a chance; your back and brain will both thank you for it.
Featured image: Jason Garber
