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Benefits of Standing/Electric Desks Compared To Standard Desks

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The quintessential work routine in the US makes it difficult to harness the benefits of physical activity or movement. Between the morning and afternoon commutes, desk work, meetings, and screen time, Americans spend most of their hours sitting for long.

However, standing desks or electrical desks are now replacing the standard desks at workplaces. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, standing desks are one of the fastest-growing benefits that employees are seeking at their workplaces.

Standing Desks: Changing the Dynamics

As the name suggests, a standing desk is a workstation designed for use while standing. Unlike a standard desk that usually has a fixed height, standing desks come with height adjustment features. If you have a standard sitting desk, you can simply place your computer on a stack of books or top of a box for optimal viewing. But, it does not offer ergonomic benefits.

However, standing desks are more convenient as these custom-built platforms allow you to adjust the height with a push of a button. You can get customized standing desks depending on the task, such as telephoning, computer use, or architectural drawing. Read here for more about height adjustable desks there are several articles.

Manual Standing Desk

These are adjustable standing desk converters. You can use the squeeze handles to adjust the desk. Usually, these desks have a gas spring and hydraulic lifting mechanism that helps to convert your sitting desk into a standing desk manually.

Electric Standing Desk

Usually, a precision linear motor powers the electric adjustable-height desks. They have the edge over manually operated standing desks in terms of speed, performance, and convenience. But, electric standing desks are pricey than crank-operated desks.

Compared to standard desks, the electric or standing desks are sturdy, convenient, and offer a wide range of ergonomic benefits.

Sitting: The New Smoking

Before we look at the ergonomics and various health benefits that standing desks offer, it is essential to understand why sitting for too long is bad. Research from the American Cancer Society shows that sitting for an extended period deteriorates your health, even if you manage to get plenty of exercises.

No wonder sitting is called “the new smoking.” The average American, aged 12 and older, sit for eight to ten hours a day doing things that require less movement, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Sitting for a long time makes you susceptible to premature death.

If you have a standard desk at the office, and you spend most of the time seated, you are at risk of developing several health issues. For instance, you can face musculoskeletal problems, heart disease, increased sugar levels, and, of course, obesity.

Ergonomic Benefits of Standing Desks

According to the Cornell University Department of Ergonomics, sitting compared to standing exerts 90% additional pressure on your back. Ergonomics has a simple principle – fit the task to the person instead of making the person adjust to the task.

Standing desks limit your sitting time and help you focus on movement by alternating your postures. It does not only reduce pain and strain but also increases your comfort level and productivity at work.

Adjustability is crucial; your job desk, monitor arm, chair, and keyboard tray –all must be adjustable, and that is only possible with height-adjustable standing desks. The electric desks provide many benefits, such as:

  • A standing workstation reduces lower back pain significantly
  • It decreases half of the neck and upper back pain
  • Height-adjustable standing desks reduce arm and wrist strain, as you can keep your arms at your wrists level at 90 degrees
  • It improves your posture as you stand upright with your shoulders pulled back

Other Health Benefits

A sedentary lifestyle contributes to a variety of health problems, including diabetes and heart diseases. The inactive lifestyle is the fourth leading cause of deaths in the world; experts often suggest taking walk breaks during work. Well, you can draw many benefits from standing desks and get rid of your sedentary work routine.

Burn Calories, Lose Weight

Obesity is a common problem among people who have a sedentary lifestyle, i.e., sitting for long hours. But, using standing desks for three hours a day can help reduce weight, burning 174 more calories than you could burn sitting. That is almost 40,000 calories or twelve pounds of body weight a year.

Minimize the Risk of Heart Diseases

Sitting for 7-8 hours straight at workstation poses a severe threat to the heart. Even if you exercise an hour daily, it cannot make up for the damage sedentary work routine causes. Prolonged sitting increases the risk of heart disease by 147%. You can lower the risk by using standing desks and adopting an active lifestyle.

Reduce Blood Sugar Levels

A study found that those who stand for three hours after lunch experience a 43% drop in the after-meal blood sugar spike. In comparison, prolonged sitting increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes by a whopping 112%. So, a standing desk helps control your sugar levels.

Improve Fatigue, Lower Back Pain

According to Mayo Clinic, back pain is the third common reason for a visit to doctors in the US. Sitting for long contributes to upper and lower back pain. A study found that compared to traditional desks, standing workstations improve fatigue in overweight employees. It also found that using an electric height-adjustable standing desk reduces the musculoskeletal discomfort by 32%.

Increase Productivity and Energy Level

In a study focused on occupational sitting, 87% of participants said they feel more energetic at work when using standard desks. A sedentary routine makes you depress; using a standing workstation reduces stress and fatigue. It improves blood circulation and oxygen supply to the brain, thereby increasing your productivity level.

Word of Advice

While standing desks offer many advantages, make sure that you switch from sitting to standing gradually. For instance, at first, only stand for 30 minutes to an hour a day. Just like sitting for all day is harmful, so is standing for extended hours. Thus, the transition should be smooth and gradual. Many workplaces have already replaced standard desks with electric height-adjustable standing workstations. If you are also planning for the switch over, you can find the best standing desks for your workspace or office here.

The idea of Bigtime Daily landed this engineer cum journalist from a multi-national company to the digital avenue. Matthew brought life to this idea and rendered all that was necessary to create an interactive and attractive platform for the readers. Apart from managing the platform, he also contributes his expertise in business niche.

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Lifestyle

Meet Pilot Barry Billcliff and His Pursuit of Multifaceted Growth and Adventure

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Photo courtesy of Barry Billcliff

By: Georgette Virgo

Imagine looking from the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza, appreciating the picturesque landscape, and pondering the secrets that lie within each pyramid. This is just one scenario that reflects the life of the licensed pilot and modern-day adventurer Barry Billcliff.

From navigating the skies as a pilot to starting epic expeditions and immersing himself in live music events, Billcliff’s journey is anything but ordinary. With all his daring feats and ventures, what drives him to scale ancient wonders and create in industries as vibrant as construction and music?

Billcliff’s Adventures on a Global Scale

Billcliff’s interest in adventure is reflected in his ambitious escapades. From climbing the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza and the majestic Eiffel Tower, encountering the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) after a Hollywood sign stunt, exploring India with his son using his motorcycle, visiting the Galapagos Islands, breaking into the Sydney Opera House, and as random as dressing as a gladiator, Billcliff is unstoppable in the level of thrilling experiences he wants.

When asked why he does this, Billcliff’s answer was straightforward: “I want to be different in ways people can’t imagine or can comprehend as possible. To achieve this, I know I must be fearless, and these adventures push me to be just like that and more.”

Still An Ordinary Man

Besides being adventurous, Billcliff maintains a daily routine emphasizing growth and continuous learning. On a typical day, he works in the construction industry, enhancing efficiency and sustainability in building practices and even utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline processes.

From construction, his afternoons are spent at the gym he co-owns, where he works out and engages with a community that shares his passion for health and wellness. At night, he becomes a music promoter, channeling his creativity to assist bands with production.

Billcliff also shares that he applies the lessons from his global stunts to his writing, creating stories that offer readers a glimpse into his memorable experiences. He mentions, “I want to show the world that one can live an extraordinary life while remaining relatable and dedicated to lifelong learning. Adventurers have a place in the everyday world.”

Now a licensed pilot after passing the recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot exam, Billcliff is exploring his career in flying and is excited about how this can elevate his future trips.

Billcliff and the Realities of Life

Like any story, struggles and challenges lie on the flip side of Billcliff’s exhilarating adventures. Billcliff shares that not all his ventures unfold smoothly; they occasionally place him in precarious situations and even on the verge of death.  

Beyond global escapades, Billcliff’s life has also been marked by legal controversies. In 2005, he made headlines after claiming to have discovered antique banknotes valued at $125,000 during a roofing job in Newbury, Massachusetts. 

The discovery sparked media attention, leading to charges against Billcliff and three others: Timothy Crebase, Kevin Kozak, and Matt Ingham. However, the case collapsed twice due to a lack of probable cause, with prosecutors ultimately dismissing all charges. The currency was returned to Billcliff, but has never been sold or seen in the marketplace; its fate remains a mystery. 

A separate legal storm brewed around Merrimack Valley Roofing, a company linked to Billcliff, which faced a $150,000 OSHA fine. Investigations later revealed the penalty stemmed from a retaliatory dispute between Billcliff and OSHA agent Brett Buzzle. Crucially, appeals proved Billcliff had no ownership stake in the company at the time, leading to the fine’s overturning. Notably, Billcliff has never been convicted of any felonies.

Instead of being swayed by these setbacks, Billcliff embraces them as opportunities for growth and uses them to gain fresh perspectives. His resilience shines through in how he transforms failures into comebacks, with lessons learned from each challenge informing his subsequent ventures. This pursuit of growth and success, combined with his fighting spirit, makes him an asset in every field. 

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