It’s a bit funny to consider something used throughout the centuries by the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Winston Churchill as “trendy,” but standing desks are certainly having their moment in today’s office workspace – and the benefits make the standing desk much more than a just a passing fad.

The advantages of the standing desk have been touted for centuries. “A sedentary life may be injurious,” Presbyterian minister Job Orton wrote in 1797. “It must therefore be your resolute care to keep your body as upright as possible when you read and write; never stoop your head nor bend your breast. To prevent this, you should get a standing desk.”

Jefferson had already gotten the message. He commissioned a Williamsburg cabinetmaker in the late 1700s to build what he called a “tall desk,” with six legs for extra stability and a slanted top that could be adjusted with a ratchet stand. A century and a half later, Ernest Hemmingway took the simpler route, placing his typewriter on top of a tall bookcase near his bed.

The standing desk first made a splash in the modern office setting thanks to Silicon Valley. When tech companies like Apple and Facebook began including them in their office spaces, the trend soon expanded to the rest of the United States. In 2013, just 13% of employers provided or subsidized standing desks, according to the Society for Human Resources Management. By 2019, that number ballooned to 60%.

Today, standing desks are as much a part of the office workspace as their more sedentary counterparts. And with good reason — a combination of sitting and standing at the workplace has been shown to lead to a more productive and healthier workforce.

• A2016 Texas A&M study found employees who had a standing desk were nearly 50% more productive than those with a traditional desk.
• In 2017,a study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York concluded people who used a standing desk had less back pain, more energy and took on more physical activity outside of work.
• A2018 study from the National Health Service Trust in England found workers using height adjustable standing desks reported positive changes in work engagement and overall quality of life.

Experts say the combination of sitting and standing throughout the workday is key to maximizing the benefits. The StandUp Standing Desks Collection by OfficeSource gives employees the freedom to stand up and recharge or sit down to focus with the simple push of a button, with a variety of sizes, colors and materials to blend seamlessly into your office space.

Ready to bring standing desks to your office? A few tips to keep in mind:

• Alternate frequently.Just as sitting all day isn’t good for the body, standing all day isn’t good either. Alternate between the two positions throughout the day to keep moving and get the full benefit.
• Posture matters. When upright, stand up straight and keep your hips tucked under. When seated, knees should be at a 90 degree angle. Monitors should be at or just below eye level and arms at 90 degrees, no matter the desk position.
• Get moving.Standing at your desk might be better than sitting, but you should still take regular breaks to stretch, clear your mind and rest your eyes.

Find a dealer to check out our full line of standing desks, sit stand desks and other products to make your office more posture and people friendly.