STANDING OR Sitting?

Is it better to have a standing desk or sitting desk? The answer: both.

BENEFITS OF STANDING:

• You’ll reduce the risk of shoulder and back pain.

• After eating, your blood sugar levels will return to normal faster.

• You’re more likely to move around, which will increase the calories you burn.

BENEFITS OF SITTING:

• You’ll reduce the risk of leg and foot pain.

• Standing doesn’t burn significantly more calories than sitting (8 more per hour).

• If you stand all day, you have more likelihood of developing heart disease.

BOTTOM LINE. Unless you have a treadmill desk (yes, those actually exist), you won’t burn many more calories standing than sitting. The main reason to get a standing desk is if you have neck or back pain. But the best scenario of all? Alternate between standing and sitting, which will give you some of the benefits of both, while also increasing the likelihood that you’ll move around during the work day.

A symmetrical design works particularly well for a home office, like homeowner Elizabeth Olsen used here. Center your wall art behind the middle of the desk, and then position other décor equally on either side for the best overall look when you walk into the room.