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Standing at Work

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If you’re interested in calorie burning value at the margins, stand more and sit less. We’ve discussed how to improve posture, but it’s time to advocate for standing while we work.

There is actual science to support the fact that standing burns more calories than sitting. From Keith Barr, Ph.D, a renowned scientist in the emerging field of molecular exercise physiology:

Every hour I stand it burns 100 calories. That’s equal to running 6 miles by the end of the day.

With all due respect to Keith, the run and the stand may be equal in energy expenditure, but don’t opt for the latter over the former. Objectively, however, standing while you work for some portion of your day makes a ton of sense if the ultimate goal is to be more efficient with our days and time. We can’t always get to the gym or get our workout in at all. If you buy into the calories in, calories out theory, it makes sense to burn them while increasing productivity.

Standing while we work is a significant step up (see?) from being hunched over a computer. We can be even more resourceful with our efforts to burn calories while working. Next time you’re about to sit down in a conference room, suggest to your co-workers that you have the meeting outside while taking a walk. I’m not a sitter by nature. I prefer movement in general. Some of my most creative and inspired thoughts have come while walking. Improving my fitness and productivity with a leisurely stroll in the open air sounds ideal.

Now, I understand that this is a more difficult concept to implement. It can be a challenge because we don’t have access to our computers and files for reference on a walk, obviously. This makes it more difficult to be productive when information is immediately necessary. The limitations remind me why I don’t ride my motorcycle anymore. The two wheeled machine limits my ability to have conversations and work during commutes. However, there is a lot of value to the concept when you can make it work for you.

Work can engulf us. It’s our responsibility to find ways to make it more sensical.

Stand strong,

Kap

  • Ron

    This one is near and dear to my heart (pun intended). I work in front of a screen all day, and I’ve used a standing desk for the past 5 years. It’s no substitute for vigorous exercise, but here are some of the many benefits I’ve noticed: (1) More energy, especially in the afternoon. I’m awake and alert and clear-thinking at all times when I’m standing. The only times I get groggy at work are when I’m “forced” to sit through long meetings! (2) More muscle tone in my legs. (3) Better posture… it’s harder to slouch standing up. (4) Better control over my weight (possibly connected to burning more calories by standing). (5) The envy and snark of my colleagues, who walk by my office and think I’m insane. Seeing me standing at my computer is always a good conversation-starter.

  • http://www.Kelebekfusion.com Kelebek Beyaz

    Good post love! I stand for a substantial amount of time per day and I do this on purpose. As a scientist, I can spend the entire day hunched over a microscope or in hood. And with all the injuries I sustained to my back and neck from my car accident, that’s probably the worst thing I could do for my body. So I stand for almost all activities except for long term microscope work and even then, I take breaks.
    Keep the good posts
    -Kelebek

  • BoojieMaw

    I see you are lacking in the comments department, so I’ll throw in my 2 cents in regards to the pic… Nice view! :p