Open the box: pure excitement because now you have a sustainable, original, hourglass HumbleWorks product ready to change your life
You set your standing desk up and here’s a guide to help you with it.
- You'll feel as though it's your first time going to the gym, and you'll want to stand at your standing desk all day long. But, this is important, you will need to pace yourself.
- You will be activating muscle groups that have been dormant from years of sitting and a gradual 1-2h a day in the first week will be ideal for building those muscles. Nonetheless, you will still feel some mild muscle ache, this is to be expected and a great indicator that it’s working.
- Dr James Levine (MAYO Clinic) explains in our podcast ‘Get Up!’ that standing increases your N.E.A.T. (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) which helps you stay fit and healthy.
- To stress this point again, this is a marathon, not a sprint, so take your time to balance sitting and standing and listen to what your body tells you.
As you approach week 3, you might want to explore a few alternatives
Ways to use your Standing Desk
- When sitting, you can bring your laptop or screen to your keyboard shelf and your keyboard on your desk surface.
- The second option and one that we prefer over sitting is to have a high stool and to perch at the end of this. This allows you to keep your laptop on the top shelf and not have to adjust anything.
- By this point, the muscle ache in the early weeks will start to dissipate and you should notice an increase in core strength as well as a reduction in sitting-related back and shoulder pain.
You might still be tempted to grab your laptop and work on the sofa for a little while. Try to resist the urge and keep standing.
Dr Levine explains why in our podcast ‘Get Up!’:
- Sitting increases the chance of obesity, diabetes and MSK (musculoskeletal) disorder.
- Standing reduces the blood sugar spikes that occur after meals.
- Standing up activates your N.E.A.T. (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis).
- Standing also benefits your mood because it reduces cortisol (the ‘stress hormone’).
- Additionally, standing helps you to keep your height and weight at ideal levels.
You have reached New Heights
- and we're so proud
- By now, with constant and regular use, standing should be a significant part of your work day.
- You should experience very little if any muscle aches.
- Back and shoulder pain associated with sitting should be completely gone and you should be on your way to a healthier life.