If you clicked on this blog post, you're probably considering whether to buy a height-adjustable desk. When you start researching to compare options, a lot of standing desks and a lot of information come up that can be confusing. In this post I'll share my experience using this type of desk and answer some common questions, including:
- What is a height-adjustable desk?
- How to use an electric height-adjustable desk?
- Advantages and disadvantages of using a height-adjustable desk
- Working standing up: my experience
- What to consider when buying a height-adjustable desk?
If you don't have time to read this blog right now, don't miss my YouTube video where you can see the desk I work with and I explain how I use it in my daily routine.
What is an electric height-adjustable desk?
A height-adjustable desk, or standing desk, is a type of desk that has an adjustable height, typically using an electric lift mechanism. This means the working height can be changed from sitting to standing. This makes it perfect for those who want to alternate between sitting and standing while working.
A standing desk usually has a crank used to adjust the height; this makes it much easier than manual desks that require you to physically move them up or down. The added convenience of an electric desk is that this crank becomes a button, making height adjustment smooth and effortless.
How to use an electric height-adjustable desk?
Using a height-adjustable desk is easy and comfortable. The desk can be adjusted to your desired height with just the press of a button. Simply plug in the power cable, press the up or down button until you reach the desired height, and enjoy the comfort of a custom workstation. You can switch from sitting to standing quickly, allowing you to change your working position throughout the day.
It's ideal for ergonomics and overall health, as it encourages movement throughout the working day. And with its lightweight, durable construction, a height-adjustable desk is perfect for any home office or workspace.
Simple steps for using a height-adjustable desk:
- First, assemble the desk following the instructions included with it.
- Plug in the power cable and press the button on your desk to start adjusting the height. Depending on your desk model, you may be able to control the height with a crank or use a remote with multiple presets to suit your needs.
- After adjusting to the desired height, make sure all parts are stable and secure before sitting down.
Advantages and disadvantages of using an adjustable desk
Now that we know what a height-adjustable desk is and how to use it, let's look at the main advantages and disadvantages of using a height-adjustable or standing desk.
The advantages
- Less physical stress. I mentioned this advantage earlier and it's undoubtedly the first and most important one.
- Turning work into a physical activity and not just a mental one — because you move your whole body a lot more.
- Experimenting in our work routine. This is a blog about experimentation and business, and when it comes to experimenting, we can all benefit 🙂
The disadvantages
- The price. Electric standing desks are much more expensive than most desks you can buy. The good news is that in some cases they have a 10-year warranty — spread over such a long time, the expense is worth it.
- Just standing isn't enough — you need to move. If you stand still without moving, for example because you're spending 20 minutes writing emails, your legs will start to feel stiff. That's why I recommend working standing up for tasks like video calls, where you can move around more and take small steps while talking.
Working standing up with an electric standing desk: my experience
After a month of using my height-adjustable desk, I can tell you that my experience has been positive. The most important thing to keep in mind if you work from home is understanding which types of activities are better done sitting and which are better done standing.
The activities I do standing up are those that don't require intense concentration — like calls with my team, sending emails, etc. On the other hand, activities that require greater concentration — like reading emails, documents, or writing important texts — I always do sitting down. For example, the script for that video I wrote sitting down.
In terms of productivity, I haven't noticed much difference in my activities from changing posture, but physically I have. As you can imagine, spending less time sitting causes less stress on the back, and by the end of the day (and even more so by the end of the week), having spent less time sitting is noticeable. You don't think about it at first, but it's true.
Ultimately, even if sitting vs. standing doesn't make a big difference for a particular task, I generally consider that my overall productivity has increased.
Your back suffers less, physically you feel better while working. At the same time you can stay on your feet to finish a task while maintaining a correct posture, which means you don't have to stop it because of back pain or discomfort — indirectly improving my productivity.
What to consider when buying a height-adjustable desk?
At this point you might be wondering, which desk is the best? When deciding to buy a standing desk, you should consider a few things — keeping in mind that every person has different needs, and not any desk will work for everyone.
These were the features I couldn't do without when choosing a height-adjustable desk. It's not a buying guide, but a set of recommendations that will be quite useful when choosing a standing desk:
- easy to clean.
- easy to assemble.
- must have an electric lift system — manual is less convenient.
- must offer a trial period.
- must have memory buttons.
- an anti-collision system — meaning it prevents accidents when the desk goes up or down.
Other features some desks have that I don't find particularly useful:
- having two motors.
- having a sitting time reminder — any app on your PC can handle that.
- having a steel frame.
- a cable management tray — I don't have many cables in my case.
Still, always think about which standing desk best suits your specific needs.
Where to buy a height-adjustable desk?
Don't assume the best standing desks are the most expensive ones — online you can find many websites with plenty of models. If you prefer to see it in person, IKEA has many options to suit your budget. That's where I bought mine. There you can find a good ergonomic desk — I bought the model called RODULF.
Will I actually use the standing function or end up always sitting?
This was one of the questions I had before buying a height-adjustable desk, because I was afraid I wouldn't use it. But the truth is that once you have the option to work standing up at an adjustable height, you feel incredibly comfortable.
Since getting the desk, I work both sitting and standing and haven't stopped using it — my workspace has undoubtedly improved a lot. Physically I feel better, especially my back, since I'm forced to move more. This is one of the best benefits of working standing up.
One of the most recommended things I'll share to help you work even better is to use a time reminder system that you can pair with your new desk.
These systems alert you to how long you've been working and "force" you to take breaks — which, combined with the best standing desk you've chosen, will significantly improve your workday. In my case I use the Pomodoro method to improve my productivity.
