To sit or to stand – is that the question?
One of the questions I’m often asked is: "Should I get a standing desk?"
The answer? Yes… and no.
Let’s break it down.
The facts about sitting for long periods
The bad news - we now know that sitting for long periods and leading sedentary lifestyles is bad news for our bodies.
And not just in a “feeling a bit stiff at the end of the day” way — we’re talking higher risks of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, even some cancers. Evidence also tells us that you can’t undo the negative health effects of sitting for long periods just by hitting the gym later.
How to break up sedentary time
The good news is you can offset many of those negative health effects just by breaking up your sedentary time with regular movement throughout your day — wherever you’re working from.
Small shifts make a big difference — in the office, at home, or on the go:
Take calls standing or walking.
Choose stairs over lifts – your whole body will thank you.
Try using a small water glass. Good for regular trips to top-up your glass and the resulting loo breaks are an opportunity for more movement. Win-Win!
Remember your wiggle breaks every 20–30 minutes – stretch, wiggle, and posture reset when you sit back down.
Wiggle together! Add a shared stretch break on your next video call.
Go outside – garden coffee breaks or a quick stroll to reset your brain as well as your body.
Useful movement tips for when you’re in the office
Here are some extra things to consider if you work in an office building:
Print to a printer on the other side of the building
Suggest standing or walking meetings
Park further away than you normally would
Standing for alternate meeting agenda items (in person and virtually!)
Small habit changes really do add up.
Are standing desks useful?
Standing desks can help reduce musculoskeletal discomfort and encourage more movement.
And you don’t need fancy kit to try it! Test out standing by working with your ironing board or a raised surface like a breakfast bar.
Top Tip: To achieve good screen height, you may need to raise your laptop on something extra like a box too.
That’s great! BUT… they aren’t magic.
The benefits of a standing desk aren’t necessarily greater than simply building more movement into your day in other ways.
Standing too much (especially if you're not used to it) can cause its own issues — musculoskeletal fatigue, and pain or discomfort in the lower back, feet, hips and legs.
Standing desks only benefit you if you actually remember / choose to stand up!
Sitting vs Standing: Which is better?
It’s not just about sitting or standing. It’s about moving. A mix of sitting, standing, and moving is what your body loves most.
You don’t need a standing desk to boost your health.
You do need regular posture changes, variety, and mindful movement throughout your workday.
And it’s not just me who thinks this! Ever heard of On Your Feet Britain? (I’m a big supporter!) This annual event encourages us all to #SitLess and #MoveMore and the next one is on 24th April 2025.
Let me know how you’re getting on — share your favourite “sneaky movement” tip in the comments!