Last updated: April 22nd, 2024
Standing desks are the new norm in many home office spaces. Whilst the adage that ‘sitting is the new smoking’ has been disproven, research and anecdotal experience confirm that extended sitting does not support positive long-term health outcomes.
Today, I will show you the best way to stand at your standing desk, providing tips for reducing discomfort, increasing productivity and making the most of your workday.
(Related: What Are The Best Standing Desks In Australia?)
Is There A Correct Way To Stand At A Standing Desk?
A single correct way to stand doesn’t exist, but many incorrect ways do. Follow these guidelines to improve your well-being and prevent aches.
1. Pay Attention To Your Posture.
Correct posture for a standing position behind your desk looks like this:
- Your weight is equally balanced on both feet.
- Relaxed, rolled-back shoulders.
- Tailbone tucked under.
- Feet shoulder width apart.
Why is posture important?
Amy Cuddy’s famous TED talk uncovers incredible insights on how posture changes our hormone levels which, in turn, affect our mood and happiness.
Other studies, like this one from researchers at Columbia and Harvard Universities, show that posture can impact our relationships.
2. Adjust Your Desk To The Right Height.
If your desk is too tall, your arms/shoulders will be raised, causing pins and needles in your hands due to reduced blood flow. When it’s too low, you’ll unconsciously slouch to close the distance.
When working at a standing desk, ensure that:
- Your eyes are looking straight ahead.
- The desktop height creates a 90-degree bend in your elbows.
- Your keyboard is a forearm’s length away from your torso.
Above: The man is looking down at his laptop screen. This is a common issue when using laptops on standing desks. You can solve it by buying a laptop stand and a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard.
The right desktop height also reduces the chances of repetitive strain injuries to hands and wrists.
Up to 60% of office workers report experiencing wrist pain at work, often caused by incorrect desk height settings.
Expert Tip.
Be sure to position the computer monitor at the correct height while standing. The monitor screen should be at or slightly under eye level without forcing your head up or down to read.
3. Keep Your Wrists In A Neutral Position.
Resist the temptation to tilt your hands up or down while typing on a keyboard.
Studies like this found that computer workers who extended their wrists beyond 20° are at a greater risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
What is CTS?
- Symptoms include pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm.
- It is caused by pressure on the median nerve.
- The median nerve runs from the forearm through a passageway in the wrist (carpal tunnel) to the hand, providing sensation to the palm side of the thumb and fingers, except the little finger.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome often requires surgery to relieve and release the nerve.
This meta-analysis confirmed that non-neutral wrist postures could increase the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome twofold!
Studies like this one revealed that introducing ergonomic mice for desk workers reduced hand/wrist pain after six months.
4. Exercise While Standing.
Don’t stand all day without taking movement breaks.
Expert Tip.
Standing for 100% of your workday is far from ideal. Buy an office chair that’s within your budget and use it to alternate between sitting and standing intervals. Start with 10 minutes standing, 50 minutes sitting. Keep adding 10 minutes to your standing time each day until you reach a 60 min / 60 min split.
Standing all day has been linked to poor blood circulation, vein problems, aches and pains.
Consider buying an under-desk treadmill that will allow you to walk while you work.
Research has shown that accumulating physical activity throughout the day is just as effective for improving health as one workout! Master Nike Trainer Joe Holder calls these “exercise snacks”.
Important!
Take some of your meetings virtually while you walk. Bondi to Bronte is a great walk for meetings if you live around the Eastern suburbs of Sydney.
5. Use An Anti-Fatigue Mat.
Anti-fatigue mats combat the fatigue and pain that can develop from long periods spent standing on hard floors like concrete or tiles.
These mats reduce foot strain dramatically by forcing you to shift your position every few seconds. They’re available in a range of materials, including:
- PVC: A low-cost, less durable option. PVC mats are notorious for rippling, cracking, and curling at the edges. Not ideal!
- Rubber: Incredibly slip-resistant, durable and not prone to degradation.
- Polyurethane: Typically the most expensive. Offers excellent comfort and durability in commercial environments! This is our pick.
6. Switch To Ergonomic Peripherals.
Research shows that specialist mice and keyboards can prevent pain. I love:
- Ergonomic Keyboards: Sculpted to fit the natural position of your arms and hands, they improve comfort by reducing tension in the wrist, forearms, and hands.
- Vertical Mice: They place your hand in its natural position that mimics the shape of a fist.
(Related: What Are The Best Standing Desk Accessories?)
Why Is It Important To Stand Correctly?
Incorrect standing causes a number of issues:
1. Posture-Associated Injuries.
Incorrect posture will negatively impact muscles in your neck, back, arms, and legs and can eventually lead to chronic pain or injury.
This is likely attributed to incorrect posture and the need for awareness around the importance of spinal alignment, no leaning, arm angle, keyboard position, and monitor height.
2. Increased Exhaustion.
Poor posture or slouching can lead to exhaustion by creating discomfort, compromising blood flow and affecting work productivity.
In some cases, individuals can develop chronic fatigue, a condition characterised by severe fatigue and sleep issues.
3. Chronic Pain.
This Danish study confirmed that prolonged standing with no movement or breaks increases the risk of hospital treatment due to varicose veins.
You can exacerbate chronic injuries by standing without using anti-fatigue mats or making time to rest and move.
(Related: Standing Desk Cable Management Tips).
Final Words On How To Stand At A Standing Desk.
A height-adjustable standing desk is an excellent tool for nudging you towards a more active lifestyle. Remember not to treat it as a magic shortcut to better well-being and productivity.
Yes, learning the best way to stand at your standing desk will help alleviate minor discomforts, but it won’t offset problems caused by a sedentary lifestyle.
Steven
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven