5 Steps to Bring Workspace Fitness into Your Office
October 3rd, 2018
Working at a desk is a common practice in most countries. But sitting all-day
from 9 to 5 can be a burden on your health. Without enough movement, your
heart has to work much harder when pumping blood to your lower body. This
leads to a greater risk of
heart disease, cancer, and many more issues down the line. Sound like fun? We didn’t think
so.
Our
Workspace Fitness®
solution can help reduce any discomfort you may have at your office. You can
sit, stand, and move without interfering with your job. Here are 5 steps to
incorporating workspace fitness into your office.
1: Identify the Problem(s) with Your Current Workstation
Take some time to review your current workstation. What aspects of it are
interfering with your work? Are these issues causing an inconvenience to reach
your fullest potential?
Create a list for yourself and separate each item into distinct categories.
For example, you might be having issues related to pain, ergonomics, stress,
your chair, and so on. Any direct or indirect problems that your desk is
creating should be written down. A piece of paper or sticky note should be
good. Additionally, write down all the benefits you would gain from a sit and
stand desk to help with Step 3!
2: Talk to Your Manager About an Upgrade
If you work at a home office, move on to step 3. You are your own boss when it
comes to your workstation! For those who don’t have the luxury of working from
home, this step is very important.
Convincing your manager that you need a new desk could be an easy or
challenging feat. In the case that “Do I have your permission to upgrade my
desk” works? Fantastic!
But if your manager is reluctant to give you approval, it’s time for plan B.
Remember that list you made? Use all the pain points as well as the benefits
from that list to support your case. That way, you can respond to each aspect
he/she disagrees with.
Another alternative to win over your boss’s approval is to get a doctor’s
note. This will show that you need help to work more productively at the
office.
3: Find a Desk That’s Right for You
Now that you (hopefully) have permission, let’s look at some essential points to consider. The following are specs and features you should acknowledge before making the investment:
- Dimensions (length, width, height)
- Colour (tabletop, frame)
- Weight capacity
- Cable management
- Adjustable height buttons
- Price
4: Paying for Your Desk
There are a few ways to pay for a sit and stand desk. If you work from home,
you will definitely have to pay for it. Depending on your country, you can buy
a sit and stand desk and write it off as a
tax-deductible
expense. This works great for entrepreneurs and managers who plan on
purchasing several desks for their business.
If you live in the United States, you’re in luck! An HSA (Health Savings
Account) or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) can qualify you for reimbursement
when buying a sit and stand desk.
Does your employer need a Letter of Medical Necessity from you? Not a problem!
Here’s a
sample
form you can use as a reference.
5: Standing at Your Desk
So you now have a sit and stand desk, awesome! After unboxing and building the desk, give it a test run. Make sure everything is working as intended before you swap out your old desk. We recommend a slow and steady transition when standing at the office. Start off with 30 minutes of standing and see how that feels. Too difficult? Bump it down to 15 minutes. Too easy? Add 10 or 15 more minutes to your timer. Once you grow enough endurance, keep adding a few minutes every few days. Standing for 1 hour is a good goal to strive for. We hope these steps helped you get a new desk as well as a healthy work routine established. Sit, stand, and move your way to success!