According to a new report The Incredible Disappearing Office from The Conference Board the number of people working mainly from home has doubled over the last ten years. And in some industries it’s tripled. Although teleworkers are traditionally the most likely people to work remotely, the report found less obvious occupations were growing even faster.
Clearly this trend looks set to continue as it makes economic sense for employers. And employees appreciate the convenience of not having to travel to work.
However, those who find themselves working from home need to be aware that there is a fundamental difference between a traditional office and a home office.
How working from home is different to a corporate office
On the face of it it might seem there is little difference between working from home or a company office. In reality there are some important differences and the argument for using something like a height adjustable desk in a home office is quite compelling.
If you work in a corporate office you are far more likely to be active during the working day. And this is important because movement is vital to keeping your body healthy. In a traditional office you have to get out of your chair and move to complete certain tasks.
Things like walking to the photocopier or getting up to grab a coffee. Then there are meetings with colleagues. Even a trip to the toilet often means a bit of a walk. And of course lunch breaks are often a good opportunity to get out and take some exercise.
When you work from home many of these breaks from sitting all day don’t apply and this is where a height adjustable desk can help.
Why sit stand working makes sense in a home office
A lot of home offices tend to be small, maybe an unused bedroom or a study. Unlike a company office there is no photocopier to walk to or colleagues to meet with. All your equipment tends to be in one room and so the need to get up out of your chair is greatly reduced. And even when you do get up for a tea break or to visit the toilet there isn’t a long way to walk.
Many people working from a home office find themselves welded to their chair for far too long. When you’re busy it’s all too easy to plough on with what you’re doing instead of taking a break.
This is where an adjustable height desk can really be beneficial. It gives you the opportunity to get more movement into your routine and keep your muscles and body active. So, when you feel you need a change a sit stand desk makes it quick and easy to alter your posture. It’s important to pay attention if your muscles start to ache because it’s your body’s way of telling it’s time to move.
With a quick press of a button or a few winds of a crank handle you can quickly be standing to work and getting that all important change of posture.
However, it isn’t all plain sailing, there are a couple of problems with height adjustable desks in the home office.
What are the drawbacks of a height adjustable desk in a home office?
Whilst using a sit stand desk in a home office is great there are a couple of potential problems. First there is the cost. Most adjustable height desks involve an investment of at least $500 so they aren’t cheap. Nonetheless in the long term it will prove to be a very good investment in your future health.
If you are working for an employer point out the advantages to them of setting you up with a height adjustable desk. See if they will pay for it or if not make a significant contribution towards the cost.
The other problem is space. If you have a very tight sized office you may struggle to fit in a moving top desk. A lot will depend on the shape and size of the desk. So don’t just rush out and buy one until you have carefully measured the available space to make sure it will fit. Remember to take into account the space you will need around the desk for access.
If you can overcome these two problems then working at a movable top desk in a home office makes a lot of sense.
Summary
Let’s quickly run through the key points we’ve covered here:
- Working from home is different and involves less body activity
- A height adjustable desk is a great way of keeping your muscles and body healthy
- It’s very easy to become welded to your chair in a home office
- Adjustable height desks involve a sizable investment often $500 or more
- Check the available space carefully before buying a sit stand desk
Further reading
Here’s where you can find more about the The Conference Board report on the growth of home working. And here’s an article on the benefits of height adjustable desks.