Standing desks, eight years later

Around a decade ago, standing desks went from a novelty to a fixture in many offices. Sitting was called the new smoking, and standing all day was the answer. Eight years on, we asked long-term users and looked at newer research.

What users say

Most people we spoke to still own their standing desk. Few use it the way they planned. The typical pattern is standing for short periods, often during calls, and sitting for focused work.

The best position is the next one.

What the research says

• Standing still for long periods has its own problems, including sore feet and legs.

• Changing position regularly seems to matter more than which position you choose.

• Short walks during the day appear to help more than standing at a desk.

• The benefits of standing desks for weight or heart health look smaller than once claimed.

If you have one

Use it as a way to move, not as a new place to be still. Alternate every half hour or so, stand for calls, and take walking breaks. A cushioned mat and flat shoes help if you stand for longer.

If you are thinking of buying one, a cheaper option may be simply setting a reminder to get up and walk for a few minutes each hour.

A simple routine that works

• Sit for focused work, in blocks of about 30 to 45 minutes.

• Stand for calls, quick emails and anything you do on your feet naturally.

• Walk for two or three minutes between blocks, even if it is only to refill a glass.

• Stretch your calves and hips once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Several of the long-term users we spoke to said the desk had changed their habits in a way they had not expected. It was not the standing itself that helped, but the reminder that they could move at all.

That may be the best way to think of it: less a piece of health equipment, more a prompt to change position before your body asks you to.