An adjustable desk and everyday work – opinion after a year of use

How to make your office work easier?

Working at a desk, in my opinion, is not very pleasant. Of course, it is not comparable to working in a mine or in 30-degree heat, but sitting in one spot for eight hours straight (and sometimes more) is not very healthy. Especially when (not counting trips for another coffee – because that’s what you do in the office :)) we sit in the same position, staring at the screen. However, I will not compare who has a harder time today. Let’s focus on working at a desk and workstations (e.g. in a workshop).

From the savanna to the desk

As humans, we have been adapting for decades (or at least since our ancestors got bored with sitting in trees) to constantly move upright. Thanks to this, we can spot the threat better, move easier, and we are taller, so beware you wild animal – or you’ll get hit by a branch. And so over the years we have traveled from the savanna to different places in the world where there was no time to sit. The field had to be sown, the war won and the market visited. Back in the day, there was not much time to sit around. People sat down to catch a breath. However, in recent years we have become very lazy and we have found that it is more comfortable to work while sitting. It’s nice because standing still for eight hours is not pleasant, but the other extreme is also not perfect.

You sit longer – you live shorter

What does it mean to sit for too long? Let’s start with the pains in the back and joints, which will plague us at home and increase with age. What else? Less activity will contribute to a decline in condition and make you overweight, and may result in heart disease or diabetes. Sleeping problems, feeling unwell, a feeling of overwork – these are all the effects of not enough exercise. All this means that our journey called life ends faster. At this point you may ask, what does the desk have to do with it?
And I will tell you that, contrary to appearances, it has to do a lot.

Get up and take care of yourself

As a company in the field of electric actuators, we know them like no other. Naturally, we also had to offer electrical frames. So, over a year ago, we got the first ERB-1 exemplars for testing, and it’s best to test such products in the field, so I got one of them for everyday use. In 30 minutes, we put together the whole frame, screwed the top down and managed the cables. At first, it seemed like getting a toy. Table-top up, table-top down. Cool thing. Eventually, you will stop slouching when writing emails.

Fighting the bad habits

However, over time, the first challenge has to be faced, which is crucial here. It is, of course, about changing habits. Like everyone else, I am used to sitting comfortably because despite my back pain and fatigue, my body wants to take shortcuts. Why stand and tire your legs? Sit down – says the brain. As I continue to write this text, this voice in my head says that it will be more comfortable to sit, and I keep standing just despite that. But it’s not about standing still. It is about working out a compromise between sitting and standing. Every now and then changing positions + a little bit of exercise really gives you a good performance boost compared to the situation if you have to stand or sit all the time.

Changes not only in the office

How are things in other departments? Well, sometimes I visit colleagues in the service department and occasionally help with repairs. There are also adjustable desks, which is a very convenient solution because some activities with electronics are more convenient to do while sitting, and mechanical matters while standing. By the way, everyone can set a desired height of the table-top, at which they will be comfortable. The most frequently selected settings are stored under four buttons.

So, how is it with the electric desk at the end?

What are the disadvantages of such a solution? Here is the point where everyone would have to see the product to answer for himself. For some people, one of the disadvantages can be the necessity to change habits because people are not very fond of changes. However, it is important to remember that our health is at stake. You mustn’t save money here. So if anyone considers spending money for the frame as a disadvantage, it is also worth bearing in mind that it is an investment in yourself and the future. It seems to me that the only problem here is the lack of electricity because then it will not be possible to move the desk, unless you power the actuators directly with batteries.

For me personally, it is a very useful thing because my back doesn’t hurt anymore and I don’t come back home tired from work as if I were doing heavy lifting. I would rather not use a solution like this at home, unless I would work remotely, which is not out of question facing the COVID-19 pandemic. With a 150 × 70 table-top, everything is stable, although certainly not as much as with an ordinary desk. However, this does not interfere with everyday work. The adjustment itself is quick and smooth because before I get up and put the chair down, the table-top is already there where it should be. It was hard to get used to, but it was just a matter of time. Every employee will appreciate something like this. There are two colors of the frames, so the design will fit into most interiors. You choose the worktop yourself or use the old one – let’s remember about being green.