Ergonomics: Should You Try a Standing Desk?

Studies over the past few years have identified the negative long term health effects of “prolonged sedentary time,” which is a nice way of pointing out most of us in CPA firms spend too much time sitting.  While after work exercise and stretch breaks help energize us, researchers are finding that they do not fully counter the effect on our bodies of sitting all day, which is especially compounded during the extended hours of busy season. The recommendation to “sit less” sounds great but that list of to do’s on the screen are not going to get done unless you are at your computer cranking them out.  The solution touted by many is to move to a standing or exercise desk.  With that in mind (and prompted by a minor back injury), I transitioned to a standing desk earlier this year and found that it did help boost productivity, particularly in the afternoons when my energy level faded and when the work I was doing was more collaborative with others.  I found that standing when editing documents, participating in conference calls, webinars, and doing research did not cramp my work style and I believe helped negate my back issues.  To be fair, my mind works the best in mornings so I tend to crank out the bulk of my thinking work (consulting reports, articles) while in sitting mode, but there is a noticeable boost in energy when I move to standing mode that provides a “refreshed” start.

So which standing desk is right for you? During my consulting visits in CPA firms I have seen people work from “MacGyvered” solutions such as a shelf on their wall, a coffee table placed on their desk, and stacked boxes/books.  These solutions were not easily adjustable, so those users tended to stand all day, which did not fit my personal work style.  Instead, I wanted an adjustable option that allowed for quick transitions between the sitting and standing positions. The two most common formats we discovered were units that either sat on top of your existing desk and units that replaced your entire desk.  Since I had a matching desk, credenza and bookcase, I opted for a solution that was placed on top of my desk.  Varidesk and Ergotron make a variety of “spring-loaded” units that will work both in existing cubicle farms and on executive desks and multiple variations to accommodate all your monitor configurations (and narrower desk depths which can be an issue in cubicles).  I selected the Varidesk 48” wide Cube Pro that would accommodate a 34” curved screen on the raised back section and my laptop below it on the flat part.  Varidesk has both ergonomically curved versions and flat versions that sit flush with the front of your desk.  If your keyboard normally sits an inch or more away from the front of your desk, the curved version would probably be your preference.  I keep my keyboard very close to the front edge of my desk and had to switch to the flat front version because of this.

The other option is to purchase a completely new desk that has the ability to rise up and down using an electric motor or a mechanical crank.  While the hand crank units are more cost-effective, the process is not as seamless as the electrical versions, which we feel would be utilized more.  The electrical versions can be set to an optimum sitting and standing position and moved up and down with the touch of a single button.  Companies such as Jarvis, EvoDesk and Steelcase have a wide variety of models that can include custom tops and different colored bases, which would have been my choice if I were setting up a new office today.  While these desks look minimal (no drawers), the transition to digital work reduces the amount of space needed for documents, staplers, scissors, pens and other stuff traditionally kept in drawers to work with paper. 

Determining the optimum desk height when standing is often a trial and error effort but, there are some basic guidelines which will streamline adoption.  According to a Mayo Clinic guide (http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/standing-workstation/art-20088544), the top of the monitor should be at or below eye level when standing.  You should keep your wrists straight with your hands at or below elbow level and the keyboard and mouse should be on the same surface.  Your upper arms should be close to your body, and your head, neck, torso and legs should be in line for optimum posture.  Mayo also suggests getting a headset and keeping commonly used objects (such as your phone) close to minimize stretching.

Most of us strive to find ways to improve our personal productivity, but ergonomics is seldom on the top of that list.  Piloting a standing desk in your office could be the first step in that direction and could lead to a healthier you!

Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA.CITP, AAAPM is the Director of Consulting for Xcentric, LLC and works exclusively with accounting firms to implement today’s leading best practices and technologies incorporating Lean Six Sigma methodologies to optimize firm production workflows. Roman is a CPAFMA Advisory Board Member and also the author of "Quantum of Paperless: A Partner's Guide to Accounting Firm Optimization" which includes the results of the CPAFMA 2016 Information Technology Survey.