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Sitting down has earnt itself a bad rep lately, with recent news headlines claiming that “sitting is more dangerous than smoking”.
Research carried out by the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, which has linked sitting for extended periods to obesity, metabolic syndrome, increased blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, and an increased risk of cardiovas-cular disease and cancer. Depressingly, exercising does little to counteract these risks, claim the researchers.
As a result, office workers are turning to ‘standing desks’ as a solution. However, standing up all day could lead to its own set of health problems. This is where Varidesk comes in: a variable desk that offers you the option to either sit or stand throughout your working day.
We got a Varidesk ProPlus 36 to try out in the PE office this month, and I’m now a standing desk convert. Set-up is easy – just take it ready-made out of the box and place on top of your existing desk. It is pretty hefty, however, so lifting will be a two-person job.
The ProPlus 36 model is imposing, measuring 36 inches wide and 30 inches deep, to accommodate those with dual-monitor setups or who want a bit more room. The two-tiered design, with separate fixed keyboard/mouse deck, ensures your arms are placed at a comfortable angle while you type.
As with all Varidesk models, this one features the company’s patented, spring-assisted lift mechanism. Just ac-tivate by squeezing the two side bars underneath the top desk, and you can easily raise or lower the desk.
The ProPlus 36 holds up to 15.8kg and feels sturdy – however, if you’re prone to vigorous bursts of typing, the monitor will wobble slightly.
When fully extended, it is comfortable to use with a height of 5ft 8in (1.73 metres), but those who are taller will require the additional monitor arm. Annoyingly, to extend the desk fully, you may need to purchase longer cables for your screen and keyboard.
I was surprisingly exhausted in the first few days of use, so it’s wise to slowly build up the amount of time you stand. However, after a week I felt energised and wondered how I could have ever sat down for the entire work-ing day. Be warned: it may take some time for colleagues to get used to you looming over the office. But they’ll all soon be wishing they had one of their own. Top tip: be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
The Varidesk ProPlus 36 costs £335 from uk.varidesk.com