With so many people working from home now, the idea of a standing desk is becoming more attractive than ever. The only problem is that purchasing a good quality one can be pricey. On top of that, what if you hate it? Sure, most models of standing desks have the built-in ability to move down into a sitting desk, but that doesn’t change the fact that you just bought a new desk when you still had a perfectly good one at home. That’s why we made a list on how to turn your desk into a standing desk.
No, we’re not talking about the thing that you store your books in. We’re talking about literally building a shelf on your desk made of books. You can put your laptop on it, thus necessitating you to stand up rather than sit when using it—then, voila, you’ll have an ersatz standing desk to use as a trial run. Whether it’s the Harry Potter series or a stack of unused encyclopedias, we’re sure you have some books lying around the house that haven’t been touched in a few years. Well, now is your chance to put them to good use.
Find five to ten books and try to stack them in a way that makes them even. If you can’t quite seem to get it to lie flat, find something thin to level them out a bit. It doesn’t have to be perfect. This is more of a temporary solution in order to see how much you like the idea of standing and working. Try it for a few days and see how it feels. If you love it, then you’ll want to check out our next two ideas.
If you want something that looks a little less chaotic than a stack of books but want it to be as cheap as possible, this is when you should look into purchasing a small table. IKEA and Walmart are both great places to look for one. Their products are mostly made up of light, cheap materials that won’t break your desk or the bank.
Try to find an adjustable table. That way, you can tweak it to get the perfect height. If you can’t find one that does that, make sure you take precise measurements of your book stack so you know it’ll be a comfortable fit for you.
If you really want to get serious about turning your desk into a standing desk, then you should spend some extra cash and get a standing desk converter. If you’re not sure where to find one, look no further than our online store.
We have plenty of wooden laptop risers for you to choose from. Most models are completely adjustable as well. They are made of high-quality birch wood and can be assembled and modified without the use of any tools. They come in various sizes, which allows you to get the one that will best fit your current desk. It’ll feel just as good as owning an actual standing desk, except this one is a fraction of the price.
]]>While working at home offers some great conveniences, not many people made houses with this kind of functionality in mind, so many home offices can feel small and cramped, depending on how much stuff you have in them. Since expanding the room is expensive and not very practical, learn how to make the most out of a small home office so that you don’t have to feel so confined.
If you feel like your office is overcrowded, start by decluttering the place. That means putting items back in their respective drawers, doing some cable management, and removing anything that doesn’t need to be there. You’ll be surprised by how much of an effect this has, especially if you had a lot of junk sitting on the floor. The minimalist look makes everything feel so clean and open.
An old real estate trick is to turn on all the lights and open the curtains to every room in the house. Lighting has a weird effect on our brains that tells us that a space is bigger than it actually is, so this is a great way to make your tiny office feel more like an expansive one. The best part is that this takes no additional work.
If opening windows and turning on lights doesn’t feel like enough, consider repainting the walls as well. Bright colors can give you the same effect. However, they can also give you a sense of cohesion and warmth. Both of these can help foster creativity and general brain function.
Just be sure that the new color doesn’t clash with the other objects in the room because this can make things feel more chaotic, ruining everything you were trying to accomplish with the palette swap.
Treat your office like a metropolitan area: cities can’t build outward, so they must expand upward. Do the same thing in your work area. Don’t be afraid to get creative with it. Consider adding storage containers that hang from the bottom of a shelf you already have in place. You can also stack multiple containers on top of each other instead of laying them out side-by-side.
Another interesting way to add some verticality is by switching to a standing desk. Removing the chair from the equation will free up a lot more floor space. Of course, we understand that buying a new desk is a big ask, but that’s why we offer adjustable standing desk converters for laptops on our website. They are significantly cheaper and allow you to use your current desk. It’s a win-win situation that can help you make the most out of a small home office.
]]>Are you looking into getting a standing desk but are unsure how much of an influence it’s going to have on your overall health? That’s an entirely valid thing to wonder about. Obviously, standing throughout the day has many health-related benefits compared to sitting, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth the price of admission.
Fortunately, there are a ton of exercises that you can do while using your standing desk that will improve your overall wellbeing. So, if you are looking for standing desk workouts that anyone can do, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ll start with the most apparent workout: walking. We’ve all seen those mini treadmills that people buy to walk on while they work. They may look silly, but they are surprisingly effective since you can walk and work simultaneously. Plus, walking drastically increases the number of calories you burn per hour when compared to standing still.
The most significant deterrent to going through with this is the price. Some of these mini treadmills can cost almost as much as a normal sized one. If you can’t justify the high cost, you can try walking or marching in place instead; this achieves pretty much the same results. On top of that, you can lift your legs higher while marching to work them out more.
If you decide to get the treadmill, you can change things up every so often by turning it 90° and walking sideways for a while. You can either shuffle your feet back and forth or do a sidestep. If you decide to go with the latter option, you can put a resistance band between your legs for a more demanding workout.
Another thing you can buy is a balance board. Standing on one of these and moving around is an excellent way to keep yourself active while remaining still enough to work effectively. The more you move around, the stronger your leg muscles will become.
This will be our last suggestion that involves you buying something. Although, if you have some extra boards lying around, you can just as easily use them instead of buying an actual stair stepper. Either way, the goal is to have an object to step up onto while you’re standing.
Now, we do have to warn you that desk pushups are a little dangerous if your standing desk isn’t the strongest. You’ll be putting a lot of your weight on it at a sideways angle, which could lead to you accidentally pushing it over. If your desk can take it, though, this is a great way to work out your arms as opposed to your legs while standing.
If you decide to buy a standing desk converter like the wooden laptop riser we offer in our online store, then pushups will be safer to do since you’ll still have a shorter, sturdier desk to put your weight up against.
Another easy arm workout you can do is the shoulder stretch. All you have to do is reach one arm across your body and pull on it a little bit. You can easily do these intermittently while brainstorming or looking over an important file.
These will distract you from your work a little bit, but they are perfect for when you take a short break. Doing both forward and sideways lunges will help limber you up and refresh your legs if you’re not quite ready to sit back down yet. As a bonus, your desk will be right next to you if you start to lose your balance.
We’re sure that a little bit of upward and downward motion won’t slow down your work speed, so calf raises are a perfect way to work out while remaining productive. You can go up and down at a regular pace to stretch out your calves, but if you trulywant to put them to the test, you can stand on your tiptoes for a bit in a short endurance test.
In case you aren’t sure, hamstring curls are the stretch in which you pull one of your ankles up towards your backside. Like with calf raises, you can either do reps with these or hold them for as long as you can. Holding it will also work on the balance of the other leg that you are currently standing on.
No matter how in shape you are, you’ll have to sit down eventually. Before doing so, you should do that motion a few times and get some squats in. This workout is well known for working out a large portion of your leg muscles. Don’t be afraid to push yourself on these since you’ll get to sit down afterwards.
Even though you can do gluteal squeezes while standing, they are much more effective when performed while seated. They are super simple, too. All you have to do is squeeze your butt muscles together and hold them for a few seconds before releasing, repeating the process until fatigued. The best part about this one is if you are working around other people, no one will even notice that you are doing it.
If you still want to keep your legs active while sitting, then you’ll want to try out some leg extensions. All you have to do is lift your legs up in front of you while you’re sitting. Hold them for as long as you can, then give it a rest before trying again.
You can do these while standing as well, but it will be harder to work at the same time since you’ll be reaching one of your legs backward instead. This forces you to lean forward a bit, making typing on your keyboard a little more challenging.
We know that we’ve been focusing primarily on legs, but that’s because we’re trying to bring you workouts that don’t impede on your work. However, once you’re seated, one of the best workouts you can do is chair dips. This is when you use your arms to hold yourself on the edge of your chair and dip your butt towards the ground. All we ask is that you don’t do this on a chair with wheels, so it doesn’t roll away when you go down.
We want to give your abs some love, too, which is why our final standing desk workout that anyone can do is abdominal curls. While on a break or during a long conference call, you can easily cross your arms over your chest and do a seated sit-up. They are relatively easy to perform, so if you want to challenge yourself a bit, you can add a twist to it in order to work out even more of your ab muscles.
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If you like the idea of standing while you work but don’t want to commit to a full standing desk just to use your laptop, you might want to get a standing desk converter instead. There are a lot of considerations that you’ll need to take into account when deciding on what to look for in a laptop desk converter, so we’ll go over all of the factors that you think about when searching.
When you first start perusing the options of converters, the first thing you’ll be looking at is how big they are and how tall they can get. Depending on how much you need to set on it and how tall you are, these are both factors you need to consider. When you’re getting one for your laptop, you won’t need as much space, but if you want to use a monitor as a second screen, you’ll need a larger converter to fit everything.
If you are taller than average, ensure that the converter will rise high enough for you to use it effectively. If it negatively affects your ergonomics, it’s rather pointless to use it in the first place.
Being able to change how your converter sits or the levels that it sits at is a huge factor to consider in your search. Not everyone is the same, so the perfect height for you won’t be for the next person. Unfortunately, not many makers consider this the way we do here at ReadyDesk. We pride ourselves in having an adjustable standing desk converter for laptops that is fully customizable to fit anybody’s needs.
Of course, having the tallest converter ever made means nothing if it’s not stable. Even though you’re probably only using your laptop on it, you don’t want it falling over or buckling under the weight. Find one with a sturdy build that lets you use it with ease and without the danger of about anything on or below it sustaining damage.
While our final tip on what to look for in a laptop desk converter is not as crucial as the previous ones, it should be something you look into. Special features include anything like USB ports, wireless charging stations, and cupholders. While none of them will drastically change how you use your converter, they are great conveniences that can be a unique selling point that will tip the scales in their favor during your search.
]]>If you’re exploring new ideas for working at home, you’ve likely looked into standing desks as a possibility for staying a little more active through the workday. However, you might be unsure of which type you want. Everybody has different needs for a standing desk, so we don’t want to tell you which one is definitively the best—especially since we’re obviously a bit biased. Even so, if you’re considering a standing desk vs. a standing desk converter, what you choose will depend on a few basic factors. Here’s how to find the best fit for you.
The biggest factor to consider when choosing between a standing desk and a standing desk converter is what kind of workstation you’re currently using. If you already have a perfect desk that you love, you shouldn’t have to replace it to be able to stand while you work. However, if you’re working at the kitchen table and need a new desk anyway, buying a full standing desk might be your best option.
If you’re looking to save some money, though, you might consider buying a converter to use on your kitchen table or a cheap desk you can pick up online or at a thrift store. Depending on its features, a standing desk can be quite expensive.
This point is fairly straightforward. If you need more desk space, a standing desk will be better since a converter will take up a lot of real estate whenever you put it on. On the other side of things, if drawer space is a necessity for you, you’ll want a regular desk with a riser. Since a standing desk must be light enough to move up and down without issues, any drawers that it might have will be quite small.
Stability is necessary to consider before buying either a standing desk or a converter. Unfortunately, the jury is still out when it comes to one being better than the other. The quality of the product is the most significant determining factor to how stable it will be—although weight can also be a part of it. When weight is the only factor, risers will usually come out on top since they only have to support the monitor, keyboard, and mouse, whereas a standing desk has to hold up everything else.
A significant reason many people switch to standing desks is to help improve their ergonomics. Again, this comes down to external factors, such as the person’s proportions and the desk’s overall design, rather than the type of standing desk.
However, we like to believe that our adjustable desktop risers reign supreme here. You can easily move them to account for your height and the space between your arms and head. Standing desks can only move up and down, not apart or closer to each other the way our converter can.
]]>Even though working from home has many benefits, a lot of people are missing the fun factor that came with being around coworkers. Whether it was pleasant conversations or exciting company activities, there is a lot to miss about office work. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make working from home more enjoyable, which we will be going over in this blog post.
Since you don’t have much interaction with coworkers while working from home, this should be the first thing you do. Talk to your boss about setting up a weekly meeting or two to talk to each other about non-work-related activities. You can even try to play some games with each other over video chat.
At the very least, you should still try to keep in contact with those you were close to in the office, even if that means meeting up to do something after work. It’s difficult to feel like a team when you don’t interact with each other regularly.
Since the company doesn’t own your current work desk, you have a lot more freedom to do what you want with it. You can set up all the decorations you desire or give it a vibrant coat of paint. Do whatever you feel is right to liven up your work environment.
You can also try some things with your chair. A common idea some people enjoy is using a yoga ball as a seat so you can stretch while you work. You could also try standing while you work. Our desktop standing desk converters are perfect for first timers since they’re easy to use and cheaper than buying a new desk.
Listening to music at work is nothing out of the ordinary, but now that you can do so without needing to wear headphones, a lot more people are starting to take advantage of this opportunity. Having the ability to blast music while on the job is a unique experience. Make sure you plan your music out wisely, though.
Depending on what you do, certain types of songs might be more distracting than others. That’s why it’s good to fill your playlist with instrumental songs or ones that have an overall calming tone to them.
Most jobs don’t have you constantly working for a whole eight hours, which is why the final thing you can do to make working from home more enjoyable is to be creative with your breaks. Being at your house opens you up to a lot more possibilities that you wouldn’t have in the office. You can go on a short walk through your neighborhood, drive to a local restaurant for a quick snack, or do any number of things that you would typically do at home in your free time. Whatever you choose, all we ask is to make sure it doesn’t interfere with your work. Breaks are critical, but they can be detrimental if used too often.
]]>Whether you love your job or hate it, everyone has experienced days in which they’re exhausted and can’t seem to get any work done. This is even more true if you work from home since your body is used to your house being a place of rest.
Fortunately, there are ways to overcome this issue. If you are experiencing occasional bouts of sleepiness while on the job, then our tips for staying awake while working from home will help you immensely. On the other hand, if you are one of those people who feel tired every day, then we’d recommend a lifestyle change--but in the meantime, some of these tips still might be of some use to you.
One of the worst things you can do while working from home is roll out of bed, sit at your desk, and start working. This gives your body no time to wake up and be ready for the day ahead. At the very least, you should get up early enough to eat breakfast, get dressed, and make yourself presentable, even if nobody will see you that day. While that may mean waking up earlier, at least your body will be getting a little bit of exercise before going straight to work mode.
Although, sometimes these activities aren’t enough. If you’re really tired, you might need to increase the physicality of your morning routine. Going for a short walk or jog is, by far, the best way to do this. If you don’t have any extra time in your morning, try eating your breakfast standing up. Since you’ll be sitting behind a desk for the next eight hours, getting some time on your feet will help wake you up even more.
We’ll start with something obvious: coffee (or another type of caffeinated drink) is a go-to for most office workers. Getting an energy boost from doing something as easy as taking a drink is probably the most efficient way to get through the day. However, the reason why we brought this one up is because it should never be a permanent fix. The boost you get is only temporary, and the most you drink caffeinated drinks, the higher your tolerance for them will get.
That’s why we recommend drinking water if you’re feeling a bit tired. If you constantly drink water throughout your workday, you’ll not only be taking steps towards a healthier lifestyle, but you’ll be keeping yourself more alert. Your mind has trouble concentrating if you are dehydrated, so staying consistent with your fluids will help negate that issue.
If neither of those seems to be working, try taking a healthy snack break. You can eat most snacks while you work, so it shouldn’t even interfere with your daily output. Be sure to focus on the healthy aspect of this tip, though. Foods with sugar only help for a little while and come with a crash that will make you more unproductive than before. Healthier snacks such as yogurt and fruit will help keep you alert for longer.
If you are given any 15-minute breaks during your workday, be sure to use them productively. Going on a short walk or doing some yoga will help keep your body awake and your mind sharp. For those days that you just can’t seem to keep your eyes open, a quick power nap might be the way to go.
Not all companies give you official breaks other than the one you take for lunch. If that applies to you, there’s no need to worry. If you eat your meal fast enough, you can use the extra time to do the activities we mentioned above. If you need your whole lunch break to eat, all we ask is that you try to find some time to get one of these things in when you have some downtime.
Despite all your efforts, you might not have the time to do anything extra while you’re working. Luckily, there are some things you can do while you work to wake yourself up a bit. One of the easiest things is listening to some music. Rock or pop music can be just the jolt of energy you need to get your brain activity to 100 percent. If you’re worried about the tunes being too distracting, find the instrumental versions of songs you like or branch out and listen to other music without lyrics.
Certain scents can also keep you awake. Whether you go with scented candles or an essential oil diffuser, the right scent can instantly sharpen your senses, waking you up in the process. There’s nothing quite like the scent of peppermint to put a little pep in your step.
If those last two seem like they would be too distracting for you, then maybe you need to look into getting a standing desk. If you’re currently happy with the one you have and don’t want to replace it, consider our simple standing desk converters. They are easy to set up and even easier to use. Standing while you work will surely keep you awake since falling asleep in your comfy chair won’t be an option.
If you know that your tiredness will pass as you get through your day, then it might be best for you to start your day with some easy tasks while your brain works its way towards full capacity. If the easy stuff needs to get done regardless, then doing it right away will be the most efficient use of your time. As a bonus, if you mess anything up with it, going back to it later to fix it won’t be as detrimental as it would be if you messed up a more difficult task.
If all else fails, our last tip for staying awake while working from home is to change how you sleep. If sleepiness is a constant issue, then you’re likely doing something wrong. Most adults need six to seven hours of sleep a night. If you’re getting less, then you know what you need to do to fix it.
If your problem has more to do with not getting a restful night’s sleep, it will be more challenging to fix. Some common issues that cause this are too much blue light from phone screens and consuming stimulating foods or drinks before bed. Of course, the best way to fix these is to avoid them entirely. Don’t eat high-energy foods or drinks before you go to bed and use a blue light filter on your phone.
If nothing you do seems to work for your nighttime rest, your best bet is to take a nap or two throughout the day. While we did recommend power naps earlier, for this point we want you to make the naps a part of your schedule. Consistency is vital when it comes to sleep.
]]>When people first buy a standing desk, it is an exciting time—having a different way to work or game brings lots of new options for you to try out. However, when you’re so focused on trying out new ideas, you could inadvertently misuse your desk. To make things even worse, you might not even realize it until it’s too late. Here is a list of all the things you’re doing wrong with your standing desk and how to fix them.
When you only used a sitting desk, you never had to adjust the height of your monitor or chair unless you shared your desk with someone else. You found that perfect spot and never changed it. Now that you have a standing one, gaining the ability to either sit or stand is great, but it also means that you’re constantly changing your settings.
The best way to fix this is to utilize height presets if your desk has them. Once you find that perfect spot, you’ll never have to search for it again. If you don’t, try to set up a marking system to know which heights you feel are the most comfortable for standing and sitting. Also, try to find a suitable spot for your monitor, no matter your position.
Standing while at your desk is like a breath of fresh air, but that doesn’t mean you should do it all day. This is, by far, one of the biggest things you’re likely doing wrong with your standing desk. If you’re used to staying on your feet, spending an eight-hour workday or a long gaming session in the upright position is possible; however, many need to take a break or two throughout the day. If you follow our tips in the previous point, you shouldn’t have a problem switching back to sitting occasionally.
If you are determined to increase your amount of uptime, don’t stand on a hard surface. Doing so will lead to discomfort and potential joint pain. You can avoid this by moving your desk to a carpeted area. If that’s not possible, you should look into getting comfortable house shoes or an anti-fatigue mat.
Also, make sure that you don’t stay stationary for too long. This could lead to the same problems even if you’re on a soft surface, so move around a bit and try new positions.
If you haven’t bought one yet, but you’re reading this article, stop procrastinating and do it! With the benefits of standing while you work, you won’t regret it.
Don’t make any rash decisions, though, and research them thoroughly. If the price of a new desk seems like too much when you have a perfectly good one at home, you should check out our adjustable desktop risers. They work like a regular standing desk, but you can use them on the one you already have.
]]>Some might consider this a weird guide for us to be making, but the key to using a standing desk properly is more than simply standing behind it. Every human body is different in one way or another, so you’ll need to do a few things to use your new standing desk optimally. That’s why we’ve created a guide to using your standing desk correctly. We don’t want anyone to regret their purchase due to improper use.
Most standing desks have impressive adjustability. They can accommodate all heights, even abnormally tall people. The key to finding the ideal elevation for you is to set the desk at a height that allows you to rest your arms on its surface while keeping your elbows at a right angle. Of course, this also the ideal angle for sitting, but it’s even more important when standing. Just make sure that you’re standing up straight when you do this to avoid the need to slouch while you’re working.
Not only is the desk height essential, but so is the height of your screen. Line it up with your eye level to prevent painful neck positions. It’s easy to set up with a monitor this way but less so with a laptop since your keyboard needs to be lower for your arms. That means an optimal laptop setup will require you to use a separate keyboard.
This point comes down to your current lifestyle and preferences, but you need to consider them. If you live an active lifestyle when you clock out for the day, you won’t need to spend as much of your workday standing. On the other hand, if you are more sedentary in your free time, consider spending more time standing behind your desk.
Either way, it comes down to preference. The only thing we recommend is that you try to use the position that you aren’t doing as much during the day. Doing too much of one or the other can negatively impact your health. Also, don’t worry if it takes time to do one more than the other—it’s all a process.
The position that most people struggle with is standing, so if that’s the one you’re attempting to improve, doing some stretches throughout the day will help you increase your standing duration. However, if you feel like that’s not enough, there are some exercises that you can do as well. You can find examples for either of these all over the internet.
After going through our guide to using your standing desk correctly, we’d argue that a standing desk is absolutely worth trying out. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks, especially since you can always use a standing desk in the sitting position for as long as you like. If the cost downside of buying a new desk is too much for you, we’d suggest one of our American-made standing desk converters. Place them on top of any desk or table you currently own to create a more portable standing desk.
]]>Standing desks are becoming more popular with every passing year, and for those who are interested in getting one, the question of how long you should stand at a standing desk each day is starting to pop up more frequently. This issue may seem easy enough to address, but there is a lot that goes into it. This includes the arguments for and against standing desks, which we will go into before answering the question at hand.
In general, standing desks are a good thing. In a world where sitting for activities like watching TV, driving, and working at an office are all a part of our daily routine, we don’t spend nearly as much time standing as we should. Therefore, standing desks are becoming more prevalent. Spending eight hours a day standing instead of sitting is a win in many people’s books.
However, this is where the arguments against it come into play. If you spend your whole day standing, you will get more fatigued than you usually would, impacting your work output. Also, if you buy a standing desk only to find out that it doesn’t work for you, then you’ve wasted your money and will get rid of a perfectly good one. Luckily, wooden standing desk converters like the ones we offer exist to save people money and allow them to use their current desk. However, that still doesn’t address the fatigue issue.
This is why so many people are left asking, “How long should you stand at a standing desk each day?” Fortunately, you don’t have to choose one or the other. You can easily move most standing desks up or down and remove converters when not in use. For this reason, some people say that you should split your workday 50/50 in terms of your standing to sitting ratio. That way, you get the benefits of both positions with fewer downsides.
Some people who recommend this ratio say that you should switch every half hour, but we believe that’s a bit extreme since that will force you to spend a decent chunk of your day moving the desk up or down. Instead, we think you should only switch when you’re getting tired of your current position.
That’s also why we think there isn’t a straightforward answer to this question: it depends on the person. Standing all day might not pose an issue for you if you’re currently in great shape, but it might for others. This might make your ratio more like 90/10, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The bottom line is there is no correct answer to this question. The beauty of standing desks and converters is the freedom of choice. You can sit or stand as often you choose.
]]>Thank you to CNET for their great review of Readydesk. Love seeing a photo from our original Kickstarter. https://www.cnet.com/how-to/best-standing-desk-converters-for-2021/
]]>Tired of spending so much of your day sitting down? Between driving, working, and relaxation time, most people spend well over half their waking hours in the seated position. Unfortunately, a lot of this is unavoidable. Standing cars aren’t a thing, and not sitting down kind of defeats the purpose of relaxation.
However, there is a solution for the time you spend in the office: a standing desk. These desks allow you to spend your eight hours in an upright position, giving you benefits such as improved posture and a slightly faster calorie burn compared to sitting. Before you go out and buy one of these life-changing desks, there are quite a few things you need to think about. That’s why we’re bringing you our guide on what to consider when choosing a standing desk.
This might seem like a weird thing to consider since you’ve already decided that you want a standing desk, but what most people don’t realize is you can buy standing desk converters for your current desk. These are great for people on a budget who don’t want to put a lot of money into a brand-new desk or for those who are still attached to their current one and don’t want to give it up just yet.
We offer desktop standing desk risers personally on our website if you’re at all interested. We still have a bunch of considerations to go over, though, so be sure to look at them from all angles before purchasing.
The size of the top of the standing desk or converter you should get comes down to personal preference. Are you a minimalist who doesn’t keep very much on your desk, or are you one of those people who needs everything spread out in front of you in order to work properly? Keep this in mind when shopping for a standing desk. Be sure to use your current desk’s measurements to compare to whichever options you are considering.
The other main aspect of the size that you need to consider is height. Most sitting desks are relatively the same height since everyone sits in chairs that can move up or down. Humans don’t have such a convenience. However tall you are is permanent, so you need to find a desk that works for your personal height. Luckily, nearly all standing desks and converters are adjustable.
The adjustability brings up the next vital point of figuring out how easy it is to move up and down. Once you find the perfect height, it’s unlikely you’ll leave it there forever. If you ever want to sit down, you’ll have to readjust it, so ease of use is essential.
The speed at which this is done is important, too. If the desk takes forever to move up or down, you will be less likely to want to waste time during your workday to move it, which will lead to you sitting more often than standing, defeating the entire purpose of the desk.
How easily it can be moved up or down is key for desktop risers as well. Ours is relatively easy to remove from the desk when you want to sit down for a while, whereas some models from other companies latch on to the desk, making removal much more tedious.
The simple answer here is yes, especially when you first start using it. Therefore, ease of adjustability is crucial. Fortunately, there are some options for increasing the amount of time you can remain standing. If you’re okay with wearing shoes in the house, there are many shoe and insole brands made specifically for people who stand all day. If shoes aren’t an option, anti-fatigue mats are also available and extremely comfortable for long periods of time.
Most standing desks are light to make their movement more accessible and faster. The downside is that they usually can’t hold as much weight, which can be an issue for those with heavy PCs or crowded desks. It becomes a balancing act of how much durability you want to give up for increased movement. If you want the best of both worlds, you’ll likely have to pay more.
This is one of the best perks of standing desk converters like ours. They only need to hold the monitor, mouse, and keyboard. Everything else can sit on your normal desk, which was made to handle a lot more weight.
One of the most vital things to consider when choosing a standing desk is how well it works for your posture. If you’re still hunched over while using it, it defeats the whole purpose of making the change to a standing desk. In order to improve your ergonomics, you need to make sure your keyboard is in a location that keeps your arms at a right angle, and your monitor is high enough to keep your neck straight. Most standing desks are completely flat and don’t take this into account.
That’s why desk risers are the perfect choice. Most brands, including ours, allow you to individually adjust the height of the keyboard and monitor. This allows for more streamlined ergonomics and, in turn, a better posture.
Some people may think this point is a bit petty when the main focus is improving your overall health, but honestly, what good is a new desk or converter if you don’t like how it looks? Nobody wants an ugly desk as the centerpiece of their office. Not only do other people judge the way it looks, but you have to look and deal with it every day. While it shouldn’t be the primary concern, you should still take the design into consideration.
And this is where the final positive of desk converters come into play. If you really don’t like how it looks, you can always remove it when not in use and show off the beautiful desk you still have underneath. We don’t think you’d be upset with how our converters look, though. They are made entirely out of wood and look great with any configuration.
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So, we’ve heard about athletes spending a lot of money to get more pristine equipment or gamers who appear to break the bank to get a higher-quality monitor. Both of these groups do these things to get a competitive edge. Well, what if we said you could do that for your own job? Granted, your workplace most likely isn’t a competitive environment, but increasing your job performance could help you secure that next promotion. If that’s something you’re interested in, then you’re going to want to look into getting a standing desk. In this post, we will go over the benefits standing desks have on job performance, so you can make an informed decision on if you should pursue one to assist your career.
Unfortunately, the many studies done on this topic are quite inconclusive. Some show huge spikes in productivity when a standing desk is used. Others show no change at all. Personally, we believe the reason for this comes down to the individual’s preference. If you’re a person who has trouble standing for long periods of time, you’re not going to be able to focus as well on your work as someone who spends a lot of their time on their feet anyway.
However, we don’t want that to discourage you from trying. Once you get used to it, standing behind a desk for eight hours isn’t so bad. If you don’t want to waste money on a brand-new desk to give it a try, though, we encourage you to check out our selection of wooden laptop risers. They’re a much cheaper alternative and can easily be moved if you want to sit back down for a while.
Obviously, if you spend your whole day standing, you’re going to be in better shape than someone who spends it sitting. This doesn’t mean you’ll instantly see results to be proud of, but it does slowly help. We’re sure you’re wondering what this has to do with job performance, though. Well, the better your health is, the less time you’ll spend sick at home, even if you’re not sick enough to stay home. Not feeling well at work has a noticeable effect on your performance.
Increasing your physical health also improves your mental health. People who are content with their well-being are more likely to have increased morale and be engaged in their work. They feel more confident due to the fact that they’re not worried about their health or how they look.
Standing desks can help with mental health in another way, too. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to issues such as depression and anxiety. According to various studies, standing more throughout the day will decrease these and increase other attributes such as personal energy, focus, and even memory. Like we mentioned above, it’s impossible to truly know the benefits standing desks have on job performance until you give it a try, so we encourage you to look into standing desks as a possibility.
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Whether you’ve already made the switch or are only starting to consider getting a standing desk, it isn’t an easy transition for some people. There are a lot of aspects to standing desks that will take time to adjust to. There’s a chance you might not even think that you like it, but we believe that you hang in there and see it through. Standing desks have many benefits. However, if you’re struggling to use it or are simply looking for some pointers, we have a list of tips for transitioning into your new standing desk that might be just the thing you’ve been looking for.
If you have already purchased a standing desk, you can move on to the next steps, but for those of you who haven’t, we recommend doing a test run. The best way to do this is to grab a bunch of books or other sturdy objects and stack them up on your desk. Make them high enough that once you put your computer on top of them, you can comfortably stand while you use them. Try this out for a while and see what you think of it.
If you want to try a setup that feels a little more official, look into our adjustable wooden laptop stands. They sit on top of the desk you already own and can be easily modified to fit your standing height better. If you really like this option, they’re sturdy enough to become a permanent fixture, saving you hundreds of dollars that’d be spent on a brand-new standing desk.
The first problem that people run into when trying out a standing desk is sore feet. Many of us aren’t accustomed to standing all day. Sure, you can always revert back to sitting for a while if they’re starting to hurt, but that defeats the purpose of the desk. Instead, invest in some comfy shoes, or, if you already have a pair, slip them on. We know it might seem weird to wear shoes in the house, but it’s a viable option for staying on your feet for longer.
If you really can’t get into the idea of wearing shoes in the house all day, there are plenty of anti-fatigue floor mats on the market as well. These feel great under your feet and will help you easily remain upright for the entire eight-hour workday.
This is probably the most important tip for transitioning into your new standing desk, so make sure to take note of it. No matter how comfy your feet are, the positioning of you and your computer are critical to having success with your standing desk. Your arms must be at a right angle when your hands are on the keyboard. Your screen shouldn’t be too low or too high—keep it right at eye level. Lastly, make sure your computer isn’t too close. Position it so that it’s an arm’s length away.
Arranging these things when standing will ensure you won’t slouch when you work. If you follow these steps precisely, you should notice massive improvements to the overall feel of your new workstation.
]]>Trying to maintain a good posture is a challenge for most people, especially those who spend most of their workday behind a desk. When you’re focused on your work, it can be hard to remember to keep your back straight. There are a few products on the market to try to help with this, but they either don’t work as advertised or look and feel ridiculous to wear. There’s an easier solution to all of this: standing desks. In this blog post, we’ll review the ways standing desks can help improve your posture, as well as some tips on how to stay standing behind your desk for longer.
We’ll start with the obvious—standing up allows your body to stay straight more naturally. Most of us only slouch over when we’re sitting. When you’re standing, your body is more likely to stand at attention instinctively. If you start to hunch over, it’s also easier to notice when you’re standing up.
Standing also helps build your muscles more than sitting. When you’re upright, you’re using more of your muscles than you would be lounging on a chair. Your back and leg muscles will have to put in more work to keep you standing, which in turn improves your posture.
Having a standing desk can even help your posture when you decide to sit for a while. Standing desks are made to be moved up and down, which makes it easier to change to the right height for an ideal sitting poster. If your computer is too low, forcing you to look down at it, and you’ve adjusted everything you can, being able to move your desk up a notch could be just the thing you needed.
While these benefits for your posture are great, standing all day for work is difficult and not recommended. First, we suggest an anti-fatigue mat. These give you more cushion for standing so your feet aren’t the first thing to give out on you. Anti-fatigue mats also help relax muscles and increase blood circulation.
Another tip is to sit when you feel tired. Take a quick sitting break, and then walk around—anything to keep your blood flowing and muscles loose is encouraged. A fun way to do this is to listen to some music and dance around a bit. Obviously, we don’t want it to distract you from your work but moving your hips or tapping your foot will help keep you moving—plus you're more likely to impress on the dance floor at the next wedding you attend.
Due to all of the ways standing desks can help improve your posture, we think they’re great. However, we realize many of them can be pricey or you have a perfectly good desk that you don’t want to part with yet. That’s why Readydesk makes desktop standing desk converters. They simply sit on top of your current desk and are much cheaper than buying a new desk. They’re the perfect compromise.
]]>For years, business professionals tried to learn how to work better in the office. They read tons of articles on managing their time better and working in a chaotic environment, but everything changed a year ago when the global pandemic hit. Now, everyone is trying to learn how to work from home. Some are finding it easy, but the adjustment hasn’t been smooth for everyone.
Even after a full year of remote work, some of us are still finding it difficult. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of healthy habits to develop while working from home. We’re aware that you might have heard or implemented some of these before, but even if you only take away one from this list, that’s a win for us and, hopefully, for you too.
Many places of employment started to implement rolling start times when they began remote work. They understood that this was a big transition for their employees and didn’t want them to feel obligated to clock in at the same time they usually did. Plus, people with hectic home lives could plan their work schedule better around other responsibilities if they could start whenever they needed.
Unfortunately, some of us used this leeway as an opportunity to get some extra sleep, and once you start sleeping in, it can be a hard habit to break. A shifting schedule can quickly lead to an unhealthy work-life, but you can easily fix it. Going to bed sooner will make waking up on time more manageable and, eventually, help you get back into your standard in-office schedule.
As a side note, don’t be one of those people who literally rolls out of bed and starts working. Running through your morning routine helps get you in a productive mind space so that you’re fresh and ready for the new day.
Speaking of routine, setting up a work one is another healthy habit that you can do for yourself. We’re sure you had one back in the office, so use parts of your previous processes to schedule your at-home ones. Start your day by checking emails, planning your work, and catching up on anything you might have missed from the day before. Don’t be afraid to take the time to make some coffee or converse with some colleagues. These are all things you used to do when you were on-site, so doing them now isn’t a bad thing.
Setting up do-not-disturb times with the people you live with is an excellent way to make sure you can focus on work for a couple of hours. Taking regular breaks is another way. When you’re sitting there all alone, it can be easy to work the whole time continuously. Dedicating consistent blocks of time for breaks is a great way to keep yourself from burning out.
If you’re still working at the kitchen table, you need a new game plan. Working in areas that you typically use for other things makes it more difficult to get in the mind space for work. If you’re in the kitchen, your brain will subconsciously be thinking about food. If you’re in the bedroom, sleep and relaxation will be on the mind. Making yourself a dedicated office will help your brain know that it needs to be in work mode.
If you can’t possibly reserve a whole room for your office in your house, try to use an area that you don’t go into very often. A finished basement is a good spot since you’re unlikely to go down there every day and use it when you’re off the clock.
One of the biggest changes to deal with when working from home is the lack of human interaction. Sure, you still message your team whenever you need help on a project and hold video calls often, but nothing quite duplicates the feeling of seeing each other face-to-face.
Luckily, COVID-19 restrictions have slowly been getting lifting, so meeting with a colleague in person might not be so difficult anymore. Just to be clear, though, we’re not encouraging recklessness. You should stick to socially distancing yourselves and wearing a mask when you can, but meeting with a coworker to go over plans for your next big project is now a possibility.
Dynamic meetings are becoming more common due to the pandemic. You can grab lunch at an outdoor venue with your team or go on a walk together at a local park. If you are really looking to stay connected without involving work, you can set up after-hours gatherings. Find a workout buddy or meet a few friends for some nightly drinks. All we ask is that you are careful when doing any of these and take the precautions necessary to do so.
When you don’t have to travel to the office every day, you might go days or even weeks without realizing you haven’t left your house. Of course, this is never great for your overall health. However, now that the weather is getting nicer, consider working outdoors. The fresh air can help your productivity immensely.
If that’s not possible with the work that you do, find reasons to get outside once you’re off for the day. Go for a bike ride or run some errands. Anything that will get you out of the house will greatly improve your mental health and, depending on what you do, your physical health as well.
There are so many healthy habits to develop while working from home that we certainly can’t list them all, so get creative. Develop a new work style, or set up two monitors for better multitasking. Transform your regular desk into a standing one with one of our simple standing desk converters. The list of options available to you is endless.
We urge you to give one of our tips a try or think up something on your own. If it doesn’t work for you, there’s nothing wrong with that, but you don’t know until you try. Regardless of how you do it, creating more healthy habits while working in your own home will benefit you in so many ways.
]]>When sitting at your desk, keep your feet flat on the floor and keep your back flush against the chair. Your head should be in a neutral position with the ears directly above the shoulders. To help avoid rounding your lower back, which can cause your head and shoulders to slump forward, adjust the height of your chair to allow your thighs to angle down slightly. This position keeps your weight ideally distributed through your sit bones, located on the lower portions of your hips.
Place your computer monitor directly in front of you with your nose's center at your screen level. If the monitor is angled too low, you will turn your head downward and increase the strain on your neck. If you work primarily on a laptop, use a secondary monitor if possible. Position the keyboard close enough to you so your elbows are bent at a 90-degree angle when typing. Set the keyboard high enough so you aren't forced to slump down through your shoulders to touch the keys. Place the mouse at the same level as the keyboard.
Frequent breaks to stretch and relax the muscles are needed. Simply walking around your office building or your house is beneficial. Strengthening one's core can be extremely helpful as well. This will allow you to hold a good posture throughout the day. It's even beneficial to give yourself a change of scenery at some point throughout the day.
Sitting in an office chair seems easy, but it can be tiring. The longer you sit, the harder it is to hold your posture. Each day, try to spend an hour or two on your feet. The health benefits of using a standing desk have been well established. They can lower your risk of weight gain and obesity, as well as reducing your blood sugar. They can also lower your risk of heart disease and also appear to improve mood and energy levels.
One popular option is a standing desk. Suppose a standing desk isn’t an option for you. In that case, an inexpensive desk converter can convert any flat surface into a standing desk. The Readydesk desktop standing desk converter is designed to give your perfect posture with multiple adjustable work shelves. Add more energy to your day with our simple stand-up desk solution. If you're wondering how to relieve neck and back pain at work, try these techniques and look into one of our standing desk converters for your workspace.
]]>By now, you have probably already constructed and organized your home office. Most of us have been working at home for over a year by this point, so more likely than not that you have already crafted your home office. However, there’s also a good chance that it’s not quite what you had hoped for, or perhaps it didn’t play out the way you pictured in your head. It’s nice to have a high-quality office, and it’s hard to do that when you primarily decorated it with items you had lying around the house. That’s why we put together a list of simple ways to make your home office look professional.
If you are one of the people that we mentioned above who used things you had around the house to craft your desk, you are probably also the one whose office is lacking that professional feel. Even if you had a spare desk lying around, it’s perhaps not the style you would have preferred. That’s why it’s vital for you to go out and purchase a new one.
Now, we don’t want you to break the bank, but you should get something that looks more professional than a small table propped up on stacks of books. Find a desk that fits the look you are going for and makes you feel like you are in charge. Even if you are the lowest-ranking employee at your company, a real desk will help boost your self-esteem and productivity until you feel like you’re the CEO.
It might even be time to check out those standing desks that everyone has been talking about. The biggest downside to those is that a decent amount of them look pretty tacky. If you want the design of a standard desk but want the functionality of a standing one, we recommend that you check out our selection of adjustable standing desk converters. They are a perfect way to achieve the functionality of a standing desk in a more fashionable format.
Sometimes, all you need is the right things on or around your desk to achieve that professional feel. Setting up a fancy lamp or hanging up a string of lights are both great ways to spruce up your office and provide more lighting.
There are plenty of useful accessories that will help you achieve a professional look. Adding a plant or two will always liven things up. You can also add items such as an intricately designed rug, colorful knickknacks, or family photos. These will all add to the aesthetic you are going for.
Think back to your office back at work. What was one consistent aspect of it? It was always clean. Granted, we know you can’t hire a janitor to clean your office every night like your company did, regularly cleaning the room you work in is one of the simplest ways to make your home office look professional. Keeping surfaces clean and tidying up loose papers will give your office the exact feel that you have been searching for.
]]>Many business people have been working from home for about a year now. With luck, that means that they’ve found ways to stay motivated even though distractions constantly surround them. If you feel like you are still struggling to focus at home, then we have just the list for you. Here is our top list of tips and tricks for keeping motivated while working from home.
This tip should seem obvious since we used to do it every day for work, but you’d be surprised by how many people still roll out of bed before hopping on their computer to work without getting dressed, eating breakfast, or showering. They just make a beeline for the laptop. Imagine doing that before going into the office. People would think you’re crazy and probably laugh at you behind your back.
That’s why you should complete a self-care routine before you start work at home as well. Getting into the mindset of getting ready to go work at the office will help you bring the same motivation you used to have there right back to you in your home office.
We’re sure most of you have already done the work to cut out distractions, such as your phone, TV, and the kids, but what about all the little irritations? Minor distractions, such as the ticking of a clock or the sounds of cars constantly driving by outside, can slowly drive a person insane.
We recommend investing in some headphones or finding a pair from around the house. Plugging those in and listening to some instrumental music on a low volume can be just what you need to put you in the zone and increase your work output exponentially.
If you can control the thing that is making the annoying noise, get rid of it. That squeaky chair has lived a long, fulfilling life anyway. Now is the time to throw it in the trash and invest in a standing desk. You don’t need to go out and buy a new desk, though. At Ready Desk, we have desktop standing desk risers that turn your standard desk into a standing one for a much more reasonable price.
This tip for keeping motivated while working from home is, honestly, probably the most important. A large part of losing motivation to do something stems from the fact that we, as humans, always try to avoid uncomfortable situations. For example, if you have a big project due by the end of the month, your natural desire is to find something else to work on or find a way to distract yourself so that you don’t have to think about it.
Finding a way to combat this innate desire is the first step toward improving your motivation altogether. If you notice yourself worrying about an upcoming stressor in your life, acknowledge it. Don’t try to bury it deep and hope that it’ll go away. It will slowly eat at you and affect all parts of your life. Look into ways to confront the problem and deal with it head-on. Once you do that, you will feel more motivated in everything else that you are working on.
]]>Now that you're spending a lot of time at home working, it can feel like that there isn’t enough free time to stay fit. Working from home has given us more time than ever to feel your best.
It’s vital to set up an at-home workout schedule. If you plan out which exercises you want to do each day, you’ll be more likely to follow through with them.
Stick to your workout schedule in the same way you do with your work schedule. If you fail to work out on a particular day, there should be some accountability. In the same vein, reward yourself if you complete a specific number of days in a row.
If you really want to dedicate yourself, invest in a treadmill or some other workout machine. Doing so will open up so many more options for home workouts and maybe even inspire you to stay on track since you’ll want to give your new exercise machine a spin.
Both the previous ways to stay in shape while working from home focused more on the fact that you don’t have your daily commute anymore—extra time you can commit to yourself, rather than letting work gobble it up.
Use every break you're legally allowed to take. Step away from your desk every hour. You can use this time to stretch, walk around a bit, or even fit in a few pushups or another easy-to-do exercise. Whatever you choose will help get the blood flowing and give you a short mental break from your work.
If you like the idea of standing up to keep yourself from remaining sedentary for too long, consider investing in a standing desk. Most models come with an adjustable lever in case you don’t want to spend your whole workday on your feet. Regardless, it’s an excellent way to change up your routine and improve your health.
Unfortunately, a standing desk may not be in the budget—or perhaps you’re unsure if you’ll even like it. For those who are on the fence, there are ways to turn your standard desk into a standing one. We have a selection of adjustable wooden laptop stands, which come in many sizes to fit your desk or setup.
This one depends way more on what your job entails, but it is equally viable. If your position involves more talking on the phone than typing, why not do that while you’re doing some yoga or walking on the treadmill. Whatever exercise you do, make sure it doesn’t impede your work, but it’s not a bad idea to kill two birds with one stone.
Another thing you can try is holding an active meeting—a meeting with a coworker at the local gym or someone’s house while you work out. You can even conduct one while going for an afternoon walk. These are ideal for one-on-one meetings, but you can hold them with up to three or four people. It may be a little unconventional, but it’s an interesting thing to try that will help you and others do something active together.
We know that our final tip on how to stay in shape applies regardless of where you work, but we want you to use your at-home perks to your advantage. When you are in the comfort of your own home, you can eat foods that you might not bring to the office for fear of judgment from coworkers. In your home, whatever you bring to lunch is your business and no one else’s.
Being at home also gives you more time to make foods that you would never be able to make in the office. If a new, healthy dish takes over 30 minutes to cook, you could prep it in the morning before work, pop it in the oven on your 15-minute break, then eat it during your lunch once it’s ready. Your options are close to limitless while at home, so don’t squander this opportunity.
]]>There is medical reasoning as to why a standing desk will improve your health and wellness in the workplace. In recent years, companies have been providing standing desks for their employees. There's actual science behind why a standing desk increases output, and you can take advantage of this whether you’re at home or in the workplace. You'll find yourself with more energy and alertness. Learn about the science behind how standing desks improve productivity in this brief guide.
Standing stimulates circulation, which sends more oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Alternatively, sitting inhibits circulation and starts to negatively affect your blood flow in as little as ten minutes. Physical movement also encourages neurogenesis, creating more brain cells specifically in sections of the brain that promote critical thinking.
While ten minutes of sitting can negatively affect your circulation, ten minutes of standing is all it takes to improve focus. Employees who reduced their sitting time by one hour a day reported improved mental focus throughout the day. When you're more focused, you're able to work more efficiently and get more done.
Sitting all day causes chronic pain, discomfort, and physical stress, which leads to more pain in the back and joints, chronic nerve pain, and severe headaches. Without a doubt, you feel that pain, and it is just enough to slow down your production over an eight-hour day. While you should be focusing on your work, you're distracted by your pain. This will reduce focus and output.
Moving and standing throughout the day increases overall energy levels —as well as getting a decent amount of sleep and having a good diet. Many workers using standing desks or an adjustable desktop stand report feeling more enthusiastic from standing during the workday. Also, standing helps keep your energy levels stable, preventing the energy dip we often experience in the afternoon. You can also expect an increase in alertness, which will help you stay awake.
If you're searching for a standing option in your workplace setup, an adjustable desktop riser from Readydesk is an affordable, ergonomic option regardless of whether you work in your bed, desk, or even the kitchen table. Increase your standing daily, and in due time you will be feeling the science behind how standing desks improve productivity. Contact Readydesk online to see their complete line of affordable standing desk converters today.
]]>Standing desks have been around for several years. Still, many people are only now realizing the physical and mental benefits of standing while working. Studies show that people who live a sedentary lifestyle or sit most of the time at work are susceptible to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and a shorter life expectancy. Standing while working for just 30 minutes at a time (4 hours a day) can have a significant impact on your health and body. Discovering the benefits of a standing desk can be a gamechanger. Learn how here!
Researchers have studied the benefits of standing for over 60 years. Now, a comparison of 18 studies with almost 800,000 participants came to the same conclusion. Findings found that those with a sedentary lifestyle have a 90-percent increase in cardiovascular mortality and a 147-percent increase in the risk of cardiovascular events compared to those with an active lifestyle.
Back pain is something that 89 percent of adults will experience during their lifetime, and it’s one of the most outstanding complaints of office workers who sit all day. Many studies have explored the impact of using a standing desk for office workers with long-term back pain. The “Take a Stand” project in 2011 found that participants who stood for an average of 60 minutes a day experienced a 54-percent reduction in neck and back pain.
Generally, weight gain results from taking in more calories than you burn in a day. More than 44 percent of workers say they have gained weight while at their current job. But you could burn calories at work with little to no extra effort by standing at your desk—approximately50 calories an hour. Over a year, that equals 30,000 calories. That’s equivalent to 8 lbs. per year you could lose just by adjusting how you work.
A common concern among those interested in a standing desk is completing daily tasks like answering the phone or typing. Working at a standing desk might take some getting used to. However, no reports have indicated a negative impact on daily activities by those using standing desks. The boost in mood and energy and the reduction in neck, back, and spine pain are likely to increase mental alertness. This, in turn, will boost your productivity.
If you are considering changing to a standing desk, we recommend a simple standing desk converter from Readydesk. A desk converter sits on top of your existing desk or any flat surface to quickly transform your sitting desk into a standing desk. They come in many varieties and can accommodate desktop or laptop computers, dual monitors, and adjustable heights. Discovering the benefits of a standing desk is easy—and following through in practice is just as simple. Contact Readydesk today to begin exploring better health through standing while working.
]]>With the switch to work-from-home, many of us don't have the built-in framework of office life and culture to regulate our efficiency. That means we need to learn strategies for ourselves if we want to be more productive from home. A global study into remote working, conducted by Paper Giant for Atlassian, found that 40% of respondents felt that working from home translated to significantly more extended hours.
It doesn't have to be this way. There are several hacks and tricks that you can incorporate into your home office to boost your own productivity. The goal is to hit all your targets without intruding on your wellness or work-life balance. Read on to find out how to be more productive working from home.
The Paper Giant study found that 40% of respondents felt they needed a better working space if they were to continue working from home. 34% said their workspace at home was less comfortable than the office. The solution is to pay attention to your desk. Clutter limits the brain's ability to process information promptly. So, if you want to process information more efficiently, it's time to get tidying up.
Try "zoning" your office space by creating separate areas for different materials. Reference materials, supplies, and long-term projects should all live in their own space. Then clear the desk itself and only replace the items you need for day-to-day use.
Also, add pops of color wherever you can. It could be a picture, a desk accessory, or even a coffee mug. Color can dramatically impact mood, as greens and blues are particularly proven to increase productivity, so reach for a leafy plant or a motivational print of the ocean. Plants are thought to have added benefits for inspiring productivity.
You can't change the four walls in which you work, but you can change your perspective. Sitting all day can be achy and force pains in the neck and back after an 8 hour day. Standing can intensify productivity and give you a mental energy boost. And you can inexpensively convert your sitting desk to a standing desk with a simple standing desk converter. Just place the converter on the desk, and you now have a standup workspace that can re-invigorate your mental energy at any time of the day. A desk converter from Readydesk is inexpensive and could change how you work. Our products are American-made and affordable relative to other alternatives on the market.
The truth is that very few of us are skilled multi-taskers. The problem is that as we move from task to task, we aren't getting more done. Instead, we're constantly forcing our brains to switch speeds. We move through tasks erratically and burn ourselves out. The answer is to slay the multi-tasking monster and embrace the art of the single task.
A more productive approach takes days or half days and devotes them to themes or similar projects. In that manner, it is easier to knock out tasks one after the other. And if you get distracted, it's much easier to pick up where you left off.
The Paper Giant study discovered that 44% of workers feel that it's essential to know how to motivate themselves apart from the framework set by office life. One of the best ways to do this is with a simple to-do list. And the best time to make it is the night before. While you're still in work mode, take the last ten minutes of your day to assess what you really need to get done tomorrow. This task could take twice as long in the morning when approaching it from a cold start. The trick is to make sure your to-do list is not overwhelming.
The Eisenhower Matrix is an excellent tool to help prioritize tasks, especially when working from home. The matrix enables you to organize tasks into four quadrants by urgency and importance. Then you can hone straight in on urgent-important tasks and schedule, delegate, or eliminate the others.
Your flow time is when you are the most efficient. For some people, it's early morning; for others, it's the evenings. Once you've identified yours, block out a 90-minute window each day for pure, deep work on your most complicated tasks.
Blocking out your flow time means working in a distraction-free state and concentrating on what is essential. Without it, you'll find yourself constantly focusing on small, non-value-adding tasks, blocking your progress on your more extensive, more critical pieces of work.
When working from home, it really doesn't matter how you dress or if you're dressed at all from the waist down. But not making a decent effort at dressing is a significant mistake when it comes to your productivity levels. The act of preparing for the day ahead, including the selection of slightly nicer clothes than what you slept in, sends a message to your brain that it's time to work. Dressing appropriately switches your mindset to "on," which is crucial for concentration levels and gives you an added sense of purpose. That doesn't mean you have to wear a 3 piece suit or a skirt while you work from home. But it probably means you should leave the sweatpants in the drawer on workdays.
It's easy to let tasks drift into the evening, but that's problematic for both your personal life and your production for the next day. Overworking can lead to stress and burnout. It harms not only your productivity but also your wellbeing and mental health. Set a firm time to bring your workday to a close and stick to it. A hard finish not only means a softer start to the morning after a good rest, but it also means you'll work faster and more efficiently all day.
At Readydesk, we hope these tips for how to be more productive working at home helps you to thrive in your home office. We make the best standing desk converters for your versatile work-at-home environment. Convert your desk or any flat surface into a standing desk with ease. Contact us today!
]]>More people are working from home than ever before, and that number is rising as companies explore the cost benefits of limiting brick-and-mortar buildings.
Whether it’s temporary or permanent, chances are you’ve had to think about upgrading your home office into a space that helps you be productive and healthy. But you already had what you considered a functioning home office. Why does it have to be upgraded now? Well, you’re probably not use to spending eight hours a day or more working from home. So, read up on some simple tips for home office upgrades to make your home space productive and comfortable.
Might sound crazy that a standing desk company is promoting sitting, but you've got to make sure your body position is great no matter how you work. You’ve been slumped over at your desk, neck craned over, and what was a previously annoying backache turned into a headache. You know it’s affecting your overall productivity, but you must tackle your work. Walking around or doing the occasional Jumping Jack or stretch only provides temporary relief. Designed for maximum lumbar support, a comfortable ergonomic chair will help minimize back pain and aches of the spinal column. You’ll even find that your new ergonomic chair will boost energy and focus. If you’re experiencing daily pain while working, maybe it’s your current chair.
Music can help you get energized or relaxed, and it can also improve your productivity. According to a study by the University of Miami’s Music Therapy department, test subjects who listened to music while working could complete their tasks with superior quality and speed than a study group without music. Having an excellent Bluetooth speaker in your office allows you to fill your space with beautiful music. Not only that, but music will also wash out ambient distractions to improve your focus. So, get that playlist ready; music will enhance your productivity.
If you prefer to stand while you work, a standing desk can be an excellent alternative for a home office. You’ll have to be careful when buying, though. Many stand-up desks are bulky and expensive, and there are better alternatives. An excellent option for this is a wood standing desk adapter. This is a simple, easy-to-carry, and inexpensive alternative to a standing desk. It transforms your existing desk space into a vertical desk space in seconds without heavy lifting. Desktop converters are designed for people who want a simple way to stand up more often while using a computer.
Readydesk standing desk converters are lightweight, sturdy, and portable. They can turn any sitting desk, table, or countertop into an adjustable standing desk for one or two monitors. Readydesk converters are easy to assemble and require no tools to put together. The design is based on giving you proper posture for functional strength. Efficiently priced, it is America’s best standing desk value. We hope these simple tips for home office upgrades have helped you plan out a much more advantageous office for productivity and comfortability.
]]>Here are the things I use almost every day for work, and couldn’t get my job done without:
You might know how to use SketchUp or some other graphics software that allows you to design out cool new products. I depend on sharpened pencils and cheap graph paper to keep my lines straight and ideas sound. Working with geometry is made easier with graph paper. You can scale down your inventions, get a better understanding of perspective, and easily measure components.
You can probably buy a dozen plastic rulers for less than a dollar. But why worry about saving money on the already-low price of a good ruler. For just six bucks, you can get something like this with precise measurements, straight edges, and durability. Plus, using metal rulers, protractors, and drawing compasses make you feel more confident in your sketches and designs.
A friend gifted me this on my birthday. I hadn't used an insulated cup before. This is essentially the same thing as a thermos that a construction worker brings to the job site. I love that, hours later, coffee is still warm—or, if it’s Taco Tuesday, the margarita is still cold.
This is the newest addition to my workspace and quite quickly became the go-to solution for converting fractions to decimals. When sketching out a new product, there might be a part that measures 13/32”. I can’t do that math in my head, so I look at this metal card that was created by Draplin Design Co.—home to some of the best graphic designers ever.
Bought this in 2008 when I worked at an ad agency in Boulder, CO. I saw that a couple coworkers would always walk into work with full canteens. Didn’t foresee that we all would soon start calling them “water bottles” and every kid, soccer mom and CEO would be carrying a reusable beverage container with them at all times. Having it at my desk or in my car means I can chug some fresh stuff and keep hunger at bay for longer.
Runner up: Fred water flask is perfect for working while traveling because the bottle is so slim.
Let’s be honest, you don’t need to spend the money on a Moleskine. They are nice. But there are so many other notebooks and a variety of prices. Problem is, if you start using a Moleskine, you really fall for the high-quality and end up wanting to keep buying the best. I always ask for these for Christmas and try to save myself a few dollars.
Runner up: Moo has some great notebooks, too.
I’m easily distracted. I wear these simple earplugs to block out what bothers me. Living in San Diego with no air conditioning means windows are open more often than not. And with that comes the sounds of garbage trucks, leafblowers, barking chihuahuas, shitty neighbors who sit in the backyard blasting their police scanner. These earplugs can be used over and over again, and with so many in one container, they’ll last you for years.
This is one of those things I had never even heard of before starting Readydesk. I thought all printers required ink. This printer uses heat to print shipping info right onto adhesive labels. Once we figured out how to hook it up to a Macbook Pro, we were able to spit out dozens of labels each minute. You save so much time by printing and paying for shipping remotely, rather than having to go to the post office or FedEx, stand in line, have your parcel measured and weighed, and wait for the worker to affix postage.
We starting shipping so much through a particular carrier, they sent us two of these printers for free. That was a nice surprise. Now we have a printer at our San Diego production facility, and one that sits perfectly under the Readydesk I use at home.
Tip: We use Shippo to manage our Shopify and Amazon orders.
Like politics and religion, you can argue with someone about the best pen and never come to an agreement. After working with Pentel several years ago, I grew to appreciate the quality of their writing tools, and how well the 0.7mm writes. I like the big bold lines that dry almost instantly. Plus, you get yourself a case of refills, and you'll be writing for years.
Obviously, I have to use my own company’s products. In addition to a Readydesk 2 with an XL Shelf, I have an Allstand right next to it so when I move to a seated position, I’m still looking straight ahead at my monitor. I can’t stand being on a Zoom/Skype/Teams/Meet video call, looking down at my laptop camera and seeing an additional chin. Standing at your computer (or having your webcam a few inches above your eyeline) makes your face look so much more presentable. Pair it with a LumeCube and you’ll look better than Jane Pauley on CBS Sunday Morning.
Check out the full article from Business Insider.
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