Vibrant colors, ping-pong tables, video games, free food and extravagant decorations. Photographs of the Silicon Valley offices of the early 2000s became the model for ideal, disruptive work environments, meticulously designed to attract and retain new talent in a highly competitive job market. Most importantly, they were the extreme opposite of the famous cubicles of previous decades. Over time, these same companies have invested in creating healthier and more dynamic working environments, giving special consideration to providing contact with nature and better ergonomics for employees. Among the innovations of the past years, the so-called “standing desks” have been gaining popularity, as they offer flexibility and promote a culture of health and well-being. Having the flexibility to work either standing up or sitting down encourages more movement throughout the day and has been proven to improve health and stretching, burn more calories and even increase concentration.
It is a known fact that human bodies evolved to be active. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors were constantly on the move, walking long distances, gathering food, hunting and performing various physical tasks. This active lifestyle shaped our physiology to be more suited to movement than to prolonged inactivity. Sitting for too long has been associated with a higher risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. This is evidenced by a study published in Science Daily that indicates that prolonged sitting leads to a 147% increase in cardiovascular events and a greater risk of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes. Musculoskeletal problems, such as back and neck pain, are also common due to poor posture caused by sitting for too many hours.
