How long should you stand at a standing desk?

It’s great that you’re thinking about balance! Ideally, you want to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day to avoid any negative effects from either position.

A common recommendation is to stand for about 15-30 minutes every hour, depending on how comfortable you feel. This approach is often called the “Sit-Stand” method. Here’s a general guideline:

Start slow: If you’re new to standing desks, start with 15 minutes of standing every hour. Over time, you can increase that to 30 minutes per hour as your body gets used to it.

Alternate: If you’re standing, try sitting for the next half-hour, then stand again. You can adjust this based on how your body feels—some days you might need to sit more, other days, standing more might feel better.

Take breaks: Even if you’re standing, it’s still important to move around a bit. Try stretching or walking around every 20-30 minutes to keep your body from getting stiff.

A good rule of thumb is the 20-20-20 rule for standing desks: for every 20 minutes of sitting, stand for 20 minutes. And make sure you’re mixing in movement throughout the day too, even if it’s just a quick walk to grab a coffee or stretch your arms.

How often do you plan to use your standing desk? Or are you still in the planning phase?