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A standing desk is going to change my life. Or at least that’s what I’ve convinced myself now after using a few over the past six months and experiencing all the benefits I’d previously dismissed due to my hefty skepticism.
Like many others, I started working from home permanently at the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequences have had a disastrous impact on my health. With regional mandates to stay home, my previous routine of running five kilometers (3.1 miles) to the gym near my office every morning disappeared overnight.
My morning commute gave way to a short shuffle from my bedroom to a table in another room, and lunch walks were less appealing without colleagues to chat with, with my only exercise coming in the form of walking my elderly dog .
This dramatic lifestyle change has resulted in me gaining a whopping 19kg in the past 20 months, and the impact that has had on my joints and general health has left me feeling older than my years.
I’m not exactly innocent about my own situation, but as a regular home worker I had to find a flexible solution, which led me to look for ways to improve my health and fitness incrementally without jumping straight back into my formerly intense gym routine.
Several months ago I came across a video on a TikTok account called The walking worker (opens in new tab) where one woman revealed she managed to walk 20 miles a day thanks to buying a standing desk converter in addition to an under-desk treadmill, using the two together during meetings and checking emails. I was completely floored and immediately sold on the idea.
Meet Emma, a future colleague made of nightmares
The health benefits of using a standing desk when you work in an office position are well established. For example, studies repeatedly show “an improvement in discomfort and pain when people use it [standing] desks.” While they are just a step in the right direction, you should also take breaks to get your muscles moving and your blood pumping, not to mention staying active in general, in addition to alternating between standing and to sit.
Even without the addition of walking, multiple studies show that people who use standing desks “experience an improvement in discomfort and pain [levels]”, and standing for long periods of time improves blood flow, posture and the health of your back.
Look a little closer, and it makes perfect sense. Humans are simply not designed to sit at a desk all day, and the American Journal of Public Health has found that sitting more than eight hours a day can increase the risk of chronic disease by 10% to 20%.
In fact, a mock-up of the “office worker of the future” was created as part of a 2019 report (opens in new tab) commissioned by office equipment company Fellowes Brands, who teamed up with behavioral futurist William Higham to see what effect sitting long hours in front of a computer could have on people over the next few years.
“Emma”, as she is called, could be my future if I do nothing.
The problem is that standing desks can be a pretty hefty investment and not everyone has the luxury of dropping that much cash on a desk, making the Black Friday and Cyber Monday season the perfect time of year to hunt for a deal.
Black Friday falls on November 25 this year, and the weeks leading up to the all-important day will also be full of deals. We’re going to keep our eyes on the entire tech world during Black Friday 2022, but I’ll be keeping my eye out for the Uplift V2 standing desk in particular (opens in new tab) to go on sale, and I’ll be on the lookout for the best Black Friday Standing Desk deals
The Uplift V2 electric standing desk
Uplift V2 (opens in new tab) is one of the best standing desks that benefits from premium build quality and prides itself on stability, an important factor when you put a ton of expensive tech on top!
Dual motors allow the desk to change height quickly, with a smooth and quiet action, and anti-collision technology should help prevent accidents. You also get a slew of mounting points, including one for an entire hammock (presumably lunchtime naps at work?), which is an added credit to the build quality.
There are 24 desk style options to suit your home office, with corner desk options if the standard shape doesn’t suit you. You also get five different sizes to choose from and four different frame colors.
Prices start from $599 (around £430 / AU$800), which is on the pricey side for a desk, but given the features and the fact that you can take a nap in a cozy hammock underneath, we don’t think it’s unreasonable . Still, money is money, and saving a few cents during Black Friday is always preferable to paying full price.
What about other standing desks?
I’m on the hunt for the Uplift V2 as it’s currently at the top of our list of the best standing desks on the market, but there’s no real guarantee it’ll be discounted in the Black Friday sale. If it remains full price, there are other capable desks on the market that fit my (and your own) needs.
It is important to think about the environment around your desk and what kind of standing desk is best for you. There’s no guarantee that a full-featured electric standing desk is the best option for everyone, so consider things like a portable standing desk converter if you need something more flexible. They also have the advantage of generally being cheaper.
If you have the space for a full desk, consider the height. There’s no point in buying a standing desk if the maximum height isn’t high enough to stand and work comfortably, although this will only be a problem if you’re particularly tall.
Standing desks also use electric, manual or pneumatic adjustment systems. They’ll all get the job done, but if you don’t feel like raising your desk every day, an electric motor that lets you store buttons at different heights is a real boon.