October 18, 2016

Tackle Childhood Obesity With A Stand Up Desk

Increase classroom activity with a Stand Up Desk. Childhood obesity is an on-going problem, and with 1 in 10 children classed as been obese or overweight it proves they are simply not getting enough exercise.

The majority of a child’s daily life is spent studying in a classroom where they are encouraged to sit and work at a static desk. This sedentary behaviour teamed with hours on games consoles and an unhealthy diet is a harmful combination.

Introducing a stand up desk into classrooms will increase the percentage of individual activity each day and promote an active lifestyle. Allowing pupils to stand up for short intervals will reduce fatigue; improve productivity and increase the metabolic rate. Research shows that stand up desks burn more calories, as standing increases the heart rate which burns an extra 50 calories per hour.

Obesity related ill-health costs the NHS millions every year. In an aim to combat this issue the government have discussed introducing a soft drinks levy. This won’t stop the consumption of sugary drinks or unhealthy lifestyles, what we really need to do is get Britain on the move with a stand up desk.

 

October 7, 2016

Standing Desk – Intelligent Software Available

From reduced power consumption to safety mechanisms and Bluetooth connectivity, todays standing desks offer a variety of extras.

A budget standing desk usually comprises of minimal components; a basic lifting column, standard controller and desktop. Mid - Premium ranges incorporate more advanced elements, which not everyone is aware of. Take a look at our list of some of the top tech components we feel a premium standing desk should include (or atleast offer). Review the features then ask yourself 'how intelligent is your own standing desk?'

Piezo anti collision, anti collision software, safety mechanism

PIEZO Anti-collision Technology

This technology from LINAK incorporates a PIEZO sensor into the lifting column which feels for any obstruction when raising or lowering the desk. If any obstruction is found the desk will halt and reverse to avoid collision. Provide a longer lifetime to your office equipment.

 

Zero Technology, Reduce Power Consumption

ZERO Technology

Standby mode ensures your standing desk is ready at the push of a button. Zero Technology reduces standby power consumption to 0.1 w also reducing CO2 emissions.

 

Mobile App control, Bluetooth Dongle, Control your desk through your mobile phone, App height adjustment,standing desk control

Bluetooth Dongle

Simply plug into a compatible product, download the app and your ready! This adaptor allows you to control the height of your standing desk through your smartphone or tablet. The app also allows you to store 2 height settings. Compact, minimum and simple!

 

Desk Control Software, standing desk control

Desk Control Software

Installed on your PC or Mac this software makes adjustment of your desk part of your daily routine. This software contains 3 memory presents, as well as providing prompts reminding you to stand. A personal tool allowing you to create personal targets by entering height, weight and how many calories you'd like to burn per session.

 

 

September 30, 2016

Reminders to Stand – Sit Stand Desks

Sit stand desks are here to get Britain standing! The aim of a standing desk is to gradually get users that sit all day to begin introducing regular standing intervals into their daily routine. However, its hard to remember to stand when you've spent most of your working life spent sat on an office chair, so what can we do to ensure we remember?

Install Desktop Reminders to Stand

Available for certain ranges of sit stand desking, clever desktop software and apps provide regular prompts and reminders to stand. These prompts are based on individual goals and targets set by you. Simply enter your desk height, weight and how many calories you'd like to burn and watch as the countdown begins. You can view and amend your targets easily via the simple viewing box shown on your desktop.

More than just Reminders to Stand

Desktop software allows you to store a number of pre-sets for desktop heights suitable for you. Get the correct height at just the click of a button. As well as the controller, the software also allows you to adjust the height direct from your computer screen.

Get standing with a sit stand desk today and install desktop reminders to stand - transform your health for the better!

 

September 23, 2016

Kick & Click – Mid-Range Height Adjustable Desking

Mid-range height adjustable desking offering a cheaper access to a premium desk.

The Kick & Click desk is our brand new mid-range height adjustable desking. Incorporating world renowned LINAK actuators this adjustable desk gives the cheapest access to a premium lifting column. These world renowned actuators ensure the desk is strong and reliable with a 38mm/s movement speed and height adjustment from 705-1205mm.

Reduce installation time by half

So your wondering where it gets its name from? A tool-less design means components are simply mounted together and gently 'kicked' (or pushed) into place. Each component will make a 'click' sound to let you know its ready. Requiring only 6 screws that are used for fixing the desktop in place, this click together design will reduce installation time by half! Take a look at this Kick & Click assembly video .

Available as single desks only starting in widths of 1400-1800mm and depths of 600 or 800mm.

Metalwork on these desks is available in silver only.

• ZERO™ technology. Standby power consumption is reduced from 1-2 watts (typical electric desk) to just 0.1W.
• PVC free. For health reasons and for the sake of the environment the LINAK actuators are PVC-free as standard making them more environmentally friendly than their predecessors.
• Storage and cover for unsightly wires. Clever ducts in the frame allow the wires to be easily tucked into place –no need for fiddly clips and tools.

To show how reliable and trustworthy these desks are we offer a 10 year guarantee on all wooden and metal parts, 5 years on actuator/electrical components.

 

September 21, 2016

Tips for Sit Stand Desk Users

Sit stand desks are at the height of the office furniture industry. Providing health benefits and improving staff productivity, these desks are a vital necessity to the modern day office. Allow yourself to learn more and improve your experience by following helpful tips and guidelines.

Read our own Tips for Sit Stand Desk Users

Adapt the Correct Posture - Don't stand to attention. Allow your body to move when it needs by standing at ease.

Choose Supportive Shoes - The shoes you wear will have a significant effect on how comfortable you are standing for frequent periods. Try to avoid high heeled shoes and choose a pair that gives enough support to get you through your working day.

Set Prompts and Reminders- Some sit stand desks incorporate intelligent software allowing you to programme individual goals and targets. This software will provide prompts when its time to stand. Alternatively, set outlook or desktop reminders to ensure regular adjustment.

Stand and Talk - Stand up to take telephone calls and have discussions with colleagues.

Ensure Correct Desk Height - It is important to ensure you are working at the correct desk height. Your sit stand desk should be at or slightly below elbow level for both sitting and standing.

Anti-fatigue Floor Mats - Most offices are built with hard flooring (even if they are carpet covered), anti-fatigue floor mats are a great addition for comfort. The cushiness of the mat keeps you slightly off balance making you contract your calf and shin muscles.

 

September 9, 2016

What Is A Sit Stand Desk?

Sit stand desks have been around since the 18th and 19th centuries where they were popular in the homes and offices of the rich. In the last few years they have regained their popularity due to their suspected link to health benefits. Everyone's talking about them, but what is a sit stand desk?

A sit stand desk (or height adjustable desk) is a desk that can be adjusted from sitting to standing height.

Most seated desks have a standardized height of around 740mm, whereas sit stand desks can range in height from 680 to 1205mm depending on the manufacture. A range of heights allows the desk to adapt to the individual user - after all we are all different sizes.

There are a number of variations available:

Hand crank- simply wind the desk up and down

Counterbalance system- apply weight to the top allowing it to lower, or lift by pushing a lever

Electronic motor - moves up and down at the push of a button whilst plugged into a power source. They all range in price but with numerous options available from budget to high-end there's no reason to say no.

Height adjustable desks are taking the place of seated desks. Standing instead of sitting prevents issues caused from prolonged sitting and sedentary behaviour. Standing activates fat burning enzymes, engages muscles and accelerates blood circulation aiding towards improved energy levels and productivity.

There's no surprise they are in high demand!

 

August 26, 2016

What Makes A Good Height Adjustable Desk

Height adjustable desks are increasingly popular now more than ever, with hundreds of different designs and ranges in the office furniture industry today. The present office furniture market offers height adjustable desks in all shapes and sizes, from basic designs comprising of just a top and leg frame, to the more advanced versions incorporating wire management, screens and intelligent computer software.

It's easy to get flustered and confused when faced with hundreds of height adjustable desks to pick through, whether you're looking for a basic or premium adjustable desk here's a few features to consider:

Reliable Mechanism

This is the most important part of your desk and should be one of the first things you look at. The mechanism is responsible for lifting and lowering the desktop surface and all the components upon it. Therefore, it should be reliable, stable and strong- providing a decent load capacity.

 

Movement Speed

Your adjustable desk should move quickly and quietly from standing height to sitting height, helping you complete regular important standing intervals.

 

Large Range Of Adjustment

To accommodate as many people as possible your desk should be available in a range of all different sizes. Having a large variation of heights and widths will provide comfortable work spaces suitable for the individual, as well as aiding towards accommodating small office spaces or large desk hungry layouts.

 

Intelligent Technology

To help improve your health and well-being some ranges offer desktop and mobile app control software. The most intelligent software will store your personal goals and height settings allowing you to switch from sitting to standing at the click of a button. Regular prompts to stand will not only improve health but will help shift stubborn calories.

 

Cable Management

Whether these are supplied as part of the desk or optional extras, cable trays and wire management are important to help hide, disguise and store important computer wires.

 

August 18, 2016

Don’t Replace Prolonged Sitting With Prolonged Standing

Height adjustable desks have resulted in confusion among some people. They are not intended for prolonged sitting nor standing all day. Misconceptions have lead to people believing you should replace sitting with standing, this is not the case.

The aim is to gradually transform your inactivity at work by including regular intervals of standing into your daily routine. The process from sitting to standing should be made gradually, allowing your body to adapt to the posture change. It is recommended that desk users should progress towards 2 hours of standing per day. Divided into sections this is only 15 minute intervals per hour.

The effects of prolonged standing can be just as harmful as sitting at your office desk all day, which is why sit stand desks need to be used correctly. Prolonged standing can lead to aching muscles, feet problems, varicose veins and lower limb swelling, among many more.

Sit stand desks are there to improve health and productivity in the work force. Used correctly they can have a huge benefit on your health and well-being. Standing forces your body to work against gravity and keeps those skeletal muscle's strong. The enzymes in your body will work harder to help break down fat, meaning you will burn up to 50 more calories per hour. Move a little, lose a lot!

 

 

 

 

August 12, 2016

What Happens When We Sit Too Much?

Office staff are found among the highest to be prone to health risks such as back pain, muscle fatigue and high blood pressure, due to the amount of time they spend sitting down. 8-10 hours per day spent sat at your office desk, along with time spent travelling and leisure time can add up to a shocking amount, but not everyone is aware of the risks sedentary behaviour can cause.

We all like to take the load off our feet on a busy day at work, but spending too much time inactive can have a negative affect on our muscles. Reduced movement can cause muscles to cramp up, pull or strain, resulting in muscle fatigue and aches and pains. Prolonged sitting also causes a steady compression on the spinal discs resulting in unwanted and painful back complaints.

When we sit the enzymes responsible for burning fat shut down. The metabolic rate is reduced causing an increase in fat retention, BMI scores and unhealthy cholesterol and blood pressure results. Amazingly standing can burn up to 50 more calories per hour!

Sedentary behaviour is the 4th leading risk factor for global mortality. Help prevent this by breaking up the amount of time you spend sat at your desk. The height adjustability of a sit stand desk allows you to comfortably set the right sitting and standing height for you, making regular standing intervals easy, convenient and positively impacting your health.

Choose an ergonomic approach! Height adjustable desks are an indispensable resource for achieving better health, productivity, and reducing staff sick days.

 

August 1, 2016

Height Adjustable Desks Can Benefit Your Health

The question of “How can I stay active when I’m sat behind a desk every day?” May finally have an answer. An answer that makes perfect sense, an answer which makes you wonder why this wasn’t invented sooner, the answer is height adjustable desks.

Hawk Furniture are selling an idea that every person sitting behind a desk for many hours a day has been subconsciously been screaming out for. People have lost the realisation of how long they actually sit down per day, and that if they think about it, in a normal office job the majority of people are stood up for only a small amount of time per day.

This is largely due to the rise in technology, as many office jobs involve staring at a computer. Especially due to the fact that work notices can be provided via email, some people don’t have to stand up during their whole shift.

The versatility of the height adjustable desks means that they can be installed in any office, and that they can be used from the smallest to the tallest of workers. There have been years of work put into this product which means that only the highest quality height adjustable desk will be supplied. As well as this, there have been tests on the resulting health of people who spend all day sat down, and scientific studies show that these people are likely to live for two years less than people who are stood up for most of the day.

This doesn’t even have to be walking around all day, the fact that you are stood up means that you are more alert to your surroundings, as you are not lounged on a chair and too comfortable. You are responsive to any jobs you may get called to, and you are more focused on the work that you have to do. Standing up could also improve your mental state, if you are more prone to movement, it keeps the blood in your body pumping at a steady rate, which means that you will have a more positive mind-set as a result.

Upon reflection, there are no clear disadvantages of the height adjustable desk, as it will help you get more active, even if it is only on a small scale, and allow you to relax at home without the need of worrying about your fitness levels.

So, join Hawk Furniture in our quest to get Britain standing!